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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-06-07, Page 6PAGE 6—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1979 card firm. o from page 1 because trustees had not. understood the policy the matter could be tabled until the board's August meeting. Goderich trustee Dorothy Wallace said shoe could support a motion to table the books if trustees would give her a guarantee they would read all the books. "If anyone thinks I'm going to sit down and read 22 books between now an -d next month ylet,t can forget it," said separate school trustee Eugene Frayne. "We've got to go on the recommendations of the teachers that's why I made the motion to approve the books." Colborne township trustee ShirleyHazlitt told the board she felt the. teachers had done an excellent job providing rationale for the books and had done exactly what board policy required them to do. She said she couldn't see any reason to delay the decision. Henderson said he must have misunderstood the board policy. He said he thought the trustees would have had a couple of months "to peruse the books" and to allow parents con- cerned about novels time to read them. He said he had told parents he represents that that was the way the decision would be handled. The motion to table the`decision was defeated and trustees approved the novels by a 13-3 margin. Clinton trustee Dorothy Williams told the board she had one more novel she wanted to .check -and -had _.to •..xote-againnst-,-ap$roval-_She- was joined by Gower and Henderson. Members of the concerned citizens group waited until the end of the board session to ask trustees to justify their decision. Grace Austin told the board the some of the novels it had approved used the name df God in a disrespectful way against the beliefs of the community the board represented. Eugene Frayne, trustee for separate school supporters, launched a tirade against the book controversy after it became apparent the matter was going to continue: Frayne said he felt as if he was "damned if I do and damned if I don't and'I don't mind using the word damn"... He said he felt like "packing it in" adding -the book issue had "bugged him for three years". "It's almost impossible to find a solution that will please everyone in the county," he said. "If you went around this table I'll bet you'd find four different opinions on the •books amongst these 16 trustees." Frayne said the board tried to be fair in its dealings for and against the novels adding'he had "not changed his position. hardly one bit since,the day I came here". ,., He told •the board he didn't approve of literature that was " abusive or lowered the dignity ofman" adding "it's not my job to study every book and say this is 'what the people of Huron County should be reading". "When my car is broken •I go to a garage, when I'm sick I go to a doctor, when my tooth aces I go to a dentist and when I want good food I go to'a farmer," said Frayrre. "And when I want my kids educated I go, to someone that is .trained to do that.' He said he was doing'his best as a trustee and was criticized for banning books and for not banning books. He said he had been told he had, no morals or ethics for not banning some novels. "If•we don't have any morals or ethics what the hell are we doing here today?" Greidanus told Frayne the trustee had two standards of living if what he said was true. He said he felt each person should have only one .standard in life and should abide by it atall times adding that's what God wants. ° Lloyd Barth raised the ire of the•,Zrustees telling them they were "hired men:' and tax- payers were the employers. Bart t said it was unfair of the boar4l not to have a meeting with the concerned parents. He added that as em- • ployees of taxpayers parents should be telling trustees when the meeting will be rather than trustees saying there will be no meeting." "Y'riu are our paid 'representatives and it is your duty as paid employees to meet withus at our request," he said. Eiliott'told Barth taxpayers had the chance every' two years to decide who their representatives will be. He said trustees are elected to • represent people to operate an education system •to the best of their ability to ,give students the best education possible. • "Eighty percent of the parents in this county want..this cleaned up.and we represent that 80 percent,'.'_said Barth. Elliott told the group the 15 minute question period was over and asked that the room be cleared to allow the board to continue its meeting in committee of the whole. He refused to allow the debate to continue and as the parents left the board office one woman ex- claimed "may God have mercy on the children of Clinton`chool','. After the board meeting Barth was asked what action the concerned parents would take next. The Blyth resident said the matter was ""in -'the hands of the Master, The Christ". He. said the group "takes direction from our leader, The Christ". June 14 open council meeting The Huron County Community Services Council will be having a meeting on Thursday, June 14 at 9:30 a.m. in Vanastra Recreation Centre. The council's purpose is "to provide an organization represen- tative of all concerned agencies and individuals interestedin the provision of social ser - •vices to Huron County". The council would like to encourage any interested organizations or in- dividuals to • attend the next meetings The recently formed council aims to develop cooperation and coor- dination, develop public awareness of social issues and advise funding sources on the needs of the community. Issues currently being discussed are: liaison with county council,- reports from. local resources centres, membership fees and operating budget' and membership in the Ontario Welfare Council. The Council would like to broaden it's mem- bership anti invites any interested organization or individual to attend the next meeting - at the Vanastra Resource Centre on June 14. The Spotlightis on HOME & BUILDING CENTRE Bayfield Road, Clinton 482-3441 DURING OUR 4TH ANNIVERSARY & EXPANSION CELEBRATION 3 BIG DAYS - THIS THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY ,hu,sdaJUNE,' _,8u._,9 RM. ALLWNW EXTERIOR ��.Pred PAINT GREAT OUTDOOR-- - COOKING 20 a/o OFF 3 Days Only PROPANE GAS BARBECUE celebration Special X15988 Propane gas Bar•B-Quo 13' . x 19' stainless steel grill heavy-duty cast aluminum complete with 20 Ib LP tank GG600 STOREWJDE DISCOUNT 10% Visit our new Armstrong Floor Fashion Centre. Just part of our completely renovated carpet and flooring department. CELEBRATION SPECIAL! 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