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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-10-11, Page 18dave Sykes 2 Z Inside this Section: News from Branch 109, Royal Canadian Legion, Goderich Page 3A Entertainment Page 4A, 5A Church Page Page 7A School board . Page 8A Monique Begin was the special speaker at the annual meeting of the Cancer Society Page 9A Jack Riddell Page 10A Farm page Page -12A Captain Comet Page 13A Goderich and district Lions Club elects new slate of officers Page 14A a The publisher wanted a word. Not that I appraoched his cav no s office with trepidation but I ha suspicion he didn't want to talk about his golf game. My entrance was more of a slink in the manner of GIs crawling towards enemy lines in their camouflage suits. Grovelling may be more apt a description. "Get off the floor you little nerd," he yelled in a manner of salutation. "I just want to have a word with you." "Just spotted a bit of dirt on the old red carpet," I replied timidly. "Waste basket? No I'll just eat it, thanks." "What is that banal tripe you churn out weekly in my newspaper," he screamed as the veins on his neck began to protrude noticeably. "And which one of you is the seagull or is it the seagull that writes those mundane columns?" "Despite the resemblance sir, I am not the seagull but I do write that stuff," I replied. "Banal tripe, mun- dane. Noone's ever said that before sir. Thank you. "You skinny little jerk that wasn't a compliment," he bellowed as his eyes began to bulge and his lips quiver uncontrollably. "The stuff is trash, garbage, dribble and utterly in- coherent nonsense." "Not so fast, sir. Just let me get that down on paper, might make a good column some day. Now what came after trash?" "You twittering little insignificant nit," he hollered taking his shoes off and pounding them on the large oak desk. "Your columns don't make the least bit of sense. I have hired some decent journalists for my paper over the years and even the crazy ones made some sense once in a while." "Sense eh. Well nobody ever mentioned that to me sir." I replied. " Have you noticed that most people around here ignore me?" "Of course they ignore, you, it's company policy," he said matter of factly. "Now about the reason I called you in here." By now he was standing on top of his desk holding his shoes. I removed my shoes and got up on the desk beside him not wanting to miss a word of the directive. "Okay you whimpering little imp. This is National Newspaper Week in Canada and I just thought, and now I realize it was a grave mistake on my part, that you could explore that theme in your column. Perhaps in a humorous vein. Maybe tell the readers what it is you do around here on a weekly newspaper and perhaps get a laugh at the same time for a change. What is it, exactly, that you and that seagull do around here anyway?" "There really is no seagull sir. Just a department joke," I offered in response. "But if I may touch base with you about this humor bit. That just isn't my style but I could give it a whirl if you want." "It's obvious it isn't your style," he said loking down at me. " And what is it you do in that little office with the newspapers stacked to the ceiling?" "Mostly I read those newspapers that are stacked up. And I was. Doping sir, that you could give me some clues as to the nature of my Job and I'm certain I could spin a colorful yarn. Afterall sir, it is National Newspaper Week." "I know it is," he said slowly through clenched teeth almost falling back- wards off the desk. "That's why I called you in here. If you don't know what it is you do here you can't very well tell the readers then, can you?" "Oh you can tell the readers anything sir," I answered. "Everything in the newspaper istrue." "You skinny little twerp. Forget I called you in here. Just go and do whatever it is you do around this of- fice. "Nice talking to you sir. But you should get off the desk and put your shoes on," I said leaving the office. "We should have more meetings like this and just talk newspaper stuff. Oh, by,the way sir, it's national Newspaper Week, could I have the week off?" "Send in the seagull!" 132—YEAR 41 the derich 141, IGNAL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1979 STAR SECOND SECTION Two GUCI students had unique experience Sandy Palmer, a Grade 13 student at G.D.C.I., proudly displays a diplomas which she received after attending French summer school for six weeks at College Bois -de -Boulogne in Montreal this summer. She was one of 100 students from across Canada to participate in the Summer Language Bursary Program and feels that she is now able to speak and understand the French language better. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) BY JOANNE BUCHANAN Students today perhaps have more educational opportunities outside the classroom than ever before. Two G.D.C.I. students recently took advantage of such educational op- portunities. One learned more about the French language and the other learned more about Canadian history, ' While other students. .were either taking vacations 'or working ,at jobs this summer, Sandy Palmer chose to continue going to school. She got a, leave of absence from her job at Zehrs and went to French summer school at Bois -de -Boulogne in Montreal for six weeks. Sh.e was one ,,of 100 students from across Canada to participate in the Summer Language Bursary Program for students16 and over, At summer school the emphasis was on oral French, that is learning to speak the language. While in school, Sandy says she had to speak French constantly but admits that when she and her roommate from Leth- bridge, Alberta were alone, they spoke English. While Sandy thinks it is• important to be able to write French, she feels that it is more important to be able to speak it. After she graduates from 'Grade 13 next September, she hopes to study French at university. Summer school did help Sandy to speak French better but more importantly, she feels, it helped her to understand when being spoken to in the French language. The second day at summer school, Sandy took a placement test to see how advanced in the French language she was in order to place her in a class with others at her level. There were only 14 students in each class which meant more in- dividual attention for each student. Tests were held every two weeks to see how much progress the students were making. Sandy hasn't received her final marks yet but when she does, she hopes : to get some kind of credit for them at D.C.I. ' Classes at summer school were held from 9 a.in. until noon. 'In the afternoon, workshops were held. Each student had to pick three workshops from ten of- fered, one for every two weeks. Sandy chose an art workshop, a nature workshop and a movie workshop in which she says she helped to make a "monstor movie". All 'students attending the summer school lived in residence at College Bois -de -Boulogne. There Were so many activities going on that it didn't leave much time for homesickness, says Sandy. The students once held a car wash to raise enough money to visit Quebec City for a day and that w.ps fun, s'he-says. While on a week-long exchange trip through G.D.C.I. with a high school in Montreal two years ago, Sandy made friends with several French students and has been visiting back and forth ever since. It was through one of these friends, who was going to a summer school being held at the University of Western Ontario to upgrade her English, that she found out about the Summer Language Bursary.Program. Sandy doesn't regret giving up her summer to go to school one bit. It wasn't like going to a regular school, she ex- plains. The students called their teachers by their first names and there were special ac- tivities going on all the time. On pajama day, all the students went to classes dressed in pajamas. It was really an informal learning structure regulated by the tests held every two weeks, Sandy has been taking French since Grade 7 and her mother, Eileen, speaks it fluently so she hopes to carry on con- versations in the language with her to maintain what she's learned. And, happily, now that she is back for her last year at' G.D.C.I., she finds that she doing very well in her French class. "Summer school helped me a lot,", she concludes. Ed Turton, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Turton of R.R. 5 Goderich and a Grade 12 student at G.D.C.L, was recently able to broaden his knowledge of early Canadian history thanks to an "Adventure in Civilization" program at Midland sponsored by the Rotary Club from Thursday, September 27 to Sunday, September 30. The Goderich Rotary Club in co-operation with '.the history department at G.D.C.I. chose to send Ed to Midland for the program because of his interest, attitude and high marks in history. He received an IODE award for top history marks in Grade 9 "'and 10 and received an 89 per cent average in history in Grade 1]. His overall Turn to page 2A • Ed Turton, a Grade 12 student at G.D.C.I., recently returned from an "Adventure in Civilization" program at Midland where he broadened his knowledge about early Canadian history. Ed was chosen by the Goderich Rotary Club and the G.D.C.I. history,department+to take part in the Rotary sponsored program because of his interest, attitude and high marks in history. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) In case you were unaware a little reverence is in order as you use fold this newspaper to line the bird cage or wrap the garbage. This is National Newspaper Week. Now before you crack open the champagne and get to toasting this monumental occasion with your loved ones let me explain, National Newspaper Week is not necessarily a time for rampant celebration. I understand it's an op- portunity for me and my cohorts in the trade to fill readers in on what it's like informing people of their community news in their community newspaper. The publisher cruised into the office' last week and suggested that fellow columnist Dave Sykes and I use this Week's space to inform readers of what it's like leading the glamorous life here in Goderich. He suggested we tell it like it is. "Spice with a little humour but don't pull any punches. I just don't know where to begin. What's to tell. My job is exciting, romantic and fullfilling. How can I put into words the feelings I have when I spend my Saturday night covering a banquet and discover the photos that were to betaken at eight o'clock sharp can't be taken until nine. Supper was late, the speaker for the evening had car trouble and someone forgot to get the key to the hall. "We're a little late but you don't mind sticking around for an hour." Hell no. I was just sitting at home playing with my camera wishing I had more assignments to do. Who could think of going to a movie when he could sit around and wait until all that apple pie is eaten? Have you any idea how fullfilling it is to rush home from work, push some supper down and take off for a council session? Who could get interested in Monday night football when he can sit in the town hall for three hours listening to talk of sewers? How could I feel anything but joy when someone calls to tell me they enjoy what we write for the paper but they're going to give me the op- portunity to write some good stuff. They've got a tip that a prominent citizen in town is in financial trouble and is writing bad cheques. Can I possibly describe the joy I feel when, after sitting for an hour waiting for trophies to be handed out at an annual banquet, putting up with original but common jokes from people in that picture when they're asked their name and. spending an hour in the darkroom trying to make a poor pic- ture passable, a mother calls to tell me I spelled her child's name wrong and that if that's the type of work I do I may as well stay home. Could I possibly put into words the pride I have when someone spots me waiting to take pictures and tells the .people at the banquet the man from the Weekly Minute is here. A week to prepare it and a minute to read it. But I don't want to leave the im- pression all is that glamorous. The job, like any ,other, has its high points. It is gratifying toknow that somebody 1 likes what I do. Some people take the time to call and say job well done. I guess when it's all said and done the job is fun. Oh what the heck. Call the little woman and set up a rownd. It's National Newspaper Week. jerf- seddon