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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1967-02-16, Page 2PAGE TWO ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS NM MS Mg (BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER, CITIZENS NEWS COLUMNIST) What Will Teachers Give For a Pay Hike? Teachers' salaries are in the news again --this time locally. Teachers in this area are requesting considerable pay in- creases and local school boards are be- twixt and between. It is safe to say the battle is on—and there is nothing the tax- payer can do but sit, wait and finally pay. Quite a lot is written these days about the high price of education—and the value of it. In fact, so much has been said about the worth of a good teacher that many educators have the impression their's is an elite calling far above the rest of the work -a -day world. 'Teaching is, without a doubt, a pro- fession where only the compassionate, un- derstanding and patient dare to tread. There is much abuse connected with teach- ing; many heartaches and a multitude of problems unknown to other lines of en- deavor. And there is responsibility—un- believable responsibility—for the devoted teacher who has the welfare of students at heart. Perhaps this does give teachers a spe- cial right to a generous salary schedule— and an exalted position in the community. We wonder, though, if those who pay the piper have not the right to call the tune. It is our contention that if teachers' demands are to soar beyond a fair, equita- ble return for the district in which they Everyone reside, then parents and taxpayers should have a closer bond with the school than they are presently allowed. As things are now, if parents have questions concerning their high schoolers, most times an appointment must be made to reach the teacher at all and then only generalities are discussed in the five min- utes allotted out of a teacher's overwhelm- ing generosity. "Open House" in the elementary schools is a joke. Parents are forewarned in a note to refrain from interviewing the teachers—come in, look around, have a cup of coffee and go home, grateful for the chance to peek briefly behind the class- room walls. If there are problems, parents are told, the teachers will contact them. This high and mighty attitude where teachers condescend to speak about school matters only when cornered is not con- dusive to good public relations. Perhaps home and school associations are the only answer where it is understood that teachers will be on hand ready with answers for a few hours each month. At any rate, teachers should be pre- pared to give something for a pay raise obtained directly from public funds. Pro- fessional people or not, most workers have to up their service to the clients to earn a salary boost. Loves the Drinking Driver We've all heard the old standard joke about the drunk who was asked if he in- tended to drive his car home. "Shertainly," replied the staggering one. "I'm not in any condishion to walk". That used to be funny; but since a recent study into the causes of fatal acci- dents in Michigan, we aren't laughing. Fact is that 60 per cent of all motor fatal- ities there were shown to be a result of drinking. The relation of alcohol to acci- dents in Canada is probably just as shock- ing . . . but we may never know. In our permissive society, the public rarely hears when liquor is the direct cause of an accident. We must protect the woe- ful victim of the demon drink at all costs, hopeful that the lost soul will repent and sin no more. It is about time Canadian lawmakers took a long, hard look at the legislation which governs drinking drivers. It seems that if one is going to be involved in an accident •of any kind, it is best to be blind, stupid drunk. When the case comes before the court, the drinking offender can hang his head in shame, ad- mit the error of his ways, pour out a sad, sorrowful story about not being in control of his senses at the time, and plead for mercy. Generally, the most he has to fear for the law is a weak fine and from three to six months' licence suspension. Each Monday morning, Canadians hud- dle around their radios and televisions. They shake their heads at the austounding number of people who have been slaugh- tered on the highways of the nation during the week -end. They read with horror the accident statistics which rise every year . . . then sit wringing their hands in utter despair, not knowing what to do. There's a lesson to be learned from our European friends. We are told that in Sweden, for instance, any man or woman, boy or girl, who drives soon after drink- ing is sent to a work camp for a minimum of six months! Need we add that drinking drivers are practically non-existent in Sweden. In Germany we hear, any drinking driver who is involved in an accident can expect to lose his licence—for a lifetime! Truthfully, drink is not the greatest cause of death and destruction on the highways. The blame rests soley on the shoulders of all citizens who sit silently by, grumbling quietly to each other. It Took Nanning - Co-peratively The success of the first Winter Carni- val at Hensall last week -end should be taken as proof that small communities such as we have in this area can flourish with a little imagination and the support of the citizens. Perhaps the greatest single advantage to Hensall's carnival was the enthusiasm sparked by the Kinsmen who plan events for all ages. They thought of everything —snowman building for the kids, beauty contests for the teens, dancing for the young, spectator events for the old, con- tests for the active, opportunity for the talented. Reeve Minnie Noakes generated a cer- tain amount of interest, too. The lady must be congratulated for •her snowshoe showmanship which threw an extra bit of wholesome fun into the agenda. While entertainment is considered all for fun; it does a community no harm. The amount ,of advertisement the carnival brought for Hensall plus the goodwill it created between village officials, village residents and area citizens would have to be considered rich reward even if the event had made no money at all. Kinsmen members could do worse than begin plans now for a bigger and better Winter Carnival next year. There is no surer, faster, more pleasant way to pro- mote the village. Centennial Clothes Give Pleasure While shopping in Exeter a few weeks ago, we noticed a lady on her way home with her purchases. The only thing un- usual about this particular woman was her clothes. She was dressed from head to toes in typical 19th century garb—includ- ing a quaint drawstring bag which dangled from her wrist. All eyes were on the lovely lady as she strode graciously along the street. Her long flowing skirts just skimmed the snowy sidewalks and her beaming smile was framed by two wide ribbons which tied under her chin and held her hat in place. There were those who smiled and whispered; a few who pointed a finger of ridicule; some who laughed aloud. But generally, people watched with unmistake- able envy as the woman passed looking proud and happy. She was celebrating Canada's Centen- nial Year—and in the very nicest way, was reminding others, too, of the 100th birth- day of this great nation in which we live so free and so well. Credit rnust be extended to every woman who takes the time and the effort to gather together a Centennial costume. In many instances, the clothes are made by hand with tender loving care by ladies bent on adding a bit of color and excitement to Centennial celebrations throughout the land. There is little doubt that Canadians and visitors alike will enjoy the festivities more for it. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1967 Zurich ' ; eia. N •ws PRINTED BY SOUTH HURON PUBLISHERS L1 urrED, ZURICH HERB TURKHEIM, Publisher J E. HUNT, Plat Superintendent Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Departtnergt, Ottawa and for payment of postage in cash. Member: Member: Mrnober: Canadian Weekly Newspapers Asriociation Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Representatives Eubsetiptioit hates: $3.00 per year in advance, in Canada; $4.00 in 'United States and and Foreign; single copies T matt. CBC REPORTER to cover China and Vietnam. Veter- an •newsman -author William Stevenson •(above), an expert on the Far East, has been assigned to cover fast-moving events in mainland, China and Vietnam for CBC television and radio news. Stevenson has been keenly interested in the Far East since 1950 when the Toronto Daily Star as- signed him to Korea to report the conflict there. Working out of Hong Kong, he now will file exclusive, first-hand reports of major happenings in China and Vietnam for CBC. Do you loathe winter with all the intensity of your soul? Do you consider that it is fit only for Eskimos and abomin- able snowmen? Does your spir- it shrink into a cold little gray lump somewhere in the vicin- ity of your liver, when it snows again? Does your heart grow hard with hatred when the mer- cury drops? Do you shriek, lady, at your little ones, when they come in, plastered with snow, just seven minutes after you have spent half an hour bundling them up to go out, and they whimper, "Mum, I hafta wee-wee?" Do you take the name of the Lord in vain, sir, every time you go out in the morning and discover that the bold old, jumpin, jeezly snowplow has dumped the daily 10 -ton don- ation into your driveway. Do y o u wonder, when you receive your oil bill, if they have got your bill mixed up with that of the Chateau Laur- ier? Do you develop a deep, seething hostility toward old friends who announce they are off for .a holiday in the south? Do your bones ache, your joints creek, your eyes water these days? Do you resent get- ting up in what seems to be the middle of the night, to go to work? If you questions cidal "YES", you may relax, friend and neighbor. You are neither neurotic nor odd, per- verse nor peculiar. There's not a thing wrong with you. You answer to all these is a screaming homi- From My Window FOR LADY LOVES OF THE BEARDED With Centennial fever caus- ing a hairy rash on the faces of certain males in the country, it struck me that the wives and sweethearts of these bearded boys might need a little encour- agement. July 1 seems years away when one has to snuggle up to a bramble bush, It is safe to assume that most men with exaggerated whisker stubble on their chins have cul- tivated the growth with the blessings of their lady loves. It seems quite unlikely that any man would risk the affec- tion of his beloved for the sake of a beard. He may give it a What happened? I've been skiing. Yes sir, they got the old man out on the skinny sticks last Saturday, and he made it clown the little kids' hill twice without falling. That was on the 14th and 21st runs. By Shirley Keller valiant try, but after being held at arms length for a week, or maybe two, his zeal for whiskers will fade rather quickly. He who shaves away a considerable length of beard is a marked man. Everybody knows why he did it. Although the ladies of Can- ada's unshaven are generally in favor of this scratchy expres- sion of patriotism, they may not find it easy to live 24 hours a day with a beard. At a dis- tance, ,a beard is a handsome symbol of pride of one's cen- tury -old homeland; up close, it is a wire-like barrier which threatens to strangle the norm- al relations of the nation's lovers. Maybe those cunning caps the ladies wore in Grandma's day were not so foolish after all. They were certainly attractive in lace and ruffles, bust the wide soft velvet and satin Olin straps may have been a special comfort to Grand•nia when Grandpa came home far suiAper. They tell me that if a heard was begun in January, 1' ebruary is bound to be the "roughest" month. Apparently, after a period of growth of from. eight to ten weeks—or raid -March if you are counting the days—the bothersome bristles will have softened to silken threads which will shine when they are waahed and brushed, curl and wave at the twist of a comb and feel oh, so good, even to the most sensitive skin. Oh, they laughed when I sat down the minute I stood up on the things. But they weren't laughing an hour later, when I whizzed down the slope, yell- ing "Sehiess!" or whatever it is the skiers yell, bowling over five -year-olds like five -pins, and taking those eight and 10 - inch jumps as though I'd been born within yodelling range of the Matterhorn. are a typical, normal, average and honest Canadian. You have not only my sym- pathy, but my understanding. I used to be one of you. I've been through a lot. For 40 -odd years I was a plodder through slush, a huncher of shoulders against blizzards, a snarling blasphemous scraper of ice off windshields with my fingernails because my blasted scraper was missing. Oh, yes, I was one of you miserable wretches; a hent - backed slave chopping ice off the steps, a terrified knocker - down of big icicles, a puffing purveyor of garbage cans through snowdrifts, a furious shoveller of driveways, a bark - seal when that forsty morn- ing air first hit the tattered lungs, an envious despiser of the birds with enough money to migrate into the sun. But, I'in sorry, old buddies; I've left you. That's all behind. I'm on the other side now. I got sick of being a rabbit, and decided to run with the hounds. As a result, a whole new life has opened for me. Now, I dance blithely to the window at the first light to see whether anything fell during the night. I clap my hands and cry "Goody!" when I see that big fresh pile of white stuff in the driveway. I grumble when the temperature rises. I com- plain bitterly when nothing white falls from heaven in two days. I grouch about the win- ter being too short. I sincerely pity those who have fled to the tropics. A CENTURY FASHION Presented by the GIRL GUIDES of Zurich IN THE Zurich Community Centre WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 8:30 p.m, COFFEE AND DONUTS WILL BE SERVED DOOR PRIZES It started out as a mere effort to find out why I bought about a half interest in a sports Shop, at Christmas, for the kids. I started out wearing my golf pants over my deer hunting underwear, and my old fishing jacket over my curling sweater. By the end of the day, I was ready to sell my golf clubs, try to get a refund from the curl- ing club, and attempt to trade in my waders and my shotgun, if 1 could only have one of those brilliant sweaters, and a pair of those bullfighters' pants, like the other skiers and sit around in the chalet, drinking coffee, with the best of them. No more grumbling about winter. No more hatred of snow. No more longing for spring. You should try it. We skiers are hooked, but happy. In fact, I liked my first time out so well that I can scarcely wait for next winter (or maybe the one after) to try it again. I understand that if a lady can persevere through the early beginnings of a beard, the final outcome will bring re- wards far surpassing any she might conjure up in her wild- est dreams. If that doesn't sat- isfy her urge to pull a Delilah act, then she should know that only the strongest and bravest of men can grow a beard. When a lady appears in public escorted by a bearded gentle- man, other women cringe with envy beside their smooth -skin- ned dandies and other men seethe with remorse at their tender, touch-me-not women. So take heart, you who have the honor to be the lady love of a bearded man. Together you will observe Canada's 100th birthday with dignity and may- be discover the reason for the unmistakeable twinkle in Cand- ma's and Grandpa's eyes. Business and Professional Directory OPTOMETRISTS J. E. LONGSTAFF OPTOMETRIST SEAFORTH — Dial 527.1240 Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9 a.m. to S:30 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. to 12 noon CLINTON — Dial 482-7010 Monday and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Norman Martin OPTOMETRIST Office Hours: 9-12 A.M. — 1:30 -6 P.M. Closed all day Wednesday Phone 235-2433 Exeter ACCOUNTANTS Roy N. Bentley PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT GODERICH P.O. Box 478 Dial 524-9521 FUNERAL DIRECTORS WESTLAKE Funeral Home AMBULANCE and PORTABLE OXYGEN SERVICE DIAL 236-4364 -- ZURICH HURON and ERIE DEBENTURES CANADA TRUST CERTIFICATES J. W. HABERER Authorized Representative 6V4% FOR 3 YEARS, 6% .— FOR 1, 2, 4 & 5 YEARS DIAL 236-4346 — ZURICH AUCTIONEERS ALVIN WALP"ER PROVINCIAL LICENSED AUCTIONEER For your sale, large or small, courteous and efficient service at all times. "Service That Satisfies" DIAL 237.3592 DASHWOOD LEGAL BELL & LAUGHTON BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS & NOTARIES PUBLIC ELMER BELL, Q.C., B.A. C. V. LAUGHTON, Q.C., LLB - Zurich Office Tuesday Afternoons Grand Bend Saturday Mornings by Appointment PHONE 519-235.0440 EXETER INSURANCE For Safety . EVERY FARMER NEED$ Liability Insurance For Information About All Insurance— Call BERT KLOPP Dial 236.4988 — ZURICH Representing CO.OPERATORS INSURANCE ASSOCIATION J , W. Hctberer Insurance Agency "AH Kinds of Insurance" DIAL 236-4391 ZURICH