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Zurich Citizens News, 1971-04-15, Page 1No crd©Eh 15—ALWAYS FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS ZURICH, ONTARIO, THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1971 10 CENTS PER COPY WIN TRIP TO ENGLAND- The Zurich Chamber of Commerce held a lucky draw for a "Trip to England for Two, " in connection with their annual Sauerkraut Supper last Wednesday, and the winner was Bob Merner, of Zurich. Shown here with the lucky couple who will be travelling to England this fall as a result of their winnings are Doug Armstrong, left, chairman of the draw, and Hay Township reeve Joseph Hoffman, right, who pulled the lucky ticket. About 600 people were fed at the annual supper. Plan Special Education Program (by Shirley J. Keller) "I believe we have taken the first significant step towards a very expanded special education plan for Huron County, " stated Bob Elliott, chairman of the Ilur- on County Board of Education. Members of the board meeting Monday afternoon and evening in Clinton agreed to provide a spec- ial education program throughout Huron County beginning this fall, providing sufficient funds can be raised to pay for it. The full program as proposed by W . D. Kenwell, superintendent of special education services in the county, would cost $204, 300 for the 1971-72 year. It calls for one additional superintendent at a salary of $21, 000. one psycholo gist at $19, 000; one psychomet- rist at $10, 800; one remedial reading specialist for the second- ary schools at $7, 800 each; three special learning disabilities spec- ialists for the elementary schools at $7, 800 each; one secretary at $3, 500; five secondary school guidance teachers at $54, 000 (tot. al) and three elementary school guidance counsellors at $23, 400 (total). In addition there would be other costs such as travelling allowances etc. It is understood that the board will implement only as much of this proposal as can be economic- ally sound for the county at this time. However, the members of the board were made aware of thetremendous need throughout Huron County for this type of education. A presentation during afternoon session pointed up the fact that some children have special learn- ing handicaps which can only be overcome by experts in the field of special education. These hand- icaps can include such things as perceptual problems, visual and audial difficulties, motor control troubles etc. A film shown to the board members showed that between 15 and 20 percent of all children may be experiencing some learn- ing disabilities which are prevent- ing them from achieving their potential. It was proven that while these youngsters have aver- age and above average intellig- ence, some quirk within them prevents them from learning by the usual methods employed in the present educational system in Huron County. It was shown, for instance, that some children are unable to express themselves through writ- ten examinations when they would compete more than adequately if given the opportunity for oral examinations; some students must learn through movement, actual touching and feeling. The whole spectrum of special learning disabilities is so wide, it was learned, that it would not be possible to list them all in a short space. It was also shown that the will to learn and to achieve is often killed with repeated failure at school. Students can become hostile, frustrated and occasion- ally delinquent because no one has been able to help them dis- cover their own particular learn- ing disability and tailor a special educational program to their spec ific needs so that learning can take place. W. D. Kenwell called for the new three R's - respect for what the student is able to do; resource to enable him to achieve his goals; and research to aid his continued success. The presentation by Kenwell and Mrs, Eleanor Scott, princi- pal of Huron Hope School for the Retarded at Huron Park; Bruce Robertson, principal of Howick Central School; Ken Laughton, (continued on page 15) Huron -Perth Separate School Board Approves Slight Increase in Budget A budget of $2,191, 200. was approved Monday night in Sea - forth at a special meeting of the I-iuron-Perth County Roman Cath- olic Separate School Board. This is an increase of five and one-half per cent over last years budget of $2, 077,163. Jack Lane, business administ- rator, in outlining the budget report, said the ordinary exp- enditures which include all exp- enditures which include debt charges (principal and interest on debentures), transportation and tuition fees will be $466, 955. The maximum required from the 45 municipalities in the two counties for separate school purposes will amount to $375, 255 less the education mill rate sub- sidy of $32, 540 for a net break even requirement from the mun- icipalities of $342, 685. 00 to be raised through taxation. This requirement from the municipalities of $342, 685. will provide for the refund of the or- iginal 1968 surplus amount of $20, 448. and to recover $11, 912. from former under levies in years 1969 and 1970. Trustee Michael Connolly, R. R. 3, Kippen, chairman of the finance committee, said a mill rate raise can be expected. He reported the committee will mee on April 16 to review the rates (continued on page 15) Students Needed for Huron Site of Conestoga College The future of a community college in Huron County hangs in the balance unless more int- erest is shown by students in the county. In an interview on Friday, Ross Milton, Administrator of operations for Conestoga College of Applied Arts and Technology in 1-luron, said Conestoga is pre- pared to offer college courses beginning this fall at a campus in the county but that response from students had been minimal. He said space has already been reserved at Canadian Forces Base Clinton and he had prepared 18 courses based on the needs of business and industry within the county but so far the response has been so lacking that "we are going to have a hard time justif- ying our budget." "If the people of Huron want a college in their midst then we must have people to train, " Mr. Milton said. Mr. Milton, who has represent. ed Conestoga in the county from his offices in Seaforth for nearly a year, said he has been examin- ing the needs of the county dur- ing the time he has spent here and could guarantee jobs within the county to the graduates of the Clinton Campus. He said immed• iate plans for a college in Huron call for about 200 full time stud- ents and 250 part time students. "As soon as we have the stud- ents we're ready to go, " Mr. Milton said. Mr. Milton explained that the courses are designed under 10 programs. These include: 1. The post -secondary plan, offering two and three-year diploma courses for high school graduates on a full time, day school basis. 2. The Canada Manpower Training Plan, offering courses. to teach specific skills for the Manpower and Immigration Dep- , artment, These very in length and include such things as teach- ing English to new Canadians or teaching skills such as welding. 3. Ontario Referral Plan, under which persons are trained in classes primarily meant for the Canada Manpower Training Plan but given to persons who do not qualify for benefits from Canada Manpower. 4. The Registered Nurse's Assistant course, for persons being trained under the certification of the College of Nurses or the Ont- ario Health Association. Some such training has been carried on in the county at times in the past 5. The Management Develop- ment Plan, aimed at increasing the efficiency of the individual enterprise. Gr aduates from this course can work up to an Ontario Managers Certificate. This course•was formerly offered by the Trade and Development Department. 6. Personal Enrichment Prog- rams, offering short courses in (continued on page 13) 0 Zurich Youth Wins At Music Festival Steven Horner , R. R. 2, Zur- ich, won the open competition for cornet or trumpet soloists with a mark of 89, at the annual Kiwanis Music Festival held in London on Monday. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Keith Horner. Steven has been a member of the Zurich Centennial Band since it's origin, and quite frequently plays solo numbers at various functions in the areas. NEW PUMP INSTALLED - A new submersible pump was installed in well number two, of the Zurich Water System, during the past week. Two village employees, Gary Maxwell, left, and Gordon Hay, right are shown here with the new unit just as it is being lowered into the casing of the well.