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Home My WebLink AboutZurich Citizens News, 1971-11-18, Page 9THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1971 ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS PAGE 9. Credit system for high schools The implications of the credit system in secondary school, to become effective in all Ontario 1-Iigh schools in September 1972, were discussed in detail Mon- day afternoon at the regular meeting of the Huron County Board of Education meeting. This was the second of a ser- ies of information meetings concerning education scheduled .for this fall and winter. The committee who presented the brief consisted of Gordon Smith, chairman, CHSS; Robert 110- muth, CHSS; Arch Dobson, Seaforth SS; Jack Kopas, F. E. Madhill S S: Ken Lawton, South 1-luron SS; and Jack Seaman, Goderich Collegiate. Charles Rau represented the trustees on this committee and Superintend- ent Frank Madill was the board office committee member. Outlining the background of the new credit system, Bob Homuth, principal of CHSS in Clinton, said that just a few years ago, students had very little choice about the subjects they would take in secondary school. "Prior to 1960, " said Ilomuth, "students entering Secondary School were offered a package of subjects with little or no choices of courses. Students were forced to take subjects in many cases in which they had no aptitude or interest. If a student did not obtain a passing average he was obliged to re- peat the entire year. In other words, he. would be repeating subjects in which he had ach- ieved well, and continue those subjects in which he had little or no competence or interest." This led to dissatisfaction which resulted in many drop- outs." continued Homuth, "Under 10 percent of the students who enrolled in Grade 9 completed Grade 13. During this period the educational program was mainly geared to prepare students for University, Nursing Instututions and teachers' colleges. " "In 1961 the Reorganized Program of Studies - Robarts Plan - was introduced to better meet the needs of students and hence reaise the retention rate. " said Homuth. "This was the period of Russian superiority in space exploration which led to a great cry for technological training. More avenues should be opened to the students. This new plan offered courses in Arts and Science, Business and Commerce, Science, Technol- ogy and Trades with four and five year programs in each of the above branches. In addition a two-year occupational prog- ram was offered to students who were transferred rather than promoted from Grade 8 of the elementary system. As a result of this program students were better able to select courses for their needs and capabilities." "It was evident that many more students fulfilled the req- uirements for secondary school diplomas. The retention rate was better, " continued Homuth. "The. system was still fairly rigid in that students after Grade 9 were locked -in in the program which they had selected. To- ward the end of the 60s students were permitted to move from one branch to another." "By the end of the 60s the emphasis on technological training was waning in favor of a more humanistic approach, "Homuth explained. "Basic knowledge, skills and aptitudes which have already been est- ablished must become more highly developed in keeping with the increased demands of life in Canadian society. The vital qualities of curiosity and imagination require consistent yet delicate stimulation. Among the basic principles of education there is also the fact that one of the greatest contributions a school can make to its students is to dev- elop in them an active desire to continue learning through- out their lives." "The knowledge explosion in most subject fields indicates the futility of emphasizing only the gathering and memorizing of large numbers of facts and details, " stated Homuth. "It is more important in most subjects that students learn to investigate, think, analyze, synthesize, interpret and record. Any of the subject disciplines can provide an adequate vehicle for the development of learning skills." "Where the student selects his own program to meet his own needs and his own interests he is more apt to progress to an adeq- uate acquisition of knowledge IL EVERY H4N/S FREE TO CHOOSE fd/S OWN FORM OFONTRB✓NENT• "BLONDE.., BRUN'ETTE OR REO -N 4D" OL ontracting BUILDING and REMO E+ ]LING WE WILL BUILD YOUR HOME • COTTAGE • :'' ABN • GARAGE One contract will take caro of your complete protect, including PLLTMBING • HEATING • ELECTRICAL WORK 2 Backhoes Available for Prompt Service Aluminum M'; t'}rs an ond; « s jry $38 STANDARD STOCK SIZE DOORS Completely Installed I.hk, 236.479 ZURICH and these learning skills." I io- muth pointed out. "The mean- ingful search for knowledge will continue beyond his high school days into his adult life." "Hence the crddit system has been introduced in some schools and must be put into effect in all schools by Septem- ber 1972." concluded Homuth. "This will necessitate the use of individual timetables through- out all schools to accommodate students' freedom of choice." In summing up, Superintend- ent Madill claimed this was "not an educational break- through" since this system has been either partially or fully in use in many schools for sev- eral years. Jack Scaman, Guidance Head at GDCI, explained the four new areas of study as designated by the Ontario Department of Education. They are Communic- ations, those studies which are primarily concerned with man's interchange of thought and with all modes of human expression (such as languages, creative writing, data processing, draft- ing etc).; School Sciences, those studies which are primar- ily concerned with man's uni- que nature and the spatial and social forces which affect his destiny and his interaction with the environment in which he lives (such as economics, geog- raphy, history, marketing, world politics etc.); pure and applied Sciences, those studies Steer This ay BY LARRY SNIDER At this very moment, 1,800,000 cars lie abandoned in the U.S., give or take a few thousand plus. Massachusetts already has a law providing no-fault auto insurance coverage up to $2,000. The 1972 models release about 70% less pollution into the air than those of 1965. * Car makers are hoping to produce a car that can safely crash into a brick wall at 30 miles -per -hour. *. 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A credit is defined as success- ful completion of a course cont- aining work that normally would be completed after 110 to 120 hours of scheduled class study. Scaman pointed out that on an average, this works out to about one period daily. For a secondary school grad- uation diplopia, a student must have satisfactorily completed 27 credits on the following basis: at least one credit from each of the four areas of study in each of the student's first two years in secondary school (eight credit*; at least one further credit after the first two years from each of the four areas of study (four credits); and a further 15 credits for a (continued on page 15) MI6 REDI-MIX CINCRE E (ALSO FORM WORK) McCann Coast. Ltd. DASHWOOD Phone 237-3381 or 237-3422 esoav TQP-LOADING PORTABLE DISHWASHER Wash dishes once a day Keeps dirty dishes out of sight and your sink and kitchen clean. Simply load soiled dishes after every meal, and, at the end of the day wash 'em all at once. 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