Zurich Citizens News, 1977-11-03, Page 13Page 14
Citizens News, November 3, 1977
SS may have task force on enrolment
The Huron -Perth County
Roman Catholic Separate School
Board reviewed the five-year
capital expenditure forecast as
requested by the ministry of
education. Once more the board
will submit a request for
renovations at St. Michael's
School in Stratford at an
estimated cost of $165,000 to
provide for home economics,
industrial arts, and a music
room. This project was submitted
in 1975 and rejected by the
ministry because capital funds
were not available.
In 1976 no forecast was
requested,
As well, the board will be
requesting approval for $15,000
for the replacement of one 1970
school bus in its fleet of eight
buses.
Declining enrolments continue
as a concern to the board as well
as to other boards. Joseph Mills,
superintendent of education, and
Jack Lane, superintendent of
business and finance, attended a
meeting in Toronto of the
Pro Life
pick slate
"It the right to be born is not
protected, all other rights are a
mockery." stated Professor Ian
Hunter of the Faculty of Law,
University of Western Ontario at
the annual meeting of the
Goderich and District Pro Life
Group held at St. Peter's Parish
Hall, St. Joseph two weeks ago.
"Criminal law predates
Confederation in Canada and has
always contained sections
prohibiting abortion", Prof.
Hunter said.
At the meeting the Board of
Directors for the upcoming year
-were elected: Honorary Co-
chairmen — Reverend Marvin
Barz and Reverend Neil'Watt of
Goderich; regular sitting
members — Gordon Crab, Pat
Martin, Charity McDonald,
Hariet Klazinga, Helen
McCarthy (Goderich), Clarice
Dalton, Teresa Courtney, Pat
Howard, Betty Frayne, Mary
Clare, Father Ed. Dentinger
(Kingsbridge), Ken Riedy, Con
Brand, Earl Hiepel (Clinton),
Joanne Vermont, Andre Durand,
Peter Jeffrey (St. Joseph), Dave
Zyluk (Kincardine) and Rita
Gilmore (Lucknow).
Commission on Declining
Enrolments October 14.
In their report on the meeting
they said they were provided with
statistics on the declining
numbers not only in Ontario
schools but across Canada. They
said the commission was set up to
study the problem and will be
taken to strategic places in the
province to receive briefs from
school boards, community
groups and individuals.
They said the board will have to
look at setting up a task force
which would include ratepayers,
trustees, administration staff and
school personnel. The task force
could begin- the study after
another conference in Niagara
Falls on December 1, 2 and 3 on
the same subject which will be
attended by trustees Ronald
Murray, Ted Geoffrey, Ronald
Marcy, Arthur Haid and David
Teahen,
William Eckert, Director of
Education, said there was a
decline of 161 students in Huron
and Perth separate schools as
had been projected and that next
year they were projecting a
decline of 180 students. He said
that classrooms cannot be closed
according to the decrease in
enrolment because the decrease
is spread out in the 19 schools in
the two counties.
Mr. Eckert said the public
must be educated to the problem
so they can understand why
changes must be made by the
boards.
At the meeting in Dublin
Monday night a presentation was
made by John McDonald, RR 2,
Mitchell, regionalmanager of the
western region, St. John
Ambulance seeking to have the
first aid program purchased by
the board for use in the schools in
the system.
Mr. McDonald outlined the
history of the association which
has been established to promote
healing, sustain life and alleviate
suffering. He said safety habits
come from changing the attitude
of people. He said this has proved
successful in the factories and
among other workers and now
the emphasis is on school
children.
He said a special program has
been set up for the schools and
explained its value to the school
system. He stated that the
knowledge that children gain in
handling accidents is reflected in
safety habits in the home, that
the first aid skills the student
learns will be of value to that
person throughout his or her life,
and that in many summer
positions, a knowledge of first aid
is necessary or at least helpful.
Mr. McDonald said that the
eight-hour course would be given
to only Grades 7 and 8 students. It
involves training the teachers
first that they will be able then to
instruct their students. He ex-
plained that the Workmen's
Compensation Board endorses the
program and will pay for two
teachers from each school to take
the course. Any extra teachers
taking the course would cost
°$16.00 each. The board would
purchase the program including.
films, books and other materials.
Mr. Eckert suggested that the
proposal for the course be
presented to the principals to find
out if the teachers would be in-
terested in taking the course to
teach it to their Grades 7 and 8
students. The board members
agreed' to this suggestion,
The next professional activity
day will be held November 4.
A F ALLOWE'EN FAMILY — Members of the Gerald Hall family of R.R. 2, Dashwood were out with the
other ghosts and goblins Monday evening in Zurich. Brian, Maxwell, Andrea, Simon, Mathew and Mrs. Hall
took advantage of the good weather to do some trick or treating. Staff photo
Landowners main objection:
people don't ask permission
A recreational survey done
recently in Huron County showed
that many landowners in the
county don't object to people
using their land for recreation
provided they ask. The survey,
completed by the ministry of
natural resources, showed that
most landowners object to people
using their land without asking
and that many are opposed to
HALLOWE'EN COSTUMES — Last Thursday was the Hallowe'en dressup competition at Zurich Public
School. Winners for grades five and six were: Allyson Shepard funniest, Lori Turkheim, Lori Turnbull tied for
the fanciest costume and Danny Rader took the honours as the scariest. Staff photo
mechanized recreational
vehicles being used on their land.
Roy Bellinger, a conservation
officer with natural resources,
told Huron County- Council
Friday that 2,234 landowners
were surveyed in Huron and
Perth counties and townships in
Bruce and Middlesex counties.
He said the survey had a 60
percent return from the owners
and'gave the ministry a good idea
about people's concerns of public
use of their land.
Bellinger said the greatest
objection was mechanized
recreational vehicles. He said
people seemed to be concerned
about damages resulting from
the use of dune buggies,
snowmobiles, motorcycles and
other such vehicles. He said there
was also a great deal of comment
about discourteous treatment
from operators of the vehicles.
He added that almost 38 percent
of the 'replies frowned , on the
mechanized recreation.
The survey was done on a
random basis. Bellinger said the
ministry personnel took the
assessment roll for the area and
picked every seventh landowner
and mailed a •questionnaire.He
said the questionaire covered
every aspect of public recreation
and asked that the owner answer
questions only if his land was
suitable for that type of
recreation. He explained that
there would be no purpose in a
person comMenting on fishing if
his land had ho fishing area on it.
The purpose of the survey was
to see if the province could offer
landowners any protection
against people abusing
privileges. He said the province
realizes there are problems from
itsexperience with provincial
parks. He said there seems to be
more , to a trend toward
recreational activities in rural
areas and that there is more
damage to private property as a
result.
NORM SALMON
GENERAL
CONSTRUCTION
• - Remodelling
- Renovations
- Repairs
- Painting
- Additions
GOOD RATES
236-4288
52 Main St. W. ZURICH
NOTICE
Township of Stanley Taxpayers are reminded
that the second instalment of 1977 taxes are
due on or before Nov. 15, 1977. Avoid the
penalty for late payment by remitting before
Nov. 15.
Mel Graham
Clerk Treasurer
sautarmeategill