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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1975-04-24, Page 10 NO 16 - FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1975 20¢ PER COPY FLOOD CONDITIONS IN HENSALL - Last Friday night's heavy downpour of rain caused consid- erable damage in many areas, and a section of the village of Hensall was under water for almost a day. A couple of Hensall boys seemed to enjoy the situation, however, as they got out their canoe and paddled up and down the small lakes. The homes along Richmond Street, south of the main business area, was the hardest hit, as well as a number of business places. Question quality of instruction Concern about adequate religious instruction by qualif- ied teachers in Catholic schools in Huron and Perth and in the province was expressed by the Huron Perth Roman Catholic separate school board at their meeting last Monday night in Seaforth. Trustees, who returned last week from attending the Ontario Separate School Trustees Assoc- iation convention in Toronto, reported that a resolution from he local board, recommending an information program in high schools and universities to en- courage Ronan Catholic stud- ents to become teachers, was passed by the association. The board initiated the resolu- tion because they were concern- ed about a shortage of Roman Catholic teachers. A program is being developed by Catholic educators to teach religion in the provinces teacher colleges, trustees learned at the convention. A report on the courses will soon be presented to the ministryof education, trustee Howard Shantz, said and he called the move "the bright spot of the whole converence, " Adding to Mr. Shantz's report, war, contract Transportation and Comm- unications Minister John R. Rhodes announced the award of a contract for Highway 83 in the Stratford district. The contract is for hot mix paving on Highway 83 from Highway 23 (Russeldale) wester- ly to Highway 21 (Brewster) for 24.1 miles. Work on the project is sched- uled to commence in May with completion set for Septem- ber, 1975. The contract is awarded to Huron Construction Co. Limit- ed of Chatham at a cost of $655,792. director of education John Vin - tar said the religious education program will be relevant to students as they are now. He said the feeling of those on the religious education panel at the conference was that parents have primary responsibility but a good example by teachers has great bearing in giving children a religious background. The course for teachers must be voluntary, because it's a university course and must be general to a certain extent in order,to qualify for provincial funds, Mr. Vintar said, It will be a 50 hour long credit course and will include one semester on theory and one on teaching methods, the director said. Mr. Vintar said course cont- ent will include Catholicism, God's relationship to man, faith community and Christian mor- ally. He called the course "encouraging." We need people versed in the new facets of rel- igion, " he said, Trustee Shantz said that in the 1960's the attendance of Cath- olic students at religion courses in Teachers Colleges dropped off. Changes in the. church have caused confusion, he said. "Years ago we were taught the Butler catechism and are not prepared for changes, " he said, and cited eating meat on Frid- ay and attending mass on Sat- urday night as things which were not acceptable a few years ago. The hoard will encourage teachers presently on staff to attend the courses when they become available. Other trustee reported on sessions they had attended at the separate school trustees convention. Vince Young of Goderich said he was "disappointed and shocked" at what he learned at a session for separate school representatives to public school boards. The majority felt there was no communication or co- operation with the separate school boards in their areas, he said, Mr. Young said he'd like to see more communication and "dovetailing" with reps but I! "we're not too familiar with programs in our schools. How can we expect them to be farn- iliar with both schools?" Trustee Don Crowley, who attended a session on special education at the convention, aid the local board's specialed program was very good compar- ed to what some other boards are doing. "Bigger boards than ours are hiring special educat- ion services from the public boards, " he said. It is not now mandatory that boards provide special ed serrices, he said. Assistant superintendent Joseph Tokar said he felt spec- ial education was a moral responsibility for boards who claim to be providing equality of educational opportunity, (continued on page 20) , Education costs raise taxes 5 to 6 mills The Huron County Board of Education approved a budget at a special meeting Monday night totalling $15,783,772. The new budget is an increase of $2, 396,2 33 or 17.9 percent over the previous year's expenditures. The budget presented to the board by budget committee chairman Marion Zinn repres- ented an average mill rate in- crease of 5.95 bringing the total mill rate assessment to 47, 08. In her presentation to board members Mrs. Zinn stat- ed that the budget• was a realist- ic appraisal of the board's needs for the year 1975. The budget total is comprised of $7, 814, 356 in elementary .school expenditures and $7, 969, 416 in secondary school expend- itures. Provincial grants totall- ing $11,52 9, 314 make up 73.05 per cent of the total while municipality and township ass- essments totalling $3, 554, 761 will make up 22.52 per cent of the total. The remaining 4.43 per cent or 699, 697 will be made up from tuitions of non - county resident students and miscellaneous revenues. In the elementary panel of the budget $4,787,164 of the expenditures are paid for labor and benefits and office supplies. Capital building expenditures, transportation, bus purchases, debenture costs and other non- operating costs will total $1, 399, 446. The remainder of the elementary school expenditure is comprised of books and supplies, custodial maintenance costs and special transporation expenses. In secondary school expend- itures a total of $5, 036, 136 has been budgeted for salary and benefits and office supplies. Extra ordinary expenditures which include capital building projects, transportation, deb- enture costs and non-operating expenses total $1, 061, 663. The remainder of the secondary?' school expenditures is compris- ed of library books and supplies, cafeteria and custodial maint- enance, contractual mainten- ance and special transportation expenses. The budget committee also made additional provisions of $22, 000 in the budget for the institution of a preventative (continued on page 12) 0 C7' rp X31- 01 (may • �F-s 11 Y5 ►,I 'Cu H " Cu 0F Henson woman awarded damages Widow Antoinette Elizabeth Bengough, of Hensall, was awarded $38, 306 damages last Wednesday for injuries she suffered in a rear -end, two -car crash on Highway 84 about one- half mile east of Zurich, Jan- uary 24, 1973. Mr. Justice Frank Donnelly of the Ontario Supreme Court also awarded the woman $8, 000 for the death of her husb- and, James R. Bengough, who was killed in the accident. He operated a machine and welding business in Hensall with the couple's two sons. Mrs. Bengough was given $23, 000 general damages for pain, discomfort and loss of enjoyment of life, and $15, 306 special damages, for medical and out-of-pocket expenses. She suffered fractures of her left leg, a broken pelvis, and abrasions and lacerations. She was in hospital more than five months, in a wheelchair and on crutches after that, and still uses a cane while walking, the judge said. The car was struck in the rear by one driven by John Paul Ducharme, 20, of Clandeboye. The Bengough car left the high- way and struck a tree after impact. READY FOR SCHOOL - Rebecca and David Stevens of Bayfield appear to be rather wary of health nurse Mrs. M. Roberton as she checks their tummies. The new experience for the twirls was at the kindergarten registration and health screens % conducted at St, Boniface School, Zurich.