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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-02-25, Page 66 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday,February 25 2004 Opinion Forum News Ringette issue Continued from page 5 reader of the T -A I believe it is time to give a fair amount of coverage to the Exeter and District Ringette Association. Most recently one of the EDRA teams went to the city of Richmond Hill to represent Exeter in a very large tournament. The result of their hard work was a gold medal after two days of play. Upon purchasing my weekly copy of the T -A, I found no picture of the gold medal team—quite to my surprise! After reading the weekly paper, I was only able to find part of an article covering this team's first two games. The remaining cov- erage of the other games must have been lost by the T- A. After discussing this with other team parents I was informed that we are only allowed one picture per year for any sports team. I have a very hard time believing this is the case when I see the hockey and high school sporting events receiving detailed coverage and pictures in your paper on a very regular basis. I have decided that it is time I stop buying your paper and supporting a local business that doesn't provide equal and fair cover- age for all the families and teams that support it (T -A). I have decided to buy the London Free Press on a daily basis from now on because they seem to inform us of the local news better than our own community paper. Besides, almost anything in the T -A can be usually heard in the local coffee shops a few days before it comes out in the paper. Rick MArrucci, Exeter. Editor's Note: The T -A policy of one picture per year is 'One Team Photo Per Year.' This is because in many cases teams win tournaments, league championships, regional championships, provincial events and so on. It would be possible for one team on a winning streak to have their team photo in the T -A many times. This also gives most teams a chance to have their photo published recogniz- ing some accomplishments. Having several teams pub- lished once is certainly better from a readership stand- point than having one team in the paper many times. We try our best to provide a good variety of local sport news, relying on contact with a wide variety of team officials. Most of the time we do a good job if the info gets to us in a timely manner. I regularly compare our coverage with other communi- ty newspapers and in most cases we devote a larger percentage of our newspaper to sports. Whether you purchase the T -A or not is a value deci- sion you have to make. We do not in any way compete against the London Free Press which does a great job in bringing world, Canadian and London news to your home. If you would keep track of the number of South Huron and area photos and stories in the T -A compared to the Free Press, I would appreciate the total. Kindness and generosity not forgotten Dear Editor: I would like to use your forum to thank a group of peo- ple that stopped to help me recently. On Fri., Feb. 6, 2004, I lost control of my car on an icy road in Perth County. Unfortunately, my car landed on its side in the ditch. Shortly afterward three men on their way to work in Woodstock stopped to help. They were kind enough to let me wait in their warm van (on a very cold and icy winter morning) for the OPP to arrive. After a 45 -minute wait, the group was on their way again and I know that because they stopped to help a stranger they were late for work. I do not know the names of those that helped me nor where exactly they work, only that they were from Exeter. I did not get a chance to thank them prop- erly that morning — their kindness and generosity will not be forgotten. CINDY CADE, Mitchell. The Gospel truth Dear Editor: While I consider the Bible an important book to lead us, we should not take it literally. People with failing memories wrote the Bible. Translating and passing on the messages will lose the Bible's accuracy, even in a short span of time. Jesus often spoke in parables to make a point. People at that time were simple-minded. They trusted those who were considered God's messenger. Times have changed dra- matically. The truth has been pulverized into fragments by prophets of our time whether they are religious or secular. No more can we believe in those who are our leaders or news -makers. Scandal after scandal came to light. We once thought that only immoral people would lead us astray. Some religious leaders have become the wolves in sheep clothing. We have become skeptical of their behaviour and their high positions. Instead of look- ing up to them, we now justify our wrong -doing by pat- terning ourselves after them. After all, if messengers of God behave like that, why can't we. Morals and ethics are trampled on. We have become a self-serving society where the politicians lead the way and the media play the same game. The Bible may not be foolproof but we would do well by following the guidelines. It is by far better than fol- lowing the corrupt minds of those in charge or believing in their lies. We are fortunate to have many who have the courage to speak out when they see evil and deceit. But we do not have enough of them. Yes it takes courage to stand up in defense of justice. Many lost their lives to make this a better world. Was their effort in vain or are we willing and ready to honour their commitment. Evil triumphs when good men and women do or say nothing. The times may be near when the decisive battle between good and evil will be fought. Are we ready? ADRIAN KEET, Ingersoll. MORE LETTERS SEE PAGE 7 Principal's message EXETER — In my column last week I reported that the trustees have rescinded the motion passed a few years ago requiring all secondary schools run year-long programs. This change means schools are now free to con- sider a return to having semesters, but with some conditions attached. First of all, we are required to consult our students, parents and staff before mak- ing any changes, and, secondly, Grade 9 and 10 English and math classes must continue to be run year-long. From my perspective we have three options. The first option is to continue to run the year-long (or desemestered) program we have. The second option is to keep all our Grade 9 and 10 classes as year- long, and to run semesters in Grades 11 and 12. The third choice is to have some courses in Grades 9 and 10 run year-long and have semesters for all the rest. Needless to say, there are advan- tages and disadvantages to each of these three choices, and there are many factors to consider before we make any changes. The debate over which "system" is better has gone on for years, and there is no definitive answer as to which system, semesters or year-long, is best. If there were, we would all be using that system across this province and throughout Canada. Our consultation process begins this week with meetings with the Students' Council and the staff. At the request of the School Council, we are holding the parent consultation last, although, in fact, the School Council was the first group that I consulted. At our meeting last week, we decided to hold an open meeting of the Council and to invite interested parents to attend. We hope to have both students and staff at the meeting to hear their thoughts on the issue, and there will be opportunities for par- ents to ask questions and raise any concerns they may have. The meeting will take place Tues., March 2, at 7 p.m. in the school library. South Huron has had a year-long program for several years now, and there are few of our current students who have taken classes in a semestered system. Many of our younger staff are in the same situation, while some of our more experienced staff (aka the older staff like me) have taught in a num- ber of different systems, both year-long and semes- tered. There will be some interesting discussion and debate as we work our way through the consulta- tion process. I will be encouraging all parties to ask questions and offer their opinions. I will be providing teachers in each classroom information to be posted for the students, showing some comparisons between the year-long and semestered programs. At the consultation with the Students' Council, I will be asking for input on the prospect of surveying the students regarding their preferences and/or holding some open meetings at lunchtime that any students may attend to let me know their thoughts on the matter. In the end, regardless of what decision is made, there will be those who agree with it and those who oppose it. That is a given. But hopefully everyone will have had the opportunity to offer input and express an opinion on the issue, and I am looking forward to some interesting discussions. JEFF REABURN PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE Panther Profile EXETER — Last Thursday the girls' hockey team played Listowel. They played hard, but were defeated. This past Friday was a successful day for the Panthers. The boys' hockey team won their game against F. E. Madill, 7-3. They will host the Huron -Perth tournament Friday. The teams involved are South Huron, Stratford Central, F.E. Madill and Listowel. South Huron will play Stratford Central in the semi-finals. The senior boys' basketball team won the Huron Semi -Final against Central Huron Friday. Also coming out with a victory on Friday was the junior boys' basketball team. They won 56 - 36 in the semi-final game against Central Huron. Today, South Huron will host the Huron -Final against Goderich. This past Monday, Mr. Reaburn met with the Students' Council Executive to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of semestered and dese- mestered systems. Next Tues., March 2, there will be an open meeting of the School Council to discuss the same issue. Interested parents are encouraged to attend. The meeting is at 7 p.m. The Fashion Show will be held next Wed., March 3, in the large gym at 7 p.m. Tickets are only three dollars and are available from students involved in the show or from the school. The school's phone number is 235- 0880. Everyone is welcome to attend! Coming events Feb. 25 — Junior boys' basketball team hosts Goderich Feb. 26 — Midget boys' basketball team to Mitchell — Curling — Huron playdowns in Vanastra — Reach for the Top team to Clinton Feb. 27 — Boys' hockey — Huron -Perth tournament — Junior boys' basketball game — to be announced March 2 — School Council meeting in Library at 7 p.m. — Student Health Clinic — Curling — Huron -Perth playdowns in Vanastra March 3 — Immunization — Fashion Show ASHLEY ERB SHDHS Fashion Show Next week, the senior class at South Huron dis- trict high school will be putting on its annual fash- ion show in order to raise funds for this years for- mal. Being a participant in the show, I have seen the amount of hard work put forth by many of the stu- dents and administration in order to make it a memorable and worthwhile event. Exeter contains many quality clothing stores, and as always are given first opportunity to participate in the show. This means that they are able to have free advertising in the community before many stu- dents start looking for formal outfits or clothing for summer holidays or vacations. However, not every store asked is willing to be in the show. This means that in order to have a show that is decent length, the coordinators sometimes have no choice but to look outside of the community for support. Unfortunately, this tends to upset some of the local stores, and they see it as direct competition. By no means are the coordina- tors of the show trying to cause any form of conflict with the stores. It can be looked at this way: by having a store from London advertised along side a store from Exeter, people can see the quality of items that can be purchased right in our own town rather than making a trip to London. Coordinators of the show cannot force a store to participate if they do not choose to, but it has to be understood that something else has to take that store's place. Rather than becoming upset at the few students who are trying their hardest to make the show fair for everyone, business owners should try to encourage other stores in the community to agree to participate. That way, the more local stores involved, the less stores outside of the com- munity will be asked. Also, refusing to do the show because a few London stores are also to be involved is not helping yourself at all; it's only leaving a space open for another London store and causing your store to lose free advertising. Once again, Exeter should pride itself for its wide variety of successful businesses. A great deal of work is put into the fashion show, so come out March 3rd and show your support for not only the students, but our community business owners as well. DEBRA TOONK