The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1974-05-30, Page 4Normalization: The word maY not
mean much to you, Yoe may.not even find it
in your dictionary. But for more than two
Million Canadians, or one-tenth of our pop-
elation, the Word is becoming increasingly
important,
The Canadians in question are the ap-
proximately 640,000 mentally retarded
citizens and their parents and families. For
them, normalization brings almost
revolutionary hope and new expectations.
Normalization, simply put, means let-
ting the mentally retarded person obtain an
existence as close to the normal as possi-
ble. It means, for example, that the mental-
ly retarded person be given the chance to do
things we've log denied him, because our
expectations of him were so low. It means
we must free him to live in more normal
settings. Sleeping in wards of fifty or more,
taking every meal in huge cafeterias, or
bathing in mass showers will never produce
normal behaviour, So we must change that.
It means we must free him to move and
communicate in ways typical for his age, to
use typical community resources, be they
recreational, religious, medical, social or
whatever. Being isolated in remote in-
stitutions or hospitals where one is labelled
as a patient or inmate, and where one can-
not mix with other community residents or
enjoy community amenities, is hardly con-
ducive of normal behaviour. So we must
change that, No one summed up the
nation's obligation and opportunity better
than did the late Georges P. Vanier, then
Governor General of Canada, in his plea for
a rightful place in our society for the men-
tally retarded. Here is what he said:
"I throw out this challenge to all those
who believe in the value of the human be-
ing, There are hundreds of thousands of in-
adequately cared-for persons who need
your scientific knowledge, who have need
for your heart, your affection and your love.
They have already been waiting too long."
Wingham Advance-Times
Where are leaders?
It was interesting to note in last week's
Wingham Advance-Times that the council
in that community agreed to purchase the
CNR station for use by the local Boy Scouts.
Reports from the meeting indicated
that interest in Scouting was at a peak in
Wingham and the youths had actually out-
grown their present facilities.
In contrast, we understand the Exeter
Lions are contemplating the sale of the
local Scout hall because interest in Boy
Scouts, Cubs, Girl Guides and Brownies has
waned considerably and the building is not
used enough to warrant the maintenance
costs paid by the Lions.
That's a most unfortunate situation,
because the social and recreational benefits
of such organizations to our young people
are most worthy and it is disappointing to
note that the interest has reached such a
low ebb.
The fact is, of course, there is no
evidence to suggest that interest among our
young people has waned. The problem in
most cases is that no leaders can be found
to maintain the programs.
It is not a problem confined solely to
the Scouting movement. Sunday schools,
minor athletics and other youth programs
suffer the same fate at times.
There are several reasons. Some adults
think they are too busy. Some are too busy,
Others think they don't have the necessary
qualifications. Many just don't want to get
involved.
They all have one thing in common and
that is the matter of forgetting that in the
days of their youth they were aided by some
adults of the day and that there must be
some responsibility to repay that opportuni-
ty by helping those who are now requiring
leaders.
- It is a sad commentary on the adults of
this community that programs which
benefit the younger generation are allowed
to disappear.
However, in view of the fact that many
communities experience peaks and valleys
(even in Wingham we're told) in youth
programs, it would appear that the Lions
should weigh most carefully any decision to
sell their Scout hall.
Hopefully, the community interest in
the movement will escape its present
valley.
+CNA
T6shion shows' do change
Child battering
and statistics
The quiet revolution
Christians-in-a-hurry
An election! Who needs it?
This week I'll deal with several
topics, none of them related, but
each of them an aspect of the
peculiar world we inhabit in 1974.
Why do so many young people
want to go into teaching? There's
no real future in it financially,
very little hope of finding a job
after teacher training, and only
an infinitesimal hope of
becoming important, famous, or
even notorious.
Yet the teachers' colleges keep
pouring out thousands of eager
and talented young people with a
flaming desire to be teachers.
We had two openings for
English teachers on our staff this
year, and received a pile of ap-
plications up to your knees. And
these aren't duds, who have been
weeded out of the profession
because of incompetence. They
are the cream of the crop, highly
qualified, many with some years
of experience, some with extra
degrees,
There's a certain amount of
security in a teaching job, and the
holidays are pretty good. But if
you want security, go into the
bank, and if holidays are your
chief concern, go on welfare.
Teaching has its reards and
satisfactions, but it's a wearing,
grinding life, physically and
emotionally. I feel sorry for all
those excellent young people
trying so desperately to get a toe-
hold in the profession. I wouldn't
Suggest to my worst enemy that
he (or she) go into teaching.
It would be the equivalent of
saying: "Get thee to a nunnery."
Strangely enough, I like it. But
then, 1 got into the game back in
Phone 215.1131
the days when there was a frantic
shortage of teachers, and they
were taking any old scruff who
could stand up in front of a class.
Now, the election. If those
idiots in Ottawa think anyone is
happy about it, they're as far out
of touch with public opinion as
usual.
The Liberals have had two
shots at it, and have proved little
except that they can't do much
about anything, Their policy
seems to be to cover the wounds
with talcum powder when the
patient is bleeding to death.
The Conservatives, in the last
eighteen months in opposition,
have not exactly set the House on
fire, which might be the best and
only way they could get the at-
tention of the electorate,
The NDP has had the best of
the deal in the last parliament,
letting the Liberals pull their
chestnuts out of the fire and
squelching any possibility of a
Tory blaze by voting with the
government. The part has shown
more politics than statesman-
ship, and an almost repulsive
enjoyment of power.
This time around we need more
than a shrug, a mumble, or a
smarmy washing of hands, We
need a government with the guts
to govern. And the chances of
getting it from the talent on
display seems minimal.
Personally, I'd vote for Joe
Stalin if he could do something
about inflation, and I'm sure
enough other people would to put
him in the P.M.'s chair.
Last week I chanced to look at
the price of a small can of bully
beef. Seven ounces, 82 cents. This
means, roughly, that a pound of
that smashed-up mess of meat,
gristle, fat, and the odd bit of
bone, from third-rate cattle, costs
about $1.85. There is something
rotten in the state of Argentina.
I am utterly appalled by our
grocery bills, and can't help
thinking that there is a grand rip-
off in there some where, The
farmers aren't getting it, and the
chain stores claim they aren't.
But someone is.
My heart bleeds for the large
family on a low income. The
working man demands higher
wages and is not even holding his
own when he gets them. We're
headed for a depression, chaps.
Your dollar of a gouple of decades
ago is worth fifty cents today, and
may be worth forty cents next
week.
Now I'll turn my attention to
something closer to home. And
closer is 'the word. I can hear my
grandbaby from all the way
downstairs, bellowing with
brazen lungs for his dinner.
He's a bonny baby. In fact, I
say without prejudice that he's
the handsomest boy baby I've
ever laid eyes on. Huge dark
eyes, and a grin that would melt a
Mother Superior. '
But his mother has some odd
ideas. She has some good ones,
too, like feeding him mother's
milk, on which he is waxing into a
butter-ball.
However, she wants to bring
him up the way the Indians and
Eskimaux do, Pick him up when
he cries; feed him when he's
+ +
On the other side of the ledger,
fashions are in high style at
spring weddings. It's becoming
difficult to know who the
bridesmaids are at some nup-
tials, because the guests are
dressed up in equally elegant
gowns.
hungry; play with him when he's
bored. Never speak crossly or
punish.
He's a "good" baby. Sleeps a
lot, chuckles a lot, kicks a lot,
plays with his hands, When his
mother is around.
Twice in the last three days,
I've offered to baby-sit, while his
Mum went to a show. No
problem. Baby sound asleep
after a good solid dinner from the
twin founts of life. And if he does
wake up, ole Grandad can always
amuse him with songs and witty
sayings .
Thirty minutes after his Mum
is Out of the house, he wakes up,
With bated breath I hear the first
bleat. With despair I hear it build
to a full-throated bellow that
would suggest the imp is being
martyred at the stake by the
Iroquois.
Pick him up, dandle him, jig
him, sing to him, talk my version
of Chinese to him, always a great
hit when Mum's around. No dice.
Ile wants grub, and I ain't
plumbed right for it, An hour and
a half of torture, changing
diapers, blowing on his belly,
Ititching and cooing. Nothing
works. His Mum comes horde,
whips out the equipment and the
little devil is asleep in ten
minute's, and sleeps all night.
So. Here are my predictions.
Another' minority government, a
major depression, and a spoiled
kid.
There was a time when the gals
in the wedding party were the
stars of the show, but now they
have to share the lime-light.
+ + +
Further to our tale about the
neighborhood cat who had kittens
under our verandah last week, 'we
report she is now no longer there.
No, the writer is not completely
ecstatic about her move. Fact is,
she found a way in to our
basement and now has her trio of
kittens taking up residence there.
The cat and members of our
family are having a real game.
We find her nest and she moves
the brood. We find her new nest
and she quickly packs' them up
and moves them again. \
At last count, the feline had
them in four different locations.
If you're looking for a cute,
little kitten, get your order in
early,
+ + +
It's not difficult to sympathize
with Exeter council members
these days.
'kirst there was the dust
'Problem that had their
telephones buzzing and letters
flowing. They eradicate that
problem with some oil and now
they expect to get complaints
about people getting that sub-
stance on their cars.
Worst of all, perhaps are the
problems associated with a wet
spring akin to the one we've been
experiencing. We imagine a few
of our elected officials ,must be
wondering if the town has any
drains at all.
Unfortunately, the solution to
the water problem (completion of
the sewers and installation of a
new,storm drain along Anne St.)
is being held up by the provincial
government.
Council had decided three
50 Years Ago
Miss Edna Follick and Miss
May Jones, of town, are leaving
this week for a pleasant visit to
Great Britain on the S.S.
"Marlock" for Glasgow, Sctland,
to attend the World's Sunday
School Convention.
Mr. F,W. Abbott is enlarging
his flower garden on Station
Street.
Mr. John Taylor's new house on
Carling Street is progressing
rapidly.
The London-Granton stage
route, which has been in
operation for about half a cen-
tury, was discontinued on
Monday last.
The report from the Ontario
Dental College, Toronto, shows
that Mr. James Walker, son of
Mr. William Walker of Exeter
North has been successful in
securing his D.D.S. degree.
25 Years Ago
Dougall-Rundle In James
Street UC, Exeter, Saturday May
21, Marian Rundle and Harry
Dougall exchanged marriage
vows before Rev, H, J. Snell.
Saturday, June 4, Eunice
Oestricher of Dashwood will
receive the degree Of Doctor of
Medicine at the spring UWO
convocation.
Nurses graduating from
victoria Hospital School of
Nursing are Laurene Zurbrigg,
Exeter; Eva Fullerton, formerly
of Exeter acid Jean Krueger of
&aid.
CNR freight office at Hensall
broke a record of SO years
standing last month when beat
shipments from the town reached
45,800 bags.
15 'Years Ago
Murray Desjardins, Municipal
Clerk at Grand Bend, received
"B" honours in the clerks and
years ago (or was it four?) to
take action to remedy the water
problem, but the delays in getting
approval from the various
government branches in Toronto
are almost unreal.
Meanwhile, residents suffer
and council members can do little
but explain that they are doing all
they can.
One thing most ratepayers fail
to realize is that members of
council live in the community too
and are well aware of the
problems, In fact, many of them
live on dusty streets and even
have occasional water problems.
It's too bad more ratepayers
don't come and sit at council
meetings once in awhile and
listen to the deliberations. We do
our best to report the many items
of business that come before
council, but obviously don't have
room to print everything that
takes place at a three or four-
hour session.
Those who do come to council
will find, in general, that
members are aware of problems
in the community and are con-
scientious in attempting to find
solutions.
However, they are limited in
many ways by the need for
getting approval from other
governments for many of the
projects as well as being realistic
in spending money that comes
out of taxpayer's pockets.
All councils in the area are
faced with these problems and
too seldom do they get much
encouragement or thanks for'the
time and effort they put into the
job, which is full of headaches.
We have weeks for every other
person and thing in society, from
cops to donuts, so why doesn't
someone initiate a "be kind to
elected officials week?"
By ELMORE BOOMER
Counsellor for
Information South Huron
For appointment
phone: 235-2715
or 235-2474
The worst season is winter. The
worst day is Sunday. The worst
'time is at' dusk. Emergency
wards become receiving centres
for battered children.
The baby arrives unconscious
in the arms of a young mother
with the father near at hand, The
excuse is often, "She fell."
The attending physician needs
to be of a special breed, It is
easier to accept the eitcuse than
to find the cause.
The risk for children is high in
such cases. One tabulation
compiled in an Australian
Hospital showed that 43 battered
children discharged to their
homes died within a week of their
discharge. Undetected child
battering leaves the remaining
children of the families con-
cerned, in a very vulnerable
situation.
Dr. C. Henry Kempe, a
pediatrician of Denver, initiated
use Of the term "battered child
syndrome". He has done many
other things to systematize and
categorize many facets of the
problem. Adequate record-
keeping is one such exercise. And
Denver now has more cases of
child battering than most corn-
muni ties,
Dr. Kempe claims that true
statistics would show that 250 to
300 battered children out of every
million population. Five of these
would be dead and 80 would have
suffered ' permanent brain
damage. New York City
discovered a higher ratio of
battered children for its
population.
Using a most conservative
formula, Ontario would have
2,000 child batterings in a year, 40
deaths and many children with
damaged brains. In 1972, the
official number was 491 child
batterings and six deaths.
A Central Register is kept by
the Child Welfare Branch of the
Ministry of Community and
Social Services, Mr. ,Cyril
Greenland, who has headed a
government study on child
battering, has shown many in-
consistencies in the collection of
data. The first two year's records
flaming rese bush.
Some will find growth easy;
most will find it difficult. Think of
the tiny snowdrop-shoot in the
hard ground, There's no real
certainty for it that even after it's
forced its weary way up through
that sunlight and warmth will
greet it, It would seem to be' an
impossible task for it, but the
inner urge of Life within the seed
compels it to carry out that task,
One writer says the Kingdom of
Heaven is like this,
Often we look only at what the
seed produces above the ground
forgetting that the plants must
have good roots. Two growths are
necessary , down and up.
Without a strong root the plant
will soon wither and die, The
higher the growth up, the deeper
must be the roots.
Strangely enough there are
people who think they can
become Christians-in-a-hurry,
With much activity they rush
about producing flowers and
lovely looking leaves of good
works, only to find after while
that they tire and grow limp and
perhaps fade away altogether,
These are the ones who cannot,
or do not want to discipline
themselves to the task of taking
time to be really grounded or
rooted in the faith.
They forget it takes only a few
months to produce a squash but
20 years for an acorn to grow into
a strong oak tree.
(1966 & 1967) have been
destroyed. Many entries are
undecipherable. Certain cases
reported by different sources
were discarded by officials.
Many officials do not even report
deaths by child-battering.
The difficulty in reporting such
occurrences is only heightened
by the fact that battered children
can die without a visible mark ow
the bodies. Dr,' H. B. Cotnam,
Ontario's Supervising, Coroner
conducted an autopsy on an 8-
month old baby who seemingly
died from a mild infection,
Although there were no
scratches or bruises, Dr. Cotnam
found 20 separate skull fractures
in differing stages of healing. It
was found that the father used to
swing him by the legs against the
wall,
We must add to the above
difficulties one other problem,
The Central Register contains the
names of all children found by the
Children's Aid Societies to be
"abandoned, deserted,
physically ill-treated or in need of
protection". This formula allows
great flexibility in interpreting
its requirements and each
situation. Thus we find neigh-
bouring communities with
similar populations ,with widely
varying statistics.
HAIS is a system of reporting
which has been accepted by some
Ontario hospitals. HAIS stands
for Home Accidents and Injuries
Study. Yellow cards with eleven
appropriate questions have been
distributed to participating
hospitals. If any of the questions
is answered with "Yes" a red
flag is raised and an investigation
is launched.
A number of hospitals are
sensitive about such a program
and feel that their efforts to this
time have been adequate. St.
Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton
was one. such hospital,-But having
accepted HAIS their statistics
mounted quickly. During the six
previous years they had spotted
17 cases of child battering. In the
first six months on the new
program they had found 17 more.
Child battering is not only a
syndrome, but a social problem.
SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND
C.W.N.A., 0,W.N,A., CLASS 'A' and ABC
Editor Bill Batten — Advertising Manager
Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh
TONNErgratESEIMITIAR.TrZIALSMFA.'ffiri.,..AEXEMEWAVISOMAIratiMESIZMINErMarsim
'Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924
Published Each Thursday Morning
at Exeter, Ontario
Second Class Mail
Registration Number 0384
Paid in Advan c e Circulation,
March 31, 1972, 5,037
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A picture in last week's paper
perhaps conjured up images of
the past for many readers.
It showed four Hensall
youngsters out trying their luck
with a fishing pole. Their blue
jeans were rolled up just below
the knee and the garments
displayed that "well worn" look,
along with a couple of noticeable
holes.
While such attire was once used
solely for fishing,' the four
youngsters in the recent picture
could have been out in their
school clothing, because that's
the style these days.
In fact, some youngsters
clothing looks as though they've
been wading in rivers for several
months and have been cutting
fish hooks out of their trousers
with a fair bit of regularity.
Around the writer's house, the
boys are only happy with their
trousers after they appear to be
one step away from being ready
for the trash bin. New blue jeans
are something to be avoided at all.
cost and the local clothiers point
out, that the "bleached" jeans
they; have f "sale are certainly ,
more popular than those which. 1,
appear brand new, .
The better half, thinking back a
few years to her youth, noted that
she and her cohorts of that time.
were most conscious of their
clothing. They had to have the
latest styles and it was most
'degrading to wear the same
clothes to school two days in a
row.
Styles change, of course, but
we doubt that attitudes do.
Today's teenagers are just as
conscious of their clothes; they
just have a strange set of
fashions. And don't think they
don't compete. If someone has a
new patch on the rear of his (or
her) jeans, you can bet there'll be
a large number with similar
patches the following day.
Take a look at them! The kids
are still identical in many ways
when it comes to keeping abreast
of the fads and that's no different
than when you and I were kids.
treasurers extension course
given by Queen's University this
winter for the first time.
A new commercial service for
the district, "Superior Main-
tenance" has been announced
this week. The firm will
specialize in maintenance of
floors, walls, ceilings and win-
dows of commercial and
residential buildings.
Rev, Duncan Guest, Wyoming,
who will succeed Rev. J. T.
Clarke as pastor of Centralia and
Whalen churches, was on
Tuesday elected president of the
United Church of Canada London
Conference.
Convineed, that rabies remains
a very real threat to the safety of
citizens, council Monday night,
agreed to secure a tranquilizer
gun for police to assist in the
enforcement of the town's by-
law-.
10 Years Ago
Two Boy Scout patrols from '
Crediton under the leadership of
S.M. Glen Northcott And troop
leader Alan Browning, along with
two Centralia petrels under S.M.
Joe Buhagiar, spent the weekend
in Hay swamp clearing up a site
on the 160-acre farm of William
Northcott in preparation for a
July carnporee for the Huron
district.
Damage was high in a fire
which completely destroyed a
huge L-shaped barn Sunday on
the farm of Horton McDougall,
about six miles east of Herisall.
Ideal weather conditioes are
resulting in above average COO
in Huron County, It is prObable
that Settle farmers might be
cutting hay this week.
Don "Chub" McCurdy, barber
in Exeter for the past five year%
announced this week he was
moving to Hensall to the shop of
the late Clair Deneati,
We sowed a little garden this
spring, the first in 20 years! The
love of fresh vegetahle.s and their
high cost in the stores drove us to
work up a piece of land that had
been left to grow wild;for many
years,
The ground looked good enough
When we planted it but I notice
now weeds pre starting to come
up with the radishes and lettuce.
Of course, this all reminds me of
Jesus' parable about the sower
and the seed. No doubt about it,
our patch of garden is the thorny
ground of which he speaks!
It's going to take a lot of hoeing
to keep the weeds froin choking
the life out of the beets and
carrots and I suppose we could
give up in despair, but Jesus did
promise us in that same, parable
that even though there might be
setbacks and disappointments
(and I think he would include
hard work) there would be a
harvest in the end.
As I contemplate the tiny seeds
we sowed and marvel at the
miracle that turns them into lush
cabbages, rosy beets, and juicy
.cantaloupes I'm caused to
meditate about the spiritual,
seeds of which Jesus spoke,
What kind of seed ,am I? I
wonder as I pull out a weed
growing among the swisschard.
For with all Christiams I am a
seed thrown out on the field of the
world. Every person makes a
contribution of some kind. It can
either resemble a pigweed or a
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