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Times-Advocate, 1978-11-02, Page 17Ask for parental involvement seven panel discussions featured Monday’s Professional Development Day for South Huron’s six elementary schools and South Huron District High School. The PD day was held at Victorian Innthe in Strat- Lack of ford. The public school teachers participating were from Exeter, Zurich, Hen­ sail, Stephen, LJsborne and J.A.D. McCurdy. One of the discussions chaired by EPS principal Jim Chapman centred on Public attitudes toward Use local resources communication cited in education system Education. On the panel were parents Pat Down and Dee Beuer- man, newspaper editor Susan White, Dashwood In­ dustries personnel manager Gerry Kading and Rev. Henry Van Essen, Exeter. First speaker Gerry SOCIAL SERVICES AND SCHOOLS — One of the topics at a professional development day for South Huron teachers held Monday in Stratford was the relationship between the schools and the social service ’agencies in the county. Talking things over are teachers Sawaran Singh, Mike Soldan and panel members Al Epp of Epp Homes and Richard Boonstra of family and children's services. T-A photo Accuses Huron agency of ignoring boys home The family and children services agency of Huron County was accused Monday of ignoring an Exeter based home for troubled youths. The charge was made by Al Epp of Epp Homes in workshop held at a professional development day for the six public schools and one high school in the South Huron area. The workshop which was held in Stratford, dealt with the relationship between social service agencies and the schools. Epp told the session which was attended by about a dozen teachers, that during the Home’s four years of operation the county agency has never been in contact with the home. Richard Boonstra who represented family, and children services on the seven man panel said the reason why his organization had not been in contact with Epp was “money.” Epp refuted Boonstra’s statement saying “That’s a bunch of B.S.” He said he knew of several troubled youths in Huron who had been placed in homes outside of the county. Boonstra replied the agency has only three children placed in outside institutions and that two of these had to be placed out­ side of the area. The other child required specilaized training that was not available in Huron. There has been a swing away from placing children in an outside environment Boonstra said, with the further away a child gets from his natural en- vironment, the harder it becomes to reaquaint the child with his environment. One of the problems faced by social services agencies in Huron is the release of information to other agen­ cies, said Arch Andrew of the Huron Centre for Children and Youth. He said many people in Huron are afraid to use the agencies available for fear that neighbors or friends will find that they are having problems. There is an attitude in Huron that either you solve your own problems or you don’t have any, Andrew said. In reply to a question, Andrews agreed that once the parents of a problem child give up, the child becomes a problem to the teachers and to society as a whole. Boonstra said teachers usually see few children openly display their problems, as a study con­ ducted in Chicago in 1973 concluding more behavioural problems come out in the ■ home than they do in school, .with the school’s structured environment masking a child’s problems. Jean Dunsford of the Huron County Health Unit said one of the respon­ sibilities which the health unit assumes is to keep in touch with the trouble family and child. By keeping in touch, it’s hoped the parents will break down and ask for help, she said. In reply to a question from Exeter Public School teacher Mike Soldan Dun­ sford said the various social NOTICE OF POLL Township of Tuckersmith A poll will be held in the Township of Tuckersmith to elect: 3 members of Council \ Polling Day will be Mon. November 13,1978. Polls will be open from 11:00 o'clock in the morning and will close at 8:00 in the afternoon at the following locations: Polling Subdivision No. 1 Edward Boyes Residence, Egmondville Polling Subdivision No. 2 Bethel Bible Church, Egmondville Polling Subdivision No. 3 Alex Townsend Residence, (Lot 40 con. 3 LRS) Polling Subdivision No. 4 Rena and Jack Caldwell Residence (Lot 9 Con. 11 HRS) Polling Subdivision No. 5 Huronview Polling Subdivision No. 6 Vanastra Community Church ADVANCE POLL Will be held for the purpose of receiving the votes of electors who expect to be unable to vote on the Regular Polling Day. , The Advance Poll will be held in the Clerk's Office, Vanastra on Saturday, November 4th, 1978. The Advance Poll will be open at 9:00 o'clock in the morning and close at 8:00 o'clock in the afternoon. PROXY VOTING A person who has been appointed a voting proxy may apply to the clerk not later than 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon of Polling Day to receive a certificate to vote by proxy for the Polling Subdivision in which the person appointing the voting proxy is entitled to vote, J.R. McLachlan Clerk service agencies try to work "fairly closely” with each other. Andrew agreed and said his organization trys to provide as much possible feedback to the schools if a particular problem is related to the schools. Carey Unich, a physical education teacher at South Huron District High School asked if the schools are made aware of children that have come from a troubled background. Epp replied earlier that he works together with the staff ■ at both the high school and the public school. Glen Buck of the special services division of the Huron County Board of Education said “Our basic philosphy is that we must work on the academics.” His department places an emphasis on early prevention and identification of learning problems. “The awareness of a child’s difficulties is the most important thing,” he stressed. Representing the ministry of community and social services was Linda Wooden who said she would like to see a better understanding of the developmently han­ dicapped in the school system. She said one of her major concerns is that J the physically handicapped are not denied access to education or a job because of their handicap. Wooden said a vocational rehabilitation program funded by her ministry will provide funds and equipment to handicapped to ensure they are on the same level for jobs and education as the non-handicapped person. Chairman for the panel discussion was J.A.D. McCurdy school teacher Mrs. Donna Webster. Kading suggested more farm safety should be taught in schools. He cited the death of four children in Lambton County in 1977 in farm related accidents. The DI personnel manager challenged teachers to produce as many achievers as possible. He told teachers, “Pm afraid the will to work is built-in to children before you get them. There are three kinds of workers: - those that work well, mediocre and not at all.” On the subject of class size, Kading said a U.S. education report said smaller classes will not br­ ing about student improve­ ment. Huron Expositor editor Susan White said curriculum should have more Canadian content suggesting the use of local sources. This would in­ clude a visit to the Van Eg- mond home. She added, “Students should find out about Van Egmond leading McKenzie’s forces in 1837.” Mrs. White also called for more civic responsibility in students and suggested tax­ payers should have more say in any budget cutting. Pat Down who has children in SHDHS and Usborne Central suggested the public wants more con­ trol of teacher competence and choice of curriculum. She asked for more physical education and leisure time and more com­ munication between board, parents and teachers. Rev. Van Essen said the exclusive task for religion should be with the church and the home. He suggested the school should remain a significant participant in the learning process and the preparation for life. “Schools should develop skills and orderly thinking and allow freedom to develop in his or her own right,” he continued. Dee Beuerman said her first concern was an ap­ parent breakdown in com­ munications. She continued, “It seems some teachers only tell you what they feel you want to hear about your child.” Mrs. Beuerman who par- Hallowe'en is fairly calm Halloween night was com­ paratively calm in Exeter according to Police Chief Ted Day. In all 12 com­ plaints were received, which included, throwing of eggs, pumpkins and cabbages. Some youths, were ap rehended by police, attempting to damage park­ ing signs, with baseball bats and clubs. In one instance, police ap­ prehended a number of youths who were in posses­ sion of the Victoria Park sign. They had removed the sign from the standard and were attempting to leave town when stopped by police. Later in the evening police received a complaint, regar­ ding an indecent assault on a 13 year old male person. The complaint was in­ vestigated by Constables Short and Robertson and a local male person was arrested shortly after the in­ cident and charged with in­ decent assault. This person will appear in court on a later date. ticipated in a recent county study, indicated teachers also felt they were not properly informed by the board. She called for more parent involvement and suggested policies and objections be 0made more accessible to the public. Mrs. Beuerman con­ tinued, “I believe that diagnosis of a learning dis­ ability should be done by a professional and not the teacher. I fear children are classed early and never break out of that category.” In reply to Mrs. Beuer- man’s suggestion for parent­ teacher meetings, Jerry Kading said, “this was tried in Grand Bend and only 11 parents showed up and they were the same 11 who take their children to hockey and ballet.” SHDHS teacher Al DeHaan become volved dances: said parents could realistically in­ in supervising total budget saying this has been tried in the Netherlands where 25 percent ly controlled system where grants follow students.” Rev. Van Essen disagreed goes to education. He added, “The situation is just as bad there.” , DeHaan said the school system was too big. He con­ tinued, “we need a narental-there. One of the panel discussions at Monday's Professional Development Day centred on theTALK ABOUT EDUCATION ____ ,___________________ .......______ public's attitude to education. Shown prior to their appearance are panel members Jerry Kading, Susan White, Dee Beuerman, Pat Down and Rev. Henry Van Essen. T-A photo imes - Advocate Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 BAKERY SPECIALS Honey Dipped Tasty-Nu WHITE SLICED BREAD Baked FRESH daily! Exeter Times-Advocate, November 2, 1978 Page 17 73 is Who says Name Address *1.49DONUTS 8 varieties of cookies CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL ETC. 2Doz.For *1.59 $1.90 *1.80 *1.85 —CHEESE SPECIALS Off the block BADEN XXX COLBY MOZZARELLA ELBO OR TYBO Skim Milk Cheese We have over 50 varieties of Canadian and Imported cheeses to suit everyone's taste. TASTY NU BAKERY and CHEESE HOUSE 236-,912 ZURICH art £>amnljell JEWELLER A The Store Where Gift Shopping At Earl Campbell Jewellers we believe thirteen is a pretty good number. 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