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The Brussels Post, 1977-09-28, Page 2.ft SOMOLMINNO I," Brussels Post 1111USSE ONTARIO WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1977 Serving Brussels and the surrounding community. Published each Wednesday afternoon at Brussels, Ontario by McLean Bros, Publishers, Limited. Evelyn Kennedy - Editor Dave Robb - Advertising Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association and . Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association *CNA Subscriptions (in advance) Canada $8.00 a Year, Others $14.00 a Year, Single Copies 20 cents each. ail th Amen by Karl Schusiler A special kind of teacher The Fair spirit Across the country, in communities. small arid large, fall is the time for Fairs, and last Wednesday, it was Brussels turn to get together for a day 'of competition, fun and entertainment at the annual Fall Fair. The Brussels Fair, like those in other communities, has grown and developed over the years, but it has never lost its importance. More than any other single event in the village, the Brussels Fall Fair is a community affair. It gives farmers and village residents a chance to meet and to share an afternoon of simple pleasure. It gives young people a chance to get involved in something worthwhile. The 4-H competitions let them demonstrate the hard won skills and the interest that will make them the successful farmers of the future. It gives school children an incentive to work together, making class displays and the floats that add so much to the Fair parade. And it gives peo ple who work with their hands an opportunity to exhibit their work for all to' see. ' The Fair is a place where people can forget the pressures of living for a few hours through friendly competition. It's a place to meet old friends and make new ones. The BruSsels Fair is a vital part of the community's life. The friendliness and simplicity that is its' essence is something to be cherished and preserved. The peo ple who work so hard to make the Brussels Fair possible deserve the support of the whole community. If everyone who can, lends a hand and works enthusiastically, the Brussels Fair can continue to bring the community together for a long time to come. To the editor: War museum needs artif acts To the Editor: The Canadian War Museum seeks to strengthen its collection of military artifacts and at this time especially wishes to acquire uniforms, weapons, medals, military books, insignia and photographs concerning the military history of North American from 1604 to the present. Artifacts relating to the allied and enemy forces frOm the First and Second World Wars, and from Peace Keeping Assignments are also of interest, as are the common everyday items used by Canadian military personnel in the war zones, in rest areas behind the lines, and at home, These are for display; futtire tefereince and research in the Canadian War Museum in the national capital and other allied Canadian Military museums. The Canadian War Museum would be pleased to hear from you if you are able to assist in this requirement., Yours sincerely, Murray, Chief Curator, Canadian War Museum, 330 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0M8. There are teachers and then they're teachers-. But all last week I heard about a man who really was a teacher. He was a teacher par excellence - a man who not only knew his material but who could put it across. He wasn't dry bones and dull. He used to liven up his claSsroom with wit and flair. With a vivid imagination. To begin with, he arrived at school With ,imagination. His entrance would get anyone's attention. Not every teacher rides into town on rails and in a cloud of smoke, steam and a toot of the train whistle. But Fred Sloman did. He was one of the first - and the foremost of the school car teachers - itinerant teachers who traveled in the North country and brought education to children one week at a time. With a grand entrance like the Sloman's, you'd think Fred would have a hard time folloWing his own act. But he didn't. This teacher had a lot more tricks in his bag. Back up behind his school desk, he hung up a small dog hut. And when Fred Sloman saw the kids were getting restless, he'd reach up and start pulling out a dog. And'the dog kept coming and coming. Its body stretched and stretched without end., And before you knew it, every student was staring at that dog getting longer and longer. Net once did they ever see the dog's tail. And not once did Mr. Sloman ever let on hOw he had rigged tip this collapsible body of a dog. Or better yet, not once did he even admit to this special kind of magic he had. His magic kept company with the fairies too. For up on top of the blackboard lived a fairy named Dub. Of course, the students never saw the fairy. But Mr. Sloman always talked to her. He coaxed and coaxed Dub to come out and see the children. But no, the fairy was shy: 'She' said she didn't want to come today, maybe tomorrow. She never did come out. But Dub usually gave Mr. Sloman a piece of candy or a cube of sugar to pass along to one of the Students. If Mr, Sloman saw a student lagging behind in interest, he'd perk him up with a pledge to read Over. One day his own' daughter Jean received this copy on her deSk: "I hereby solemnly promise that all during my natural life,. I Will keep interested in the joy of words and Wordings that are new to Me in poem; algebta and talk, That I shall find;pleasure in someone telling me the origin of a word - whose` Origin would never be suspected by its use. That I shall not regard the dictionary as a dull book. That I shall at all times strive to make words into sentences that will make folks thrill with delight. So may it be." This pledge Joan signed on that September day in 1939. She still has it as keepsake of her school days in the school car. Of course, you could say Fred Sloman had certain advantages. Short term teaching is easier.He only had to teach four and five days at one place and then he was on to the next stop. It took him a month before he came back to his students again. And what student wouldn't be bright and eager after a month of homework, woodcutting, setting trap lines and ice fishing? True, true enough. But there's no doubt about it. Fred Sloman was the man for his 'tittle. The man in the right place. At the right time. In the right way. You know this for sure after you talk to his former students. They're' in their forties and fifties now. All of them speak about him in deep affection, even Fred Teolis who got rapped on the knuckles for not behaving. Fred can't remember another student who ever got such a rap. And after it, was over; Mr. Sloman walked up to his desk, sat down and cooled off. He lit up his'pipe and then walked back to Fred - and told him everything was going to be alright. Fred Sloman received high praise during, his lifetime for his work in the North. His good Order deeds o stfil;Iclaivneadafta after whiamrd. .}t7 turned down the All during his life time, he was presseci.to tell about his greatest achievement, his best success story in teaching. But Fred didn't even like the question. He said, "I am a man With of t ahee the stars," rally, down to 'mud instead He said' the one 'Single prize = the one prize above any reWatd - was the time a 14 year old student of his came to say. goodbye after six months of education on the school car. Fred has taught him to read the first grade printer , The boy saicL "Ieeii, it's good to get education Used tO be if yoti had to do something like, say, go back to the lake for the cow or cut some wood, it took hours and hours. Now, if yeti do some'rotten job like tf%hlocauktidssay, toetittting looking. el layers; y e S , „ thinkin g aatrida fibortus bug; what g8, Mey611.(nei,lihoto‘ivi'f' it'sOot, ttionitehttod. Oq fit ittedw.tiurpk.ia,nd you don't know