The Lucknow Sentinel, 1990-02-21, Page 5Haycare centre owner
speaks out against
junior kindergarten
To the editor:
In response to thearticle on Junior
Kindergarten being implemented in the
fall, I think it is uncalled for. As the
owner/operator of a new daycare in ' .
Lucknow (Puddleducks), I can safely, say
hove+' ridiculous this would be to send
some 3 162 to 4 1/2 year olds into a strur-
tared school setting without thinking of
the problems that would arise!
First of all, the maturity of this age
group is functioning towards play,
parallel play which means they still play
a lot by themselves, but along side one
or two others. They don't yet interact
completely in a large group setting. Some
of theso children still wet their pants.
Now consider the Day Nurseries Act,
which is a set of rules; that all daycares
must comply with. It specifies there must
be one adult „for every eight children in
the room. Is the government prepared to
hire that many peopleor can they let
that slide because they are a Board of
Education? The Act also states children
of this age have an hour in the morning
and one to two hours in the afternoon of
outdoor play. So much for the 15 minutes
recess. It also requires children to rest
up to one hour. Many of my 3 1/2 to 4
1/2 year olds still sleep two hours in the
afternoon!
Let's consider the structure of ' a
classroom full of preschoolers. The atten-
tion span is maybe five to 10 minutes in
length for most of these children. At
daycare or at home they can be kids and
run, play or sit when they decide. This is
where children learn first to make their
own decisions. It is an important time for
finding out about themselves and the peo-
ple around them. So what if they can't
count to 20 by the time they reach
school; they have plenty of time to learn.
Getting back to the issue, what about
busing? Now if the law requires this age
THE EDITOR
••�
to be belted in a booster seat in a car,
then what will the government do about
the buses. Will they make theme quip
every bus with seat belts? I can't say as
I would like my four year old sitting for
45 minutes or so without a seatbelt! This
would costa lot of people a lot of money.
i.e. Bus companies, insurance offices and
in general the taxpayer!
Isn't it funny that the government can
come up with grants for projects like this
that aren't needed but can't afford any
money for established daycares and
nurseries.
A home or daycare is the best for
these children where there is lots of staff
to help . with their demanding needs,
freedom to learn, play and run, oppor-
tunity to rest and eat when they want
and availability of outdoor play and lots
of field trips.
I am glad to, see that the government
has researched this little. "pilot" so
thoroughly but who the heck are they
thinking about? Certainly not the
children! So if a group of parents in
Toronto think that a free babysitting ser-
vice is needed then so be it, but the rest
of us don't have to consider this idea. I
think children go to school long enough;
let's allow them enjoy a wee bit of their
youth!
Tracey McDonagh
THERE ISATIME
'IN EVERY
—Man's life when his friends are his only
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—Day for which every man can be
thankful.
Battle when both sides have lost, but one
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Luelaaow Sentinel, Wednesday, February 21, JIN---Page 5
Lions Arena Memorial
Fund now dissolved
To the editor:
Twenty-three families made $100.00
donations to The Lucknow Lions Arena
Memorial Fund, which started in January
19e6 and wound up in January 1990. The
donations were made in memory of the
following Lions: Blake Alton, W.B. Ander-
son, Lloyd Ashton, Cecil Blake, Russ But-
ton,
utton, Elliott Carruthers, Stuart Collyer,
Robert Finlay, Gordon Finlayson, Toni
Hackett, Morgan Henderson, Alfred
Herbert, Harvey Houston, Jack
McDonagh, Robert McIntosh, Austin Mar-
tin,
aritin, Harold Percy, Gerald Rathwell, Mar-
vin Sanderson, Cam Thompson, Frank
Thompson. Rae Watson and Harvey
Webatir. A framed scroll is in the arena
lobby listing the above names.
For the recreation director's office we
supplied a desk, chair, chair mat,
calculator and able phone. For the
two offices in hobby we supplied
desks, chairs, waste basket, filing
cabinets, a cork bulletin board, pocket
door with hardware and a tape deck.
We have been told that the figure
skaters always have trouble making ends
meet so it was decided to donate the
$122.12 we had left over to this group.
Yours truly,
George Anderson, for
The Lucknow Lions Arena Memorial
Fund.
Kingsbridge SS # 2 grads
invited to summer reunion
To the editor;
A reunion of all pupils who attended
school at S. S. 42, Kingsbridge (R. 4,
Goderich) is planned for July 7, 1990,
anytime after 12:30 p.m. This special reu-
nion will be held at the home of Marlene
(Drennan) MacDonald at R. *2, Lucknow
(St. Helens). We simply ask that anyone
attending bring lawncha rs, cameras and
refreshments,
For further information phone (519)
528-2827.
Sincerely,
Marlene (Drennan) MacDonald
Graduating Class of -`65.
Area .high schools
showcase talent
The Fifth Annual Central Huron Drama
Festival begins on Friday, February 23rd
with five high schools and 150 high school
students expected. Central Huron Secon-
dary School will play host to the events
with high schools from Port Elgin, Ex-
eter,
xeter, Pahnerston, Clinton and • Wingham
taking part. Organized by Stephen Oliver,
a teacher at Central Huron Secondary
School in Clinton and in conjunction with
the Blyth Centre for the Arts, the
Festival was created to provide "students
from the area with an opportunity to
meet, share ideas and showcase their
talents.
Don't stay home the weekend of
February 23 and February 24. At 7:30
p.m. each night the curtain goes up on
some wonderfully imaginative produc-
tions. Tickets' can be purchased at the
door for $5.00 each night. The Fifth An-
nual Central Huron School Drama
Festival is great entertainment value.
Plan .now to come out and support our
young people's talent - future stars of
tomorrow All plays will be performed at
Central Huron Secondary. School, 165
Princess Street East, Clinton. Tickets and
refreshments available at the door.
.!.
Ti
BEANS
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SEEDS FERTILIZERS
Port Albert 529-7901
1990 Customer Information Dav
You are cordially invited to attend our 1990 Customer
Information Day:
Friday, February 23rd
Brookside Central School- 10:00 AM
PROGRAM
MARKETS: Andy Daniels - Linnco
NITROGEN SOIL TEST:..Gary Roberts - Agronomist C.I.L.
Low Cost Adaptation to Land Stewardship and Conservation Far-
ming - Robert Traut - Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority
WHITE BEAN &L
COOUR BEAN UPDATE
NEW CEREAL, SOYBEAN & CORN VARIETY UPDATE
COMPLIMENTARY LUNCH
In addition we will have representatives from the major chemical
companies. .
Please R.S.V.P. by February 21 so arrangements for meals can
be made.