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The Citizen, 2001-05-30, Page 4I./. NESPOLON anthnesp wined?, . net Looking Back Through the Years PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 2001 Editorials & Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions'are payable in advance at a rate of 528.00/year (526.16 + $1.84 G.S.T.) in Canada: 562.00/year in U.S.A. and $100/year in other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2-p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are (0 Copyright We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our moiling costs. Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG 1H0 Phone 523-4792 .Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca „..„ ocna +CNA Member of the Ontario Press Council IM111711 Something's got to change Given declining enrollment and rigid provincial funding formulas, it 'seems people in rural areas like Huron and Perth Counties may go on in an endless state of crisis as one after another some communities' schools are cannibalized so that other schools can maintain the level of occupancy required by provincial guidelines. Declining birth rates, lack of population growth, the ...ceduction of secondary school education to four years and the trend to fewer and larger farms mean the current problems with the provincial funding formula are destined to continue. With a recent consultant's report recommending closure of 15 schools in the Avon Maitland District School Board's jurisdiction, the stage is set for months or years of more heartache, frustration and animosity between neighbours. The people in communities with the schools that will stay open will sit quietly in such debates while those who stand to lose their schools will be up in arms. But who knows? The next round of closures may see some satisfied winners suddenly become losers to still other communities. Where does this end? Should we be preparing now for one large secondary school, and perhaps three or four elementary schools in each county? Certainly fewer larger schools would allow greater resources in each school and a wider choice of 'programming, but where is the balancing point between community involvement and school resources? Currently there's a great debate in Ontario because secondary school students are suffering through a year without extracurricular activities. The government has been stressing the importance of these activities as part of the students' overall education. But what happens, even if there is a good extracurricular program, and students can't participate because they live far from the school and they must take a bus home every night? And what happens if the student's pleasure in learning is ruined forever because the pressure of being packed into a bus with more aggressive schoolmates turns the twice-daily bus trips into a living hell? Schools are not factories and students are not widgets on an assembly line. Schools should be part of a community if we want our young people to feel engaged in the community and we want our community to feel ownership of the school. Students must be seen as individuals with different needs if they are to realize their potential. If we're so concerned about dollars and cents that we create conditions (such as long bus rides) that cause students to drop out of school instead of getting the education they need to be as productive as possible, then our society will pay for the entire lifetime of that unfulfilled person. Instead of battling each other tooth and nail, the province, the rural school boards and the rural teachers unions need to get together and explore the needs of education in rural areas and try to find workable solutions. We need a forum in which the community is given a say in what the aims of the. school system should be. Perhaps if the province and the boards and teachers won't initiate such a process somebody else needs to embarrass them into it. What if, for instance, the county councils called for public consultations or if volunteer groups like the Federations of Agriculture called together like-minded groups to study the issue. This current state of constant crisis can't go on. If the people in charge of the system can't find a solution, the rest of the community is going to have to seize control of the issues. — KR An ego too big for a country Frustrated that he can't become a British Lord while still being a Canadian citizen, Conrad Black has decided to renounce his citizenship. We've heard about the brain drain but what's this, an ego drain? Black has been immensely blessed by life in Canada. He made enough money through selling off businesses like Dominion Stores and Massey- Ferguson and owning newspapers here to be able to buy prestigious British newspapers to let him rub shoulders with English Lords. No doubt he'll be glad to take his Canadian fortune with him when he goes. — KR Letters to the Editor THE EDITOR, The Communities in Bloom committee appreciate the orders and purchase of plants and crabapple trees May 12 at their fundraising event. It was very successful. For anyone wishing either purple or deep purple butterfly bushes and butterfly houses there are still a few left. As our 2(X)1 National Competition is gearing up we have some special events and plans in place. Our committee is entertaining The Best Blooming Fire Hydrant Challenge. Paint a fire hydrant. This is open to all businesses, organizations, church groups, families and individuals. We have 42 tire hydrants in the Village of Blyth, so submit your entry now. Luann's Country Flowers or Bev Elliott have entry forms and information. Deadline for entry is June 1. Judging will take place, July - 12. People, plants and pride — growing together.— Let's give it our best. Sincerely, Communities in Bloom Committee 2001 National Competition. May 31, 1950 C&G Krauter purchased the Eckmier Store. Calvin and Gordon operated their plumbing, heating and tinsmithing business from there. Contributions to the Manitoba Flood Relief Fund came from SS No. 7 Cranbrook School, $20; James Fulton, $1; Stanley Dunbar, $2. Second stage contributors to the Brussels Legion Memorial Fund were Cliff Bray, Ed Higgins, Jack Camerson, Stewart Stevenson, Stewart McCall, C.N. Merkley, Leonard Armstrong, Cliff Hart, Donald Willis, Albert Densmore, Mac Black, George Sloane, James Armstrong, Frank Rutledge, Frank Tyerman, Hartley Phillips, Hugh Radford, Frank Stalker, James Stalker, Ralph Shaw, George Radford, Ben Walsh, Hartley Fischer, W.J. Coutts, W.J. Henderson, Roderick McLean, D. Miller, Gus McLeod, McPherson Bros. Wm. Tranter, Douglas Carter, Douglas Liddle, Frank Shaw, Wm. Adams, Bill Martin, Don McDonald, Ron Bennett, George McCutcheon. Brussels Lions elected a new executive: president, Rev. Gordon Hazelwood; first vice-president, Wm Turnbull; second vice-president, Selwyn Baker; third vice-president, Harvey Johnston; one-year directors, Stanley Machan, Claire Longe; two- year directors, Richard Whitfield, Walter Porter; secretary, D.M. McTavish; treasurer, R.G. McBride; assistant treasurer, M.C. Oldfield; tail twister, James Armstrong; assistant tail twister, William Martin; lion tamer Lloyd Michel. To make appointments at the newly opened beauty salon in Morris Twp., women were to call 17-r-17 Brussels. May 28, 1986 Brussels swimming registration topped expectations with 300 registered. Belgrave WI marked its 75th anniversary. Local track athlete Steve Souch qualified for the OFSAA championships winning the bronze in the Midget 3000 m. May 29, 1991 Blyth's new library was officially opened in the north wing of Memorial Hall. The new circulation desk was built and donated by local contractor Steve Bearss. Blyth Festival received a special grant from the Ministry of Culture and Communications to help with its capital fundraising program. The one-time-only grant was to help the Festival tackle the $447,000 it must raise to pay off the $2.2 million expansion undertaken over the previous two years. Huron MPP Paul Klopp presented the Blyth Festival with a $25,000 grant. There were to be savings for out- of-town subscribers to The Citizen as a result of a decision on postal costs handed by Communications Minister Perrin 3eatty. A postal rate increase planned for weekly newspapers will be delayed until the next spring. Weekly newspapers through the Canadian Community Newspaper Association protested the short notice given for the postal increase. The disbanded Blyth Women's Institute presented Memorial Hall with a clock and a cheque for $350. Bob Richardson and Eric Ross of Branch 218 Brussels placed sixth in a B.C. dart contest. Members of Walton WI planted a Norway maple tree at the Walton Public School as part of the Federation theme for the year. The trees were a WI symbol of branches, supported by the strong roots of their history, reaching out for the light and growing into the future. Huron West WI elected its new executive: Gladys Van Camp, Betty Archambault, Evelyn James, Lois Elliott, Alice Porter, Wilma Higgins, Hilden Morden, Irene Richardson, Mary Hunter. May 29, 1996 Government plans to reduce staffing at several ministries took the Clinton Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs office as its latest victim. Four positions were surplus. Max Oldfield marked 50 years in the hardward business, receiving two Golden Hammer awards from hardware manufacturers at a show. A total of 120 Blyth students took part in the annual bike rodeo sponsored by the Optimist Club of Blyth and District. For the first time, rollerblades were included in the program. Members of Blyth Royal Canadian Legion Branch held a special evening to celebrate 50 years of community service. Two Auburn members of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets of Goderich received recognition. Flt, Sgt. Mike Bakker won the Cadet Medal of Excellence and Sgt. Christine Lapp won the John Sully Leadership Award. Members of Brussels Mennonite Youth Group raised funds with their car wash. Students of Brussels Public School gathered with seniors at the church of meal and entertainment.