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The Citizen, 2003-06-25, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2003. Editorials & Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Alan Young, Patty Van der Meer 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 $28.00/year ($26.17 + $1.83 G.S.T.) in Canada; $80.00/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 © Copyright We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mall Agreement No. 40050141 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca A0™®** & Member of the Ontario Press Council The never-ending election Despite the threat of West Nile Virus, there’s a new reason for Ontarians to get outside and enjoy the fresh air of summer — to escape the campaign ads for a provincial election that hasn’t even been called yet. People might be excused if they think they somehow missed the election announcement and that the campaign is in full swing. Actually, this seems like the “softening-up” bombardment that takes place in a military operation before the invasion starts. The ads have already been going for months with the Liberals trying to raise the profile of Dalton McGuinty and the government trying to raise its approval rates through an onslaught of ads telling how they’ve fixed the education system and health care. But those were gentle ads compared to the new phase that seems to have begun. Now the Progressive Conservatives have launched ads attacking McGuinty, trying to re-establish the successful tactic of the last campaign by saying he’s just not up to the job of being premier. Meanwhile some equally vicious ads are attacking the government in the name of some citizens’ group that is probably not rea'ly a citizens’ group at all but a front for a group of organizations unhappy with government policy. It’s enough to have people begging for the election call so at least we know when the end of this mudslinging might come. So turn off the TV and get outside. Go for a walk or play soccer with the kids or sit on the porch. Mosquitoes might harm you but so will watching all that poison and television. — KR Curing the cure Big pharmaceutical companies in the U.S., stung by the number of Americans who are getting their prescriptions filled in Canada because of high U.S. drug prices, have a solution: make Canadian drug prices higher. This tactic has worked before when the U.S. companies persuaded the government of Brian Mulroney to give them longer patent protection before generic drug companies could produce cheaper copies of popular drugs. They threatened to kill all drug research in Canada unless they had more opportunity to make profits on the drugs they had discovered that were popular. They have a point, of course: the original research they do must be paid for. For every drug that is a success, they have many expensive failures and if we want new drugs, we must have profitable drug companies. But how profitable? Even the free enterprisers in the U.S. are starting to realize they can afford only so much profit for the big drug makers. They’ve begun to envy the system we have here — the one the drug companies would like to destroy. — KR Letters to the Editor Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITOR, The Fraser Institute rankings are based on two false assumptions: 1) that the only purpose for schools is to score high on tests, and 2) that the tests that were used for the rankings give a total picture of the educational health of a school. Using a single test score to evaluate the quality of a school is the medical equivalent of assessing a patient’s health by only taking his/her temperature — useful but not definitive. Teachers are not against testing. In fact, they invented it. However, teachers feel that if test results are the only criteria for success, they will be increasingly pressured to “teach to the tests” and as a result, miss out on teaching creativity and problem-solving as stated in the curriculum. Tests also force children to memorize facts rather than developing critical thinking skills. These high stakes tests serve to sort and rank students rather than support student learning. Let’s remember the most important reason to test children: to provide teachers, students and parents information they need to plan for further learning. Tests are not and should not be an end in themselves. The Fraser Institute rankings reflect the current preoccupation with global competitiveness and the production of human capital, and provide a simplistic analysis of the worth of our schools that ignores the complexity of the issues to be considered in determining school success. Socio-economic background, early childhood education, class size and parental involvement in learning are only some of the factors that impact significantly on the performance of individual students. According to the body of research, good schools are successful in reaching a balance between academic achievement and a nurturing school atmosphere conducive to learning. There are better ways to gauge our children’s success in school. Regular communication between parents, teachers, principals and other staff members provides detailed and reliable information to help evaluate student progress and provide suggestions for improvement. School rankings ignore a host of factors that contribute to the human interaction between students and teachers, the cornerstone of effective and successful learning. To say, therefore, that the learning situation cannot be improved unless there is a school-by-school measure of success and failure is an indication that the Fraser Institute fails to understand the complex nature of teaching and learning. Doug Willard President of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation. * June 25,1958 The Rev. Frederick E. Jewel, rector of the Anglican parish in Brussels, Henfryn and Walton since 1956, as appointed to the parish of St. John’s, Walpole Island. Passing Royal Conservatory of Music exams were Mrs. Russell Wilbee’s pupils, Gwendolyne Martin, Carl Simpson, Kathryn Simpson, Brenda Houston, Bobbie Houston, Glenna Houston. The Regent Theatre in Seaforth was showing Kettles on Old McDonald’s Farm, starring Marjorie Main and Parker Fennelly. The show was billed as the Kettles in their craziest hit. On Thursday and Friday at Listowel’s Llashmar Drive-in Theatre William Holden and Lloyd Nolan were appearing in Toward the Unknown. At the Capitol Theatre it was Deborah Kerr in Heaven Knows Mr. Allison. Ross Nichol, Western Star noble grand, conducted the annual decoration service at the Brussels cemetery. Murray Cardiff, lodge chaplain, offered prayer and Hartley Fischer read the names of the deceased brethren of the lodge. An eight-oz. jar of Cheeze Whiz was on sale at Rutledge’s for 30 cents. Two 28-oz. tins of York pumpkin were selling for 35 cents. June 27,1968 Lawrie Cousins of Brussels accepted a position with the dairy branch of the Ontario Department of Agriculture and Food in London. Cousins was a member of the staff of the Cousins Dairy and Creamery for 20 years. He was a village councillor, past master of Brussels St. John’s Lodge, and along with his wife Pieta was an active member of the Brussels United Church. Apparently Trudeaumania did not infect Brussels voters to any great extent as they gave Progressive Conservative member Robert E. McKinley a majority of 143 in the federal election. Federally Trudeau had a working majority. The double feature at Brownie’s Drive-in in Clinton saw the pairing of a once familiar duo. The first show was The Ambushers with Dean Martin followed by Martin’s former performing partner Jerry Lewis, in The Big Mouth. A. case of canned pop was selling at Stephenson’s Bakery and Grocery for $1.89. Specials at McCutcheon’s included the 48-oz can of tomato juice for 33 cents, and two boxes of Kleenex tissues for 63 cents. June 27,1973 The Blyth Opportunities for Youth program began activities. Group members were Joyce Nethery, Louise Procter, Nancy Adams, John Battye, David Street and Marjorie Procter. At a special meeting in Clinton, the Huron County Pork Producers Association decided unanimously to apply to the OPPMB for the establishment of an assembly yard in Blyth. Weekend specials at Cook’s Superior Food Market included: the 10-oz. jar of Maxwell House instant coffee for $1.78; 12 packages of Kool-aid, 49 cents; 8-oz package of Black Diamond cheese slices, 45 cents; a dozen oranges, 65 cents and four packages of hamburger rolls, $ 1. Opening in Blyth was the Baubles ’n Books Boutique. Wallpaper was selling for $1.69 per roll at Sparling’s Pro Hardware. June 27y 1988 The watering situtaiton remained the same in Blyth and Brussels as another week passed without significant rainfall. In Brussels householders were asked to restrict watering to the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. In Blyth alternate day water restrictions were established. However, even then it was restricted to between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Crops in Huron County were, despite this being one of the driest Junes on record, in remarkably good shape. President of the Blyth Lions executive was Don Scrimgeour. Joel Harris, general manager of the Blyth Festival, announced the appointment of Jane Gardner as director of communications. June 23,1993 A guest host on CBC’s Morningside and a director of broadcast journalism at Ryerson, Stuart McLean, was the featured guest speaker at the Blyth Festival opening night dinner. Toronto designers, Sandra Harmer and Bob Smyth opened Cedar Lane Designs outside Auburn. Darren Hemingway was the first Brussels Scout to receive the Chief Scout award. June 24,1998 The California Cuties were in town to challenge the Brussels Tigers in a fundraiser for minor ball. Work began on the Brussels Homecoming Park. Hullett teacher Barb Bosman was guest of honour at a party to commemorate her retirement. History was made June 7 at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church when it held its first confirmation service. Previously the bishops conducted confirmation so they were done in Clinton. With the priest now able to perform the service, confirmands were: Justin John Rinn, Bradley Steven Schmidt, Colleen Helena Van Camp, Gavin Arnold Van Camp, Rebecca Adriana Van Camp, Elisha Teresa Courtney, Mark Leon Machan, David Peter John Kelly, Erin Theresa Chatherine Sanders, Christopher Francis Simon Sanders, Matthew Eric Anders and Nick Joseph Courtney.