Times-Advocate, 1988-11-02, Page 5n
the
Street
By Jim Beckett
We're happy to have Bruce Shaw writing a column for us on a
fairly regular basis. As he indicated last week the job of
mayor and principal are both demanding and should pmvide
• plenty of interesting topics.
One indication of the -job Shaw is doing as mayor of Exeter is the
fact nobody steps forward to challenge him. He also said last week if
one of his -two positions.presents difficulties in the quality of effort he
is able to give, onc of them will have to go.
When you compare the financial rewards of being mayor with the .
size of a principal's pay cheque I11 bet he would drop politics quicker
than you can say "Meeting Adjourned".
The mayor asked for -ideas for future columns and I'm sure he's go-
ing to get a great deal of feedback. These are a few things I'd like td
know. Some of th0m pertain to his position as mayor and others
might be an interest in his opinion as one of this area's leading educa-
tors.
Mr. Mayor: In view of the large amount of traffic on Main St.
and the contents of a recent -letter in the' -A by Nancy Chambers who
resigned after a shorrflived stint as the crossing guard, do you think a .
traffic light would-be a,benef t at the corner of Main and Gidley
Streets?
Mr. Mayor: We have al! seen the recent growth on Main St. Do
you think uncontrolled strip mall type development will have an ad-
verse affect on our core area? ;
Mr. Mayor: We always read about a shortage of tax dollars for
recreational purposes. Do you think Exeter is supporting recreation as
well as other communities (dollars spent per household) or do you
think the town should do more?
Mr. Mayor: We've read for years how efforts have been made in
attracting industries and businesses in Exeter. What do you see as an
ideal population for Exeter by the turn of the century?
Mr. Mayor: An old -timer -in town expressed concern in my office
the other day about what he perceives as the growing bureaucracy in
town where he believes it takes a large staff to accomplish what one
person used to do in the days of Eric Carscadden. Does it bother you
that administrative costs have grown much faster than our population? '
Mr. Mayor: As a cat hater i think it's appalling people have 16
puy afee to keep a dog as a pet when cats in Exeter are allowed to
roam free with no expense to their owners. Are you prepared to lead
council in correcting this injustice?
Mr. rincipal: Do you think our youngsters are leaving secon-
dary school with the necessary skills to compete in today's society or
is it an absolute necessity to have some degree of post secondary
school education?
Mr. Principal: If you could do one thing to change our education
system, what would it be? .
Mr. Principal: Changing the school year has been an idea receiv--
ing more and more discussion lately. What do you think about having
students go to school for three months and then getting three weeks •
<ffand_continuing this on a year-round basis?
• * * * *
One.•.of the most popular special editions we do is coming out soon
and you have a chance to participate. Our handy, magazine -sized cook -
hook will be included with the November 30 issue of the T -A.
All we need is your favourite recipes. Enter as many as you want,
including your name on each onc and we'll put them in our lucky draw
for $50, $30 and $20 prizes. Just mail your recipes to "Cookbook" t.
Times Advocate, P.O. Box •85Q, Exeter.
* * * *
The closest I'll ever get to China is when I'm knocking hack a howl
of delicious Won Ton soup at thc Golden City Restaurant but for
those of you who are serious about visiting the Orient, today (Wed.)
is the time to find out more. Ellison Travel is making two presenta-
tions about China and the Orient with the first one at the Grand Bend
Legion at 2 p.m. The evening presentation is at the Old Town Hall in
Exeter at 7:30 p.m. .
-* * * *
The newest group of heroes with arca youngsters is the Exeter Opti-
mist Club. The job -they did in co-operation with the •B.i.A. on the
Haunted House was fantastic.
1 went through Saturday night and overheard many in the lineup say
Exeter's Hallowe'en version was hewer than London's Haunted House.
Hundreds were attracted to the event which certainly makes all the
hard work worthwhile.
* *. * * .
It's comforting to know Exeter's finest arc on thc job as was demon-
strated Saturday night when a town police officer asked the Optimists
to turn off thc flashing blue light they had running on their van. The
vehicle was parked on Main St. to call attention to. the Hallowe'en
haunted house. it seems a flashing blue light can only be used by
snow removal vehicles.
Appointment
Waynn• Charlton
Ross C. Long, President of Exeter Insurance Brokers Ltd., 186
Main Street, Exeter, Ontario is pleased to welcome Waynne
Charlton as a Sales Representative and congratulates Waynne
on receiving his Registered Insurance Brokers Certificate.
Exeter Insurance Brokers Ltd., Offers a full line of Home, Ten-
ants, Condominium, Automobile, Business and Farm Insurance.
As Independent Brokers representing a large number of Insu-
rance Companies we are able to compare the rates and coverag-
es to best suit your insurance needs.
Waynne welcomes the opportunity to review and quote on your
insurance requirements.
You can contact Waynne at
235-2211 (Office) or 235-1504 (Home)
EXETER INSUILI NCEi
BROKERS LTD
186 Main St. S. Exeter 235-2211
Times -Advocate, November 2, 1988
Page 5
South Huron integrating business and school
By Adrian Harte
EXETER - More people arc head-
ing into the workforc^ in the sec
tors of business and finance than
ever before, and business skills are
becoming a critical part of every ed-
ucation. South ,uron District
High School is aiiiiing at offering
students a head start on their busi-
ness careers before they leave secon-
dary school.
The SHDHS business department
boasts an enrollment of 740 in six
areas of study. A main reason the
business department attracts so
much'interest is that it provides a
background in one of today's essen-
tial needs: computer education. •
Computer studies is taught in
grades 10, 11 and 12 and covers ba-
sic computer skills, programming,
data processing, and use of software
applications.
Business department head Harry
Dougherty believes many students
come to the program . because it is
one of the ways they can gain com-
puter experience.-
"Microcomputers
xperience."Microcomputers are still a scarce
item in the home," said Dougherty.
The department operates both out-
dated PET computers as well as a
lab with the controversial ICON.
system. The ICON was developed
by the Ontario ministry of educa=
tion for classroom use, but Dou-
gherty sees it as a machine better
suited for elementary schools. He
speculates the ministry would have
been further ahead to buy inexpcn
sive PC clones for secondary
schools to run commercial soft-
ware.
Closely related to computer edu-
cation arc the keyboarding classes,
Once known as "typing", the class-
es offer students the necessary skills
to become familiar with a computer
keyboard. Typing used to attract fe-
male students exclusively, but a
look around today's classroom
shows that is no longer the case.
"We get a good mix of boys and
girls," said Dougherty, "because of
the growth of the microcomputer."
In 1983 the ministry of education
COMPUTER EDUCATION - Harry Dougherty, department head of business
School, oversees his grade ten class on the ICON computers.
restructured secondary school re-
quirements, reducing the number of
required•credits for grade 13 gradua-
tion from 33 to 30, but making 16
courses mandatory. Dougherty says
this has hurt. enrollment in the
'business' department where all
courses arc optional.. However, he
says the business department is not
alone with the problen); technical
studies have also lost ground as stu-
dents have fewer optional courses 19
explore new fields of study. .
Nevertheless, the business depart-
ment continues to expand. - Consu-
mer studies, marketing, and ac-
counting all attract a fair nuniber of
.students, but Dougherty thinks
more students should be considering
these courses. •
•A new course for this year is the
grade ...12 entrepreneurial studies
class, ((tering students a glimpse at
.the creation of new business direc-
tions.
"I don't. think students realize the
importance of having a good hack -
ground -in business education," he
said, adding.- it is invaluable for
most post -secondary education, if
not a major asset for those seeking
employment right after high
school. -
Dougherty also points to the real-
itics of the job market in the arca:
many -employment opportunities lie
elsewhere.
"I still think, unfortunately, a lot
of our -young people after post-
secondary education end up in large
urban centres," he said, adding he
would welcome input from local
businesses to _get some feedback as
to the quality of South Huron's pro-
grams.
"Educators sometimes feel they're
working in the dark," said Dougher-
ty. •-
Dougherty is also looking at the
possibility of offering separate adult
education courses during the day
next year for people, most likely
women from 25-45, seeking to up-
grade their office skills. Word pro-
cessing is a likely course offering if
onough interest is found.
"If we had enough people we
at South Huron District High could run a class next year," said
Douherty.
A student's view of business education
EXETER - Somc South Huron
District High School students arc
preparing for their future careers and
post -secondary education in the
school's business departincnt.
Craig Miller and Becky Scldon
are in the new entrepreneurial stud
ics class and they both ,see ii -as
good preparation for college or uni-
versity because of the course's reli-
ance on self motivation and outside -
classroom experience.
"You're going to have some out-
side work," said Miller. "You're on
your own." • -
Seldon agreed, saying the course
.docs not rely on textbook answers,
hut allows students to form and
back up personal opinions in class.
"it's kind of like a course on the
real world," observed Miller.
• "You have to take being laughed
at when nobody agrees with your
answers," said Seldon. .
Seldon would like to pursue a ca-
reer in marketing or advertising af•
-
ter entering -a college or university
program next year. Miller, in grade
1 I,. has not yet decided what to do,
but is looking closely at what the
business department has to offer.
1fc hopes to start a business. next
Summer - using the knowledge
gained: from the entrepreneurial
course.
Lisa Bedard and Christine Rose
are currently enrolled in the grade
13 accounting course. and both
laughingly call -themselves "future
accountants".
"I enjoy working with numbers,"
said Bedard, who is set on attending
Western next year with the goal of
getting into computer accounting.
Rose • says accounting is a good
all-round course for any student,
even those not looking for a career
in business. Accounting helps
with personal finances and affords
an appreciation for thc workings of
companies.
Bedard worked in the Credit Un-
ion last year as part of the school's
co-op student program and called it
a valuable experience.
CHRISTINE ROSE
CRAiG MILLER
Letters to the Editor
Dear Sir:
Consumers will pay more for
many products under the Proposed
Free Trade Agreement. Some pro-
moters of Free Trade have tried of
suggest it would result in big sav-
ings to consumers. Some items
will be less, but other items will
end up costing more, and in total,
the cost to Canadians will be more.
It is wid ly agreed that about 80
percent of trade between Canada and
the U.S. is presently tariff free. If
there is still a significant difference
in price, removing the tariff on the
remaining 20 percent will not make
a huge difference overall.
The two main reasons for the dif-
ference in prices is the difference in
the value of our dollar and the high-
er Canadian taxes.
Under the Canada -U.S. Free Trade
Agreement federal (hidden) sales
taxes will be much higher. in order
to harmonize our income tax with
the U.S. the federal government is
lowering income tax rates but since
it is still required to run the govern-
ment, it is increasing federal (hid-
den) sales taxes. The word hidden is
used, because, unlike the provincial
sales tax it is included in the price
of an item before the price tag goes
on. As the tariff is taken off goods
coming into Canada it means that
the government will have to.add
more hidden sales taxes to make up
its income. If the sales taxes are
added to all items in will mean that
some items that need protection
will lose that protection and those
items will be a bit cheaper, but oth-
er items that don't need protection
will cost more bccausc of increased
sales taxes.
if consumers think under this
Free Trade Agreement that they will
not be required to pay duty at the
border, they are going to be very
disappointed.
For the industries such as food
processing and textiles that nccd
protection, removal of tariffs will
mean loss of jobs. if jobs arc lost,
how marc pgople going to be able
to buy more. In some industries the
number of jobs will increase but
unlike early government predictions
it appears more jobs will be lost
than gained.
Yes, the Free Trade Agreement is
a bad deal for Canada.evcn from a
consumer point of view and should
be rejected.
Robert Williams
R.R. #1, Picton, Ont.
LISA BEDARD
BE1KY SELDON
EPSON°
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