Times-Advocate, 1985-04-03, Page 4Page 4
Times -Advocate, April 3, 1985
Times Established 1871
Adsocate Established 1881
Amatgarnated 19/4
imes
dvocate
Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario, NOM iSO
Second Class Mail Registration Number 0186.
Phone 519-235.1-331
IOKNE EEO
Publisher
a
Comilirclunttls
JIM BECKE 1 1
Ads ertising Manager
CCNA
4►CNA
8111 BATTEN
Editor
HARK\ D1%KIIS
( omposition Manager
ROSS HAUGH
Assistant Editor
DICK JONGKiND
Business Manager
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Canada: $23.00 Per year; U.S.A. 560.00
C.W.N.A., O.C.N.A. CLASS 'A'
Making it work
A school with the full spectrum of
children, from non-functioning to
gifted -- that sounds like quite a hand-
ful to administrate. Just such a school
exists in this area, and 'a great deal of
planning and foresight has gone into
making it work.
McCurdy -Huron Hope School com-
bines a school for average and gifted
kids with a school for trainable men-
tally handicapped children. As of this
September, it will also include a
Developmental Centre for profoundly
handicapped children, children who
sometimes can't talk or feed -
themselves, and may not even be
toilet trained.
McCurdy -Huron Hope has been
ahead of its time. Huron Hope -was set
up in 1969, and the Developmental
Centre has been in place for two
years. B,ut up to now it has been run .
and funded by the South Huron and
District Association for the Mentally
Handicapped. As of September the
Developmental Centre children will be
students of McCurdy -Huron Hope.
The school has done a fine job of
smoothing -out the transition period for
everyone. Principal Pat Soldan and
Vice -Principal Wayne Nicholls haveset
up programs to create bonds between
the diverse student elements. All
What's in
A rose, by any other name, still
smells the same.
In a similar context, our definition
of a special closed meeting held
recently by Hensall council remains
unchanged, despite the protestations
of Councillor Irene Davis.
In theory, Mrs. Davis may be
quite correct in noting that every
meeting council holds is an open
meeting to which the public is always
welcome.
Won't
This year's April showers will
include a flood of words as pot it i
ciatirii battle to become the
favorite blooms of May 2 with On-
tario voters.
Premier Frank Miller has
decided to test his popularity at
the polls before giving voters any
indication of how he can preside
over the province. No doubt it's
a trick he picked up in his used
car sales days. There are. after
all, units on the lot that are best
sold without offering the prosper'
five purchaser a test drive
around the block.
Miller hasn't even allowed us
the customary kick at (he tire,
before asking t Oter. to sign on
the dotted hoe .1t : ,fi0w him to
be our chain r ' ,e .eerning
ly endless joulnc•\ •,1 'hi' hit. Blue
Machine as the teine lc ihrnur_th
which the province is governed
While the polls suggest about
half the voters in Ontario present-
ly consider Miller and his P('
hopefuls as the hest ch'ivers for
the next five-year jaunt. the two
other chauffeurs involved in the
contest twill he out to prove that
they too can handle the curves
and humps equally as well.
The fact is. all three party
Ieadeis commence the fray as
novices when it cone's to election
campaigns. David Peterson and
Bob Rae are also engaging in
their first election as le*adeis and
that should make the event a lit -
tle more interesting than usual.
All three are veteran cam-
paigners on the political scene.
but there are adddi1iona1
pressures inherent with the
leadership of a party in an elhc'-
tion. and similar to playing
poker. the task becomes mote
McCurdy children have a "buddy" at
Huron Hope. McCurdy students also
act as lunchtime monitors at the
Developmental Centre, helping feed
children with multiple handicaps,
physical and mental.
The programs Soldan has started
keep the handicapped children from
being teased in the playground, give
the rest of the student body a lesson in
caring for others, and more realiza-
tion of the problems others sometimes
face. The program is still being ex-
panded: there is a satellite class now
at South Huron High School for age-
appropriate handicapped children, and
in September the buddy system will
probably be expanded to the
Developmental Centre.
The school is one of -the first of
this kind in the province, and Soldan
says it's being considered as a model
for two other situations in the county.
Eventually this type of school will be
the norm, because of changes in the
educational system set in motion by
Bill 82 in 1980, which said that all
children should be taught and cared
for in the same schools.
Providing appropriate education
for such a wide range of students is
not easy, but innovative thinking and
a lot of care is making it work.
a name?
In practical terms, however, when
the public is not advised when some of
those meetings are being held, they
become closed meetings for all intents
and purposes.
To suggest that the press and
public would have been welcomed to
attend the meeting in question is a
rather hollow afterthought.
If the invitation was sincere, it
should have been extended prior to
the meeting and not after.
allow test drive
difficult as the stakes on the table
increase.
Certainly. voters twill be wat-
ching the abilities of the leaders
more carefully than usual as they
attempt to reach the decision as
to twhich one they feel most
capable to be the next premier.
# i
‘Cilli (hrC'es unproven leaders at
Batt'n
Around
...with
The Editor
the helm of their parties. there is
little doubt that voters will also Ix'
more carefully judging their own
local candidates.
There are always ridings in
which the party or leader ap-
pears to carry the most weight
%t -it] voter's, while in others. it is
the local candidate who is the
prime tactor. This time around,
the emphasis could swing more to
the latter consideration.
'Mat '5 an obvious advantage
for the sitting member and
f'hallengers face an uphill battle
when they do riot have a proven
leader on whose coat-tails they
can hope to bridge the gap.
Locally. Jack Riddell has to he
installed as the odds-on favorite
to retain the Huron -Middlesex
riding. despite the fact PC Bryan
Smith may be one of the more en-
thusiastic candidates that the
Tories have hacked for some
time
Riddell also enjoys the advan-
tage of not having to answer for
the government's errors since the
past election and silting opposi-
tion members appear to have the
best of all worlds as they hit the
campaign trails.
llowever, the leadership ques-
tion is one that could swing the
pendulum and no doubt the local
MPP will he hoping that Peterson
doesn't do anything that will
hamper his re-election bid.
Local issues never appear t0
gain much momentum in 1 luron-
Middlesex. although naturally.
the issues that are debated on the
provincial level are of impor-
tance to area voters.
Unemployment. the plight of
agriculture and the province's
financial situation will be among
the major issues, although the
funding of Separate Schools could
turn into a thorny issue that most
politicians will be doing their best
t0 avoid.
Regardless of which party or
candidates are elected. or the ex-
tent of the mandate the winners
receive. Ontario voter's should not .
expect the lavish election pro-
mises t0 bring any drastic
changes in the immediate future.
The example of the Mulroney
government should indicate quite
clearly that no overnight solu-
tions are possible. no matter how
much people are preparted to
believe they are.
Above all. they should
remember they're the ones who
are going to foot the hill for the
promises that will he made in the
next four weeks.
Be a wise shopper and gel
informed
Serving South Huron, North Middlesex
& North Lambton Since 1873
Published by I.W. Eedy Publications Limited
MILLER SERVICES
"I lost nay job because of a hereditary disease — I was born a Liberal!"
An expert on hockey
Like every other red-blooded
male in this country over the age
of four. i am an expert on hockey.
As a player. 1 didn't exactly
make it to the NI 11.. Or Senior A.
or Junior A. Or .Junior li. Or
Juvenile C.
But you dont have to make it
all the way in Canada to become
a connoisseur of the game. All
you have to (hi N to have been ex-
posed to the game since you were
about three. and it's in your b100(I
for life.
As a kid, 1 felt culturally
deprived because 1 didn't have a
pair of "tubee.' skates. To my_
great shame. i had to indulge in
the sport wearing an old pair of
my mother's "lady's skates'.
( pronounced with utter sc'or'n by
the kids with tube skates. i Mine
trent almost (o the knee and sup-
ported your ankles like a hag of
nlarshmallOws. Obviously. that is
the sole reason 1 didn't make it to
the sig leagues.
As kid. 1 played shinny on the
trivet' with some guns \wh(( 8(1(18l-
ly. later. did slake it to pro or
semi -pro ranks. When I was in
high school. some 0t my best
friends were playing Junior A
1 was brought up in a rabic)
hockey and lacrosse town. \Chen
1 was a little boy, we had a Senior
hockey team. II was made up of
local factory Hands, blacksmiths
1 yes. I go back that fat' 1. and
generally good athletes. of no
particular rank or station in life
They played for fun. "flier
bought their own equipment
"t'her'e was tremendous rivalry
twits the other towns in the coon
try. The rink was ,jammed for
ever game. '
We kids sneaked into 1Ite
games through the place where
lhev threw out the snow atter
clearing the ice. squirmed our
way down behind the player's'
bench. and fought each other to
the bone when a senior broke a
stick. and with a lordly gesture.
handed it back tow;0r(1 us.
11 you were lucky. you got two
pieces of hockey stick. took it
home and had your old man
splint it. taped it up. and played
the rest of the season with a six-
foot mans hockey stick prac-
tically tearing the armpit out of
your live -toot frame.
When 1 was a teenager. the
hometown went ape over hockey.
began importing 1)la�et'S. and
Sugar
&Spice
Dispensed
• by
Smiley
e(1 a..Jiinior A club. \ve local high
school guys were devastated by
.jealousy when the imports. Iron
such exotic towns as 111lawa.
Montreal. Brockville. came to
town and stole our girls away
We loca Is didn't have a chance
11 was 1)cpression 1 Imes. We
were lucky it we had the money
to go to the Saturday night movie
two hits is lel .11one take along a
girl and feed her afterwards.
But the hockey imports h8(1
cv('rvthing. Flashy uniforms
Great physiques. The roar ul the
crowd And m(lley {'1te'y got
about SI.. dollars a week for room
an(I.bo:u'd 811(1 spending money
"{'herr often had two or three
dollar's to thrott around. so.
naturally. they got the girls
r Sonic 01 them are still stuck with
them. ha. ha.
h'omcall', about a third 01
1 hos( guys who made us green
With el)yy would 1)c knocking 011
eighty -live 10 a hundred thousand
a real' it they hadn't peen 1)0111 4(1
years too soon They were goof
N'nough to make the s(x'alled N111.
today. but not then. when there
were so lett teams and so many
aspirants.
There were only nine teams
then: 'Toronto. llotlt'eal Cana
(liens. Montreal ylar'O0llS, Ottawa
Senator's. ti(Sl(►n. New York
l{angers. New York Americans,
('hicago. and Detroit.
There were- probably just as
marry hopeful players. 'Today
there are 21 or 2:1 or 2Y teams in
the Nfll,. Nobody seems able to
count them any more.
Well. figure it out. Take a quart
of whiskey and acid a similar
amount 01 water. Split the re-
mains in two and .1(1(1,8 hall of
tvaler to each. ‘That (10 you get''
Not a whiskey \with water. A
water with a (ouch o1 twhiske%.
And that's why SO many (Mee -
ardent hockey experts like Nle
.lust dont bother going to games.
01' ('Cern watching (Ilei on
unless the Russians are playing.
Mien you see a lets (lashes ()1 the
(►1(f (in)(' hockey. instead (d a
group of high-school dropouts.
high -sticking. slamming each
other into the boards. pretending
to light by dancing ring -a -round
while carefully clutching each
others' sweaters So they wont be
hurl. tripping. c'lutc'hing. honk
ing. and doing everything hug
play hock('\
I'crhaps the most sickening
thing of all is the great hugging
and kissing and dancing that
takes place when on(• Iurket has
s(i)l'c•d a goal h) shooting I4)w'd
the end of the rink and hat ing the
puck go in oil a teammate sl l('k
- pure accident
It's (►.K 1 don't uecessatilt
want In go back lo the day s when
players had some digintt . and
(WWI have to pal each others.
burns all the time \or do i \rant
them reduced to (he 5()11 0l nage
slavery they endured year ago
But please spare me. on the
sports pages. Iron) then' constant
whining. tantrums. hurl tcultngs.
ancf cy 'r -ending uterest 11) the
Ing 1)11i4
Tough regulations
The following article 1s taken
from the Brant Bunion. a
newsletter of the Brant 'Teachers.
Association. 1 thought you would
enjoy it
demo: '1'o all stall •inenhers
Fan: Personnel dept.
Re: Regulations on illness
Illness: No excuse We will no
longer accept your doctor's stat('
Ment as proof, if von are able to
go to a doctor. you are able to
come I() work.
Funeral: This is no excuse
There is nothing you can do for
them. and we are sure that so-
meone else with a lesser position
can attend to the arrangements.
However. if the (tmnera) is held in
the late afternoon we will he glad
to let you 00 one hour early. pro
vided yoln' work Is all caught up
for the day .
Leave 01 Absence for an
ope•ralion : We are no longer
allowing this practice. We wish to
.................
By the
Way
discourage any though( that you
may need an operation. as we
helieve.as f ou are an employee
Ilia( you will need all 01 whatever
vou have at the moment and that
you should not consider having
anything removed We hire you
as you are and In hat e anything
ven►vc'd k(c►tl1(1 c'ertainit make
you IeSS than w(' i►a1gained llw
Uealh four 0‘%1) The. NA al 801
be accepted as an excuse You
are simply not to (he Itot4.ever.
1f you (10 we shall require two
weeks notice as rye Ieel 11 is your
duty 10 1eac'h someone else gout'
jot)
Additional • Fait ir'el lo.► much
time is being spent ill the rest
room in future. We w111 1ol1ott the
practice of going in alphabetical
order For instance. tilos(' whose
names begin with ':\' Will go iron]
9:(0(09 1.). 'B. ti'orn9 1:11o9 .10:
a11(1 50 00 11 y(►1) are linable to go
al your tune. It will Ix' necessary)
to wail until the next day when
your tulle COMPS ar011il(1 again