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Times Advocate, 1992-09-02, Page 10Page 10 Tunes -Advocate, September 2, 1992 ' SPEC' A IT F. ye examinations overlooked Eye exams are an important part of the back-to-schoo! preparations and should be made for children of all ages. Here, Dr. David Klein in Exeter does a check on the prescription of Dayna Lerch's eyesight. By Michelle Ellison T -A Staff EXETER - One of the most overlooked ritu- als in the back to school hustle and bustle is a child's eye exams. While parents see the bi-yearly trip to the dentist or general practitioner a must, of- ten visual exams are put on the back burner until a child mentions an ailment Dr. David Klein, an Exeter op- tometrist, says "it is important be- cause it is one of the most impor- tant senses they use in school." "Because there are sutble things that the children can't detect they should have them tested," says Klein. He points out that while the ob- vious symptoms are blurry vision, headaches, watching the TV or reading a book too closely, often there are problems such as binoc- ular vision (how well the eyes work together) and lazy eye that can not be detected by children. Klein also says that because "the eyes change as children do", eye exams are important for stu- dents of any age. There is a correlation between vision perception problems and learning disabilities. Often un- treated vision problems lead to lower grades, shorter attention spans and eventually increased frustration in school age children. An eye exam could prevent these unnecessary problems. - "In a lot of cases children are la- belled as learning disabled and it's surprising how in an eye exam we can prescribe a prescription to re- duce the strain on eyes. In some cases. it isn't a learning disability, they just can't see right," says Klein. Because tracking/focusing and perception problems are common among the learning disabled, not only would an eye check up with Klein include near and farsighted- ness, astigmatism, lazy eye and interior and exterior eye health, it would involve testing depth per- ception. This is important to check bi- nocular vision and hand -eye co- ordination says Klein. Not only is this ability impor- tant in the classroom, many stu- dents will find eye exams can be an asset on the field or floor in their athletic and extra -curricular endeavors. Experts say, that if, after labourous practising, you just can't improve your game, rather than be discouraged about your athletic abilities, it may be the case of unrefined visual skills. Many athletic problems are vis- ual in nature and an estimated 80 percent of the stimuli the brain re- ceives is relayed through vision. Klein agrees that contact Tense correction is useful in this aspect but says the wearer should be ma- ture enough to properly care for the investment. So, if the possibilty of improved performance in the classroom won't convince your child to have an eye exam, perhaps an athletic approach would. TliRF' Survival of the fist Cash, credits, and camping gear not all frosh need for university By Ray Lewis TA- Staff of your choice. But while leaving for school has its perks, there are a lot of things that bear getting used to, so here are a few things to ponder. Get used to being a number and living life on an as- sembly line. Guidance counselors, professors and bar- tenders are dealing in .high volume, especially during course selection time. You're on your own so read the fine print of everything you get to be assured you're heading in the right direction. "Counselors defutitely don't have time for every- one," said Michelle Ellison, third year economics stu- dent at the University of Western Ontario. "1 can re- member going to main campus to talk to guidance counselors. 1 waited in line an hour, got inside, they said take this, this and this. Next please. It was very quick and impersonal." It's important for students to get started on the right foot. Receiving the wrong information or misunder- standing information about a course or program can be nearly fatal to your average. Talk to reliable sources in your program who have time to answer all of your questions. • If it is a student, make sure they aren't too far ahead of you because over the years courses, pre- requisites and requirements change. Make sure the course you have enrolled in is one de- signed for you. In other words, if you need a math credit to fill a requirement, don't take the core course offered for those who expect to launch rockets at NASA. Take the one established to give you the math you need for the field you hope to be in. While it's okay to expand your horizons, use a little discretion. Remember, you may require good marks in some of these courses to get where you're going. Failing means repeating, repeating means time and time means money. And don't forget any credits. You wouldn't believe the number of students who in fourth year fmd they can't graduate because they forgot that extra arts or sci- ence credit they needed. Or the number of students who try to take a course and fmd they have forgotten to first take the prerequisites. An extra semester is aw- fully expensive. Watch out for the merchandise blitz. "Fmsh" is the term given to first year students, but what it really means is "gullible," so beware. They will try to sell you everything on campus the first couple of weeks because they know your pockets are full of money. First they sell you frosh kits full of special coupons for food and entertainment, a t -shirt or maybe a neat hat, etc. Then they'll hit you with the wardrobe stuff like school sweats, jackets, underwear, sweaters and laundry bags, and follow this up with coolie cups, soap dishes and shower shoes. Something else frosh better get used to over the first few weeks are lines; long lines and lots of them. There will be lines for meal tickets, OSAP, registration and virtually anything else that you need. Individuals have been known to stand in lineup to six hours wait- ing to buy books. "The biggest thing is bureaucracy among depart- ments," said Chris Thompson, another third year eco- nomics student at Western. "You can be juggled around from department to department for hours, be- cause each department has no idea what the other is doing." • EXETER - It's finally here. That moment you've been dreaming of all through your final high school year. Your enve- lope arrived June 12th and you've been accepted to that higher insti- tution, hopefully Students should be wary to have all their registra- tion, course addition and course deletion forms signed by the proper authority, be it a professor, guidance counselor or department head. There is nothing worse than standing in line for an hour or two and finding they can't help you because you didn't get your form signed. And don't forget to take your student card. Memorize your number. YOU NEED IT FOR EVERYTHING. Don't leave home without it. When it Domes to books, go to the prof early and find out what texts you need. Don't be a hotdog and buy all the books on the outline, because believe it or not, some of them are only on the outline for reference or extra reading. Yeah, like you'll have time for extra reading. Buy the first couple of books you need in each course to allow you to get ahead. After a couple of weeks the lines will have thinned out and you can go back for more. It saves the need for camping gear at the book store line-ups. But be wary. New editions are printed every year in an attempt to capitalize on inexperienced students: Find out the differences between old editions and new and buy used whenever possible to save ; r.rself some bucks. Sometimes there is no difference and other times an additional chapter may have been added. Consult your course outline. Perhaps the chapter isn't required at all and if it is, you may be able to borrow that one from a friend or at the library. The library is your friend. Learn the system and how to use it because it can save you a lot of cash. Books for English courses ane cheap but numerous, whereas biology majors shouldn't be shocked to fmd they need two books for one course and they're $160 each. Shop around and hit the used book stores. Re- member, you still have to eat. Speaking of food, try to budget yourself accordingly. Don't be fooled by that temporarily high bank account and order pizza EVERY NIGHT. Your second semes- ter tuition check hasn't come off yet, you'll need more books and likely indulge in some forms of entertain- ment. If you live on campus, buy a small meal plan and cook your 'own if kitchen facilities are available. Cooking a couple of meals a week saves a lot of mon- ey over the long run and the food is much better. "The cafeteria system was good, but the hot food was gross," confided Kim Murray, who is in her third year nursing at Windsor University. "And everything is a little overpriced." Leftovers from home are a lifesaver and when gro- cery shopping, bargain hunt. YoulI do it fourth year, guaranteed. Scrimp and save whenever possible. The bills add up quickly. If you are off campus, pray you got a home with insulation. Hydro, gas, water and especial- ly phone bills are killers and if you live out of walling distance there are bus fares or gas for the auto. And of course, there arc the little things like a constant run of spare change to do your laundry. The greatest things youll learn at post secondary school are time management and how to always look ahead. For instance, don't wait until the end of April to look for a summer job. Look early. Remember, you've been saving a long time for that first year, but now you've only got four months to make enough money to last you the entire second year. Your goals change after you leave high school. You find that university life is a lot different than you thought it would be. Youll learn about moving, com- ing up with fust and last month's rent, and finding peo- ple to live with that you won't kill. Parents are stere to know they have kids in =versify as they continually receive distress calls for money and find themselves with empty cupboards after the kids have been home. It's a rough game, bu, .. can be a fun one with great rewards. Best of luck on the road to higher learning, and don't forget to graduate. Back -to -school means back-to- basics for clothes and supplies By Michelle Ellison T -A Staff EXETER - Whether it is the economy or the fact that the yup- pies of the 110s have turned to baby boomers in the '90s, back -to -school means beck -to -basics this season. Exeter retailers are seeing this and purchasing more denims in the clothing stores and regular lined paper in the stationery departments. The fact that such itans as col - oared jeans, cotton shins and big sweaters are still the most popular purchattes around town, !,roves erpop lar t -shirts will be accompa- what Anne Lindenfield at The tried with bather fringes and other Fashion Closet says about fashion western motifs creatively placed on this fall. pockets, cuffs and collars for all - "People are dresaing for comfort out western style. - casual is in," she says. %teet's Shoes have caught on Shari Burton of the Purpk Turtle to the timeless head in cowboy points out, however, that basic boots with a wide selection of low, does not mean boring. middle and high amt boots for girls "It might be a basic sweatshirt and boys. but it has to be bright and fun," The western look is really in says Burton. this fall," says Linda Wuerth. "I The revival of the "western" think this season will be the hot - look ertplitiiy complements the oro- best." cial tread of bebyboomers return- Cad Baden of Gerrards has no- ing 10 the more skate Meta sod tined the western theme reaming traditional valines of Weir diad- in Isms of longer aacirts and boots hood. They aro becoming mare for girls and the return of the bib brand loyal and ,a �ycboaiiag Ia rads oats which she i. are more � wait+ibapat for autumn. their ponies raised them rte. Camel and comfortable is also The tried and true basic, classic what Lisa Tuckey has purchased for her customers' back -to -school wardrobes at Melba Tuckers. Crushed velvet leggings, Guatema- lon pull -over jackets, denims and basic button -up shirts adorn the walls of het small establishment. The departure from the 80s pur- chasing of fads and gimmkks for back -to -school supplies can also be seen in the stationery departments of local businesses. Barb Tumbull from Greeting Card World says, "what they're buying is name day to day stuff, not the novelty hems," and says Hall- mark didn't even came out with their everpopular, trendy school chasecalendarelan a forcing her to ptr- Big V merchandiser Donna Dawc says sales have already been good for back -to -school supplies and their complements, but they've sold more lined paper than anything. "Everyone is buying the basics. Something of everything," says Dawe. So, the very group that initialed the free -spending habits of the 90s seems to be raving toward a social weed whore trusted brand name goods aro .becoming abe staples of the beck-to.baaics'9oa. denim jeans, denim jacket and ev- V*arbbat F iliiwi t a oomfortable ootton pont and bled shirt for det�hter Ju lie at the Purple TIMUS Nr s jar Retailers say parents orale J comfortable le and costa clothing for back -to -school wardrobes for their children.