Times-Advocate, 1983-11-09, Page 22Exeter in forefront with micro -computers
Times -Advocate, November 9, 1983
Page 21
Huron students being trained to be computer -literate
Michael Crichton, Harvard -
educated medical doctor who
turned his talents to writing
best-sellers like The An-
dromeda Strain and directing
the movie Coma has
authored a book telling how to
think about computers. He is
quoted in a recent issue of
Time magazine as predicting
the eventual impact of the
computer will surpass that of
the telephone and the
automobile.
The Huron County board of
education is very aware of its
responsibilities in preparing
children now in the school
system to live and work in a
world dominated by com-
puters. Bob McCall, the
Huron board's superintendent
of curriculum, said he and his
colleagues acknowledge the
need to make all students
graduating from the secon-
dary schools computer -
literate, as the will be involy-
IIII'.IIIi''
COMPUTER TALK — Bob McCaII (left), superintendent
of curriculum for the Huron County board of education
and media co-ordinator Dave Bieman discuss computers
in the board's media room at Clinton.
ed a4.home and at work with
computers for the rest of their
lives.
The board's aim is twofold:
to obtain the best possible
system for Huron schools,
and introduce and teach com-
puter science in the most ef-
fective way.
For the moment the board
has put further computer
hardware purchases on hold.
The ministry has had a com-
puter (originally ,nicknamed
the bionic beaver but now
referred to as the ICON) built
to ministry specifications.
Prototypes are being set up
this month in schools under
the supervision of Kent and
Oxford counties and the Wind-
sor Separate School Board.
The networking system is
designed to allow a number of
computers within a school to
be linked together and incor-
porates separate printer and
storage units.
The Huron board, like
others across the province, is
waiting for an evaluation of
the ICON. If it gets good
marks, most boards will buy
it, especially since purchases
will be subsidized with a
healthy grant.
McCall was one of an eight -
member committee compris-
ng representatives from
111111111111111111111111111111 II111111.1111111111111111111111I11I1111U1111111111111111111111111111111111111
By Jack Riddell MPP
Following the Agri -Food
Conference held in Toronto
just recently, the Ontario
Deputy Minister of
Agriculture and Food in an in-
terview with the news media
said that there wasn't ever a
recession in agriculture as
compared to the other natural
resources sectors.
Yet the Treasurer, Larry
Grossman, when touring
farms in Dufferin County,
expressed the view that it was
distressing to see fine farms,
first-class operations which
will be lost not because the
owners borrowed too much
money but because of current
market conditions. Those op-
posing views prompted me to
again questions the Minister
of Agriculture and Food, Den-
nis Timbrell, regarding the
beef industry.
I asked him how he recon-
ciled these opposing views
and how the Treasurer was
able to get a clear picture of
the state of the beef industry
in this Province whereas the
Minister of Agriculture and
Food does not seem to unders-
tand that our beef producers
need a shot in the arm from
the government to help them
fight an economic malaise
which caught them without
any immunity whatsoever,
unlike the beef producers in
the other provinces
In his reply. Mr. Timbrell
school boards and personnel
from the ministry and the
London-basedeilthoust faculty
who designed a planning
guide for effective implemen-
tation of computers. The
guide has been approved by
21 boards, and adopted by the
province.
The Huron board has been
conduting extensive in-
service training among its
teachers in both evening and
summer courses. Twenty-
seven are enrolled in the
latest, which began last week,
and more courses will be ar-
ranged for another 50 who
have indicated an interest.
The introductory course in-
cludes how to use the com-
puter, how to evaluate the
various programs, and how to
fit this educational tool into its
proper setting. For most
teachers, comfortable
familiarity is all they ask.
Further courses are provided
for the minority wishing to ex-
plore the specialized field of
computer programming. The
same options are given
students taking the computer
courses.
One of the course instruc-
tors for teachers is Exeter
resident Dave Bieman, media
co-ordinator with the Huron
Board. Bieman said changes
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caCZ 3
OlIill
(j3
MPP airs various concerns
referred to the other pro-
grams that his Ministry had
initiated and the fact 118 ap-
plications for the Beginning
Farmers Assistance Pro-
gram have been received.
The heaviest concentration of
successful applicants are in
the counties of Bruce, Grey,
Huron, Perth and Middlesex
and that the majority of those
are likely to be in the
livestock industry.
He said that an agreement
with the Federal Government
and several other provinces
has been reached to initiate a
red meat stabilization plan.
I told the Minister I was
aware of the meeting with the
other provinces and the
agreement that has been
reached and that the National
Stabilization plan w"1 not
come into effect until next
year. My concern was what
the Minister was going to do
to help the beef producers
survive this year so that they
will have a chance to par-
ticipate in the National
Stabilization program next
year.
Wife beating
At long last, the Govern-
ment has responded to the
report of the Standing Com-
mittee on Social Development
on Wife Battering. It has an-
nounced a series of initiatives
which it claims would heir)
combat this tr owing
problem.
The initiatives include: an
extra $4 million for transition
houses to serve battered
women and their children
plus a guarantee that no
provincially -supported
emergency shelter for these
women will be closed for lack
of funding next year; appoint -
Centre's closing not set
The Bluewater Centre in
Goderich will be maintained
beyond November 18 until all
150 residents have been plac-
ed in some form of supervis-
ed residence, Social Develop-
ment Secretary Bruce McCaf-
frey said Friday.
While November 18 has
been mentioned as the closing
date for the centre for the
developmentally handicap-
ped, McCaffrey told the
legislature, it is actually the
date by which the ministry of
community and social ser
vices must notify unionized
staff that the facility is to be
closed and employment
terminated.
"There has been no actual
closure date set and the
facility will cease to operate
only when the ministry's com-
mitments are met," said
McCaffrey.
Bluewater is the second of
six centres to be closed over
the next five years. The St
Lawrence Centre in
Brockville has already clos-
ed, and the St. Thomas Adult
Rehabilitation and Training
centre is also on the list
The residents are to be
moved into the community,
although the opposition
charges that many will be
unable to cope and will shift
to other institutions.
"No facility will be closed
until appropriate provision is
made for every individual,"
McCaffrey stressed.
He rejected charges made
last week by MPP Bill Wrye
(IfWindsor Sandwich) that 40
Bluewater residents will be
moved to facilities in London
which already have a waiting
list. Bluewater has only nine
residents from Middlesex and
all have been placed, he said.
The province has been able
to return more people to the
community than it had
originally anticipated, said
McCaffrey.
Ile said he was unaware
how many of the 150 residents
have yet to be placed, and
how long beyond November
18 Bluewater would remain
open.
McCaffrey has been acting
minister of community and
social services during Frank
Drea's recent illness, but said
Drea would be back to work
Monday to handle the issue.
ment of a provincial co-
ordinator for family violence
to help ensure adequate ser-
; vices are available; organiza-
tion of a public education pro-
gram and a major provincial
conference on wife battering;
efforts to convince the federal
government to change.provi-
sions of the Immigration Act
which often place battered
immigrant wives at the mer-
cy of their husbands, because
their right to remain in
Canada often depends on the
sponsorship of the husband.
Liberal Leader David
Peterson welcomed the
Government's announce-
ment, but expressed his con-
cern that it was chosen to ig-
nore the two fundamental
issues of the Report: the need
for block funding and the need
for comprehensive legislation
to interval and transition
houses in Ontario to elicit
response to the Standing
Committee's report.
Fifty percent have respond-
ed and every single response
has indicated a desire for
block funding. The•Standing
Committee recommended
block funding, which would
guarantee that the houses
have a fixed income each
year to cover operating costs
as well as room and board.
Hydro
David Peterson told the
Legislature that there have
been 97 "significant events"
at Pickering Hydro nuclear
station in the past nine
months, including four
"hazardous leaks". These 97
incidents - about the same
number as in other similar
time periods - were "un -
towards things that could lead
to more trouble."
These included 29
mechanical failures, 20 valve
failures, 18 human errors, 13
electrical breakers tripped, 13
instrument failures and the
four hazardous leakes such as
the recent "event" when 41
litres (about nine gallons) of
radioactive heavy water leak-
ed into Lake Ontario.
Hydra Accountability
In the Standing Committee
on Public Accounts, a Liberal
motion was put forward
which would have a sub-
committee created to deal
with Hydro matters. We have
called for the restoration of
the Select Committee on
Hydro Affairs, to no avail,
and it appears that we will
have to work with the ex-
amination of Hydro's finances
by the Public Accounts
Committee.
Unlike a Select Ontario
Hydro Committee, Public Ac-
counts has other very impor-
tant business, and it would be
inappropriate if the commit-
tee's very important day-to-
day business were cut off,
because it had been saddled
with the chore of reviewing
Hydro's finances. A sub-
committee such as -proposed
by the Liberal Party would be
able to devote considerably
more time to considering
Hydro matters.
As the sub -committee
would only be required to
report back to the committee
from time to time, the Stan-
ding Committee could con-
tinue with its on-going
business. It would be par-
ticularly desirable to strike a
sub -committee with fewer
members and the ability to sit
more often. The members of
the sub -committee would
develop a singular expertise
in Hydro matters, and would
become an additional
resource to the entire com-
mittee. As David Peterson
has pointed out, "It is signifi-
cant that we have this rare
opportunity to investigate the
mysteries of Ontario Hydro
finance.
I continue in the view that
the Select Committee is the
ideal review mechanism, and
the one to be preferred.
However, I believe that the
establishment of a sub-
committee of the Standing
Committee on Public Ac-
counts will permit the most
extensive review possible in
the circumstances.
French in the Courts
Legislation has been in-
troduced by the Ontario
Government which would
make French an official
language in the courts of the
province. In the Courts of
Justice Act, 1983, legislation
which consolidates all court
acts and related legislation, a
section states: "The official
languages of the courts of On-
tario are English " and
French."
The Attorney -General has
stated that the new legislation
recognizes the fact that the
province has extended a full
range of court services to
Franco-Ontarians and that
the right to bilingual services
does not extend in all cases to
pre -trail pleadings or hear-
ings before the Ontario
Municipal Board.
Sales. Service Chemicals. Accessories
Main Street Seaforth 527 0104
in content have to be made
each time the introductory
and programming courses
are run, as the whole field of
computer technology is
changing with incredible
rapidity.
Bieman foresees substan-
tial change in the schools, as
those in charge try to come to
terms with the effects of the
computer.
"It should be primarily
beneficial - if done right. I'm
very positive about the
future" is his assesment.
According to Bieman, each
school is doing something dif-
ferent. Some are concen-
trating on word processing,
others on using the computer
to teach grammar or
mathematics.
So many students are tak-
ing the computer science
course at Goderich District
Collegiate Institute there is
not enough time in the school
day to accommodate
everyone. The classes con-
tinue at night with additional
help and supervision of parent
volunteers. '
South Huron District High
School was one of the first
secondary schools in the
'ounty to give students com-
puter experience. Due
primarily to the efforts of
science teacher Willard Long,
since retired, the Exeter
school was the first under the
Huron Board's jurisdiction to
have micro -computers in the
classroom.
Previously, a student would
make up a program and type
it out on a card on a key punch
machine. All cards were sent
to a central computer at
Althouse, and returned to the
students approximately a
week later. Each mistake
meant another trip to London,
and a further delay of at least
another week.
A switch to optical scan still
meant a two-way trip, though
the turn -around time was cut
in half . Students working with
a computer want instant
results, and those they now
have.
Backed whole-heartedly by
then principal JoeWoodham,
Long put together and
donated to the school a disk -
driven computer kit that is
still earning its keep, and per-
suaded the board to rent five
more machines.
During Long'stenure,
chemistry teacher Peter
Aunger became interested in
computers after watching the
London computer make out
1,000 report cards in one and
one-half hours. By the manual
method, putting his own
marks on reports took two
hours which, multiplied by 50
teachers plus eight hours typ-
ing by the office staff, came
to over 100 hours of labour the
old way, not counting the time
needed to calculate the
marks.
Aunger was hooked. He ap-
proached Long and said he
wanted to learn all he could
about this wonderful, time-
saving machine.
Aunger himself began
teaching computer science at
Exeter three years ago.
This year, out of a student
body of 885, 230 SHDHS
students are enrolled in a
computer course. And that
doesn't count the ineligible
grade nines. (The teachers
want more mature students,
preferably with a year's typ-
ing experience behind them.)
The grade lOs are offered
the introductory course, and
the higher grades can plunge
right in to computer science,
actual programming, and ap-
plication to business
situations.
While learning, the students
have applied their new skills
to making life easier for the
staff. Aunger can show pages
of programs designed by
Grade 12 students, including
report card blanks, all
alphabetical listing of all
students and their timetables,
and office listing of every
home room, and a listing for
each teacher of all students in
his or her classes.
Last year the students
made up a program for the
GRADUATES — Mr. and
Mrs. Tom Somerville, Cen-
tralia, wish to announce
the graduation of their
daughter Sandra Lee from
the Medical Secretary Pro-
gram at Fanshawe Col-
lege on June 17, 1983.
Sandy is presently
employed at Huron Dental
Centre, in Exeter.
school library that
automatically sent out over-
due and fine notices to tardy
borrowers.
Until this year, Exeter also
offered a very popular night
school course in computer
science. Graduates Esmail
Merani and Gerry Fergusson
had words of highest praise
for the course content and
presentation.
Aunger is convinced
everyone should know how to
operate a computer, and
know what it can and can not
do. This knowledge should be
as basic as facility in English
and mathematics.
"Things have to be done
right, though. A disorganized
person does not like a com-
puter", Aunger warned.
Aunger has strong opinions
SHDHS events
Cookies continue to haunt
SHDHS students as the school
is trying to wind up what will
hopefully be their final fun-
draising campaign.
The Student Council will be
running a tuck shop for Satur-
day's H -P football champion-
ship, 1:00 at the Panther field.
The final movie presenta-
tion of first term will be the
prep school horror "Happy
Birthday to Me", on Friday,
November 18. Students
preparing for the end of
November exams will be
driven from their books with
fright as the movie recounts
the bizarre murders of the
Top Ten students of a prep
school.
An early reminder: ex-
aminations run from Friday,
Nov. 25 to Friday, Dec. 2 and
the Christmas holidays are
from Dec. 19 to January 2.
about some of the adverse ef-
fects of improper use of com-
puters. He dislikes many of
the computer games, which
"appeal to man's baser in-
stincts to kill and destroy",
and agrees with the learning
resource experts who ad-
vocate a multi -sensory ap-
proach in preference to con-
centrating solely on the
visual. Aunger worries that
some students may have dif-
ficulty distinguishing bet-
ween the simulation of the
computer world and reali-
ty, and that some in-
troverted youngsters may be
tempted to spend all their
time on intellecutal rather
than social development.
These cavils aside, Aunger
is a fan of computers, proper-
ly used.
This is the type of opinion
the educational decision -
makers welcome. McCall
said a net -working system is
now being set up to pool the
expertise of all those with
computer experience within
the school system of
southwestern Ontario. The
province's students will be
beneficiaries.
"There is no sense in con-
tinually reinventing the
wheel", McCall commented.
A computer committee
composed of trustees on the
Huron board has been study-
ing the local situation, and
will present its findings and
recommendations to fellow
trustees and board members
this week.
FAST FACTS — Exeter computer sciences teacher Peter
Aunger examines o computer printout from one of the
classroom computers at SHDHS.
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