The Goderich Signal-Star, 1972-11-23, Page 4RICH S ONAL.STAR. 'THURSDAY. NOV MHER 33, 197a
BY CAYLEY HILL
Y ur last issue suggested that candidates'might(,submit a
few words covering their views and policies for the Novem-
ber 23rd paper. The following are 'my comments in brief.
"Since accepting an appointment to the Huron County
Board' of, Education, my main concern .has related to,
Management. About a year agp, our Board adopted the
COgimittee ' system and t ` was made • Chairman of the
Management Committee.
I stand " for good employee , relations and good
mahagernent of financial matters. This has been a difficult
year from the stand -point of budgeting. Ceilings ,imposed
by the Ontario Department of Education have forced us to
curtail some programs
In the field of special education for example, I would
like to see us do more if we can afford, to do. so. Hopefully
some relief will be granted to these ceilings in 1973.
, Boards "_who l)ad been practicing reaListic
spending habits are those most penalized by Departmental
action. We emphasized our position to the Minister
concerned in a meeting with officials last spring.
Why do I want to'continue to be one of your Trustees? I
have five, children ip our school system and I want for
theiri. and for all the other children of the Town and
County, the best educational system possible within our
means, Wanting though is not enough. I am willing to, con-
tinue to take the time to play a part if the voters so esire.
I don't promise miracles - but I am willing to do all I;
can in this regard for the Town of Goderich and the County
of Huron.''"
Thank you ,for this opportunity.
BY GEORGE PARSONS
In response°to your invitation in last week's paper, I am
n hapR set forth a few views'concerning my candidacy for
election as Trustee to the="--Huron—Coi1i`fity- Bo' ard' of
Ed-uration.;_.
As you will recall, u'iy being on the Board came about, as
an appointment wheir he two sitting Goderich members
resigned after a few months service.
Quite frankly I found Board business cumbersome and
time-consuming with drawn out meetings but through
'reorganization to a two -Committee system which I was
happy to help implement, these frustrations reduced.
While, my background is business and no doubt a reason
for being approached, I am extremely interested in the
educational aspects and serve on the education committee.
Particularly am I interested in what can be done for the
' 'average to below average' student in the area of special
assistance. remedial reading. psychologist and
psychometrist services. •
Young/people and their parents are taking a whole new
look at the overall goals of education: I am aware of this
with two children in highschool.and one_in public school:
helpful changes 'are being made in the curriculum but I feel
we must avoid being' over reactionary.
What are my goals?
1. We are paying top dollars for administration and
teaching - let's ensure we get top value for our money.
2 We may be geographically in the backwaters of the
rovtnce land lor thiS•ii.easen need; to be• rpo t ottont
in spite of budgeting problems the' ' 'Department': bl` `
Education may have, we are at least treated in like manner
to the larger urban centres.
3. In the rebuilding of Victoria School slated for 1974,
let's be sure that the community receives a building and
facilities of tvhich it can be proud.
Thank you for your time' and space.
BY MRS, DOROTHY WALLACE
Before I state my views on the operation of the Huron Cauinty.
Board of Education, I would like to point out "to this electorate a
Pew' facts on education in Ontario which are perhaps not
generally, known.
In spite of the much vaunted local autonomy that was sup-
posed to be given county boards when that system was begun, the
result has been an even tighter control than formerly by the
Department of Education. None of the old regulations have been
taken away but new ones have been added. The most recent was
the power given the-department'in 1969 to control the budgets of
all boards. So boards are powerless.to change the present system
in any `meaningful way.
For example they could not allow students to have part-time
jobs, teachers to have any say in choosing their principals, design"
their awn world -religion course or _ remove any settler .official
without departmental approval.
On'the financial side of the picture,,,they are equally powerless.
Outside pressures set the salaries of all staff within a few dollars.
population pressures and construction costs determine "building
programs and debenture debts. Our children must be bused to
school. This leaves about 20% ' of the _$10,000,000 budget in
Huron within any degree of control by trustees. And as 1 have
said, the department has the ultimate control of that.
So what is left to Boards? As I see it, their roll lies in attemp-
ting to make the, very test use of the remainder of the budget
toward acquiring, the best possible education for the county's
children.
To accomplish this, they must first. determine ,what are the
most. important requisites for a sound education and set about to
t them,
•..For instance, a Board might decide that for them the three R's
get
still the most important subjects with reading at the head of
the list. With the objective of producing a gcilbd reader out of
ever• child in the county,"all avenues toward this end should be
emd ,-d Tt-aehers,-Mould 1st nn' it1h'd, expert ::hc.uld be called
.Y in, every source of --information and grants sought and the resour-
ces of auxiliary services such,as the County Health Unit used to:
their fulles,
There shouldt. be tane
dialogue with our teachers, not only
to determine the needs `of the system but the value of programs -
undertaken. Not only would this approach help to avoid useless
spending but it would.,recognize outstanding talent and effort in
our staff._
This priority -setting approach to solving its problems has not
been tried yet by the Huron County .Board nor can I e romise it
ever will be. This is, however, 'my concept of good Board
operation and I would do what • I could toward attempting it.
-If this approach to its function could be taken by our Board,
then I think that futile squabbles with our staff over salaries
such as that . which caused my resignation in , 1971 could be
avoided.
I would urge a change in the approach to salary negotiations.
Since I take the view that education should be a team effort of
Board and Staff, then the problems of finance should be a
Cayley Hill Dorothy Wallace
common concern to both Board and Staff.
There should be no secrets in a Public system but a constant
effort by all concerned toward achieving our common goals.
former board member who I sense a rowing alienation in the electorate towards its
edttcattonal syste>un LFthink,...._s.,in part due to the Board'swants to let back '
method of operation by standing committees with only one open
meeting of the whole board each month. Most of the issues are
discussed in the privacy of the committee meetings with little
discussion at the public one. This results in a' poorly informed
press, stilted reporting of dull, infrequent meetings' and a
progressively less interested public. Nor has any substitute source
of information been offered. Ways must be found to correct this
�itu�itcion. •
As a matter of immediate concern, I would re -open the.
question of busing the students to the Christian Reformed School
in 'Clinton *i.th the hope of achieving a more Christian decision
from our Public School Board.
committee chairman
BY HAROLD KNISLEY
First of . all, may I thank you for the oppf'rtunity of
explaining to the voters of Goderich, my purpose in offering
my services as a candidate for the Huron County Board of
Education.
My life has been devoted entirely to education, as a
teacher, principal, R.C.A.F. instructor, Inspector of Public
Schools and one' of the 'superintendents' with the Huron
County Board of 8ducation since its organization.
, Retirement, as of August 31st 1972, has provided me with
free time to devote to church and community activities.
,My experience, as an Inspector of Public Schools, called
for continual counselling of school boards and I learned to
appreciate their problems. Studies. in school law and
school administration and finance, proved of great value.
As a superintendent with the . Huron County Board of'
Education, an excellent opportunity Was afforded to ap-
preciate the concerns of the new County Board as it tackled
the problems of reorganization.
My main purpose in. ,offering my, services, as a board
member, is to focus attention, from an educator's point of
view, on hoard discussions, and draw on a wide experience
in school ,. administration.
My time is free for board activities if the voters of
Goderich see fit to elect me as a member of the Huron
Courttyl Board -of Education; ._
George Parsons
...,board member now
who likes committee
system
Harold Knisley
... retired superintendent
of Huron Board
You are invited to attend the
GOSPEL CRUSADE
Evangelist William Clarke.
(Cross Cartage. sone FugMih, Musician & soiobt1
WITH
NOVEMBER 22-26.
WEEK NIGHTS 7s30 y SUNDAYS 2:30 & 7 p.m.
SPECIAL 'RUSK INCLUDES
SOLOIST MAS.
001101 11Y SCOTLAND, BAPTIST CHURCH, CHOIR, UNITED CHURCH
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Thesemo1in s etre for yOut For p 0fo of all font* or p eopio of no faith, non.denorninatianal in
x., .,
Mnphssle, Mb* basad, Christ &introit All Weloomr h In the
ARMV-
r e . r 18 ��rW�'Ekfl��bC� ST.
r 50Y �, GOOER KH
1
II
4
on the team
Again This Year
OUR CHRISTMAS
IGT ST • RY
In Pictures
To The Electors
As a comparative newcomer to
Goderich, but as o Person Who has
truly partaken:herself of, and Immer-
sed herself in, this comimunity, I
solicit your support at the polls on
December .4, 1972.
THANK YOU
Eileen J. Palmer
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Representative
GODERICH
Tel: 524-7102
Call your nearest Manufapturers Life
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76.1.72
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