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Clinton News-Record, 1986-09-10, Page 4Director John N. Smith from the National Film Board looks on as Clinton high school students Bill Rhynard and Ron Calder act out an impromptu scene as they audition to par- ticipate in a film on the Bluewater Centre for Young Offenders. The film, which will humanize the story of a young offender, will take two and a half months to film. More than 75 local people are needed to participate as actors and extras in the film. If interested, phone Sally Bockner, associate producer at 524-2107. CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1986—Page 3 National Film Board hits CHSS By Susan Hundertmark A film by the National Film Board of Canada, set in the Bluewater Centre for Young Offenders will humanize the situa- tion of an angry young man, says director John N. Smith. "It's an issue that can't be shoved under the carpet. When a boy has problems relating to the community, his problems can't be solved in the isolation of prison. He has to come back into the community to deal with them," says Smith. After researching the film for six mon- ths by talking to judges, lawyers, proba- tion officers, social workers, prison of- ficials, psychologists and hundreds of kids in five other facilities in Ontario and six in Quebec, Smith says he's come up with a composite:story of a youth who is sentenc- ed to the Bluewater Centre for committing a crime. Family conflict and peer pressure will be contributing factors leading up to the crime. The story will cover two parts of the young offender's life. The first, will deal with the first three months in prison and the second will cover the year leading up to his sentence. "We checked the composite story with the experts to make sure it rings true. Of course, it will be very individual and very particular as it is the story of one person," he says. The actor playing the main character has already been hired by the National Film Board but as many as 75 local youths will be needed to fill out the facility since federal legislation says that actual young offenders cannot be identified to the public. Auditions started on Saturday at the God'erich District Collegiate Institute for youths needed in the film. Auditions have also been held at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton and wiU continue to be held locally until the positions are filled. The filmmakers are also looking for peo- ple to play prison staff such as guards and other officials like psychologists and social workers. "This is a different kind of film we're making because we don't give anyone a script. So, people trying out for parts have to have enough background that they can be the part. If a person is going to play a psychologist, he's going to have to know something about that so he can sound like one," he says. The filming will take a total of two and a half months, three weeks of which will be spent filming in the Bluewater Centre and five or six weeks for theyear leading up to prison. "We don't want to provide solutions with this film. We want to raise questions. There are no simple solutions; they're multi -dimensional," says Smith. From his research, Smith says the main problems leading to imprisonment centre around troubled family situations and drug and alcohol abuse. "We want to show the positive elements that can come up of being locked up and being "isolated from bad influences. In a closed facility, the kids can take a look at themselves and can make contact with the sensitive people that work there." "We also want to look at the moral ques- tion that however bad their circumstances are, these boys do decide to break the law. Lots of kids are in the same circumstances who don't break the law so why do young offenders choose to? We'll look at how they have to take responsibility for their own actions," says Smith. In the film, bonds will be formed bet- ween the boy and other people which will "take the sting out of the boy's anger." Before he enters the facility, he will have a relationship with a girlfriend and a friend who is a "partner in crime." Once in prison, he'll develop a relationship with a prison official. "We hope the prison experience won't be totally negative or positive. But, a strong bond will be formed and the boy's behavior will change. At the end, the audience will not be sure if he will carry on with crime and head off into the adult system or straighten his life out," says Smith. He says that his research has shown that one of the great dangers of imprisoning people who break the law is that the im- prisonment can become a pattern. "Canada has shockingly bad statistics for creating permanent residents in our prisons. The repeater rate in Canada is among the highest in the world." But, he says that experts are making much stronger attempts to deal with the real causes of youth breaking the law by finding out about family situations and healing those wounds. "We've heard it said over and over that if young offenders are sent back to the same situation when they're let out of prison, any good work done in prison will = be undone," he says. Because the story will be told from the boy's point of view, very little of the film will deal with the backlash against the Young Offender's Act though the restraints that officials have to work under will be shown. Many new faces fiat the local schools With the beginning of the school year last two for a total of 251. week, there were many new faces among Dave Higgins is the only new teacher for the teaching staff at the area schools. 'Juliet Central Public School this year. He is Central Huron Secondary School (CHSS) teaching Grade a. is playing host to nine new teachers this Enrolment at Hullett Central is down a bit year. The new staff are Jim Barnes this year, as they ended last year with 251 teaching English, Roba Lobb teaching students, and they. have 247 this year. physical education, Judy Stuart teaching Three new teachers began at Huron math, Shamus Doherty teaching woodwork- Centennial Public School this year. Judy ing and building construction, Mary Holmes Thurston is teaching Grade 1,.Brenda Pin - teaching English and French, Glen combe is teaching half time kindergarten McGregor teaching electricity and general and Jim Hunter is the new area resource shop subjects, Hugh McGregor teaching teacher: music, Jeff Reaburn teaching English and The number of students at Huron Centen- ' Dave Sheridan teaching art. nial is down by about 10 this year to approx- Enrolment at CHSS has risen by approx- imately 490 students compared to last year's imately 25 students over last year's figure of year end figure of 500. 800 to 825 this year. St. Joseph's Separate School has two new There are six new teachers at Clinton teachers this year. They are Mary - Public fly L r Mar: aret O'Reilly teaching kinder farten Scho t�}i. ear f�a e , eti , ani e Marie M.wpby teat T Hague teaching, ndemartep, Mike,, o any olmentat MurPhih'sIia teaehing-Creades-5-and 6r.Wayne Nicholls.• teaching Grade 6, Joe Laurie teaching student, from 114 at last year's end to 115 Grades 7 and 8, Bob Blackwell teaching this year. music and Lucie Kybal-Syrovy teaching A new principal has started at Vanastra French. Mr. Nicholls is also the school's new Public School this year, Mary Ellen Walsh. vice-principal. The school also has one new Grade 3 and 4 At Clinton Public enrolment has dropped teacher, Gayle Beurermann. from a total of 361 at the end of last year's There are about 90 students enrolled at school year to 339 this year. The cause of the Vanastra this year, up six over last year's drop is primarily due to the fact that the figure of approximately 84. Grade 7.students are no longer corning from Cheryl Cronin is the new half time special Vanastra, and there are not as Arany education student at Blyth Public School kindergarten students this year. this year. Another addition to the school is The Clinton and District Christian School Mary Buffinga, who will be teaching half has only one new teacher this year, Joyce time kindergarten. Bekker. She will be teaching kindergarten At Blyth the enrolment has not changed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and mucth rising two over last year's total of 189 remedial on Tuesdays and Thursdays. at year end to 191 this year. There has been a drop in enrolment of ap- Ken Scott has come from Brussels Public proximately 19 students at the Christian School to take over responsibility as prin School this year, from last year's total of 207 cipal at East Wawanosh Public School. students at the beginnil of the year to 188 Other additions to the staff are Jane Wilson this year. teaching Grade 2, Blaire Fisher teaching There are two new teachers at Grades 2 and 3 and Al Harrison teaching Holmesville Public School this year. Linda Grades 5 and 6. Rau is a half time Grade 2. teacher, and Due primarily to the fact that a special Beverly Smith is teaching half time Grade 2, learning needs class comprised of 11 while the other half of her time will be spent students held at East Wawanosh has moved as the school resource teacher. to Wingham, enrolment has dropped at the Hohnesville closed last year with an school. They have 184 students this year, enrolment of 249 students, up this year by compared to 195 last year. Curb cuts appreciated CLINTON - Council here recently made it easier for the physically handicapped, the elderly and mothers pushing strollers to get around town, and their work has not gone unnoticed. At their September 2 meeting, Clinton Discover tremendous savings M&M BAN AN AS Reg. $3.19 Ib. Reg. $7.03 kg. While Supplies Last 0 OFF CANDY JELLS Reg. $2.39 Ib. Reg. $5.27 kg. 50 While Supplies Last OFF 11 Albert St., CLINTON Council received a letter written by Elaine Townshend, on behalf of Alpha Huron, thanking them for the installation of curb cuts at the main intersection downtown and at other corners throughout town. "These ramps, as you know, not only benefit wheelchair pedestrians but also peo- b roup y� ple using walkers, canes, braces or crutches and those pushing baby buggies or shopping carts," she noted. In other business, council extended their congratulations to the Clinton Pee Wees on their WOAA victory recently. From ,the Diamond Dial Collection His from •CITIZEN 38-2043-53 Hers 38-2027.53 Layaway for Christmas for Tess than $20.00 per week ANSTETT JEWELLERS MEMBER AMERICAN BAlbert St CLINTON 284"Maio 'St -EXETER 26 Main st S SEAFORTH 135 Queen St East ST. MARYS 203 Durham St E WALKERTON 2 The Square GODERICH GEM SOCIETY Pictured above left to right: Chris Tideswell, Robena Tyndall and John Anderson (Manager) The winner of Ellison Travel & Tours 1 "Grand Opening" draw was ... Roberta Tyndall of Clinton, being presented with a trip for two to Montreal plus two tickets to a NHL Hockey Game by Manager John Anderson and Chris Tideswell of Ellison Travel & Tours, Clinton. Also, a special thank -you to everyone who entered. 4,0 k4,-/ �"� � �`. : r/.:, Offering Bayfield and Area Customers: •Easy Access •Good Parking *Prompt Customer Attention •Rapid Repair Service *Large Inventory of Parts for most small engines *Fair Pricing We also offer a hand CAR WASH/WAX service again this Fall and Winter. 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