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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-03-04, Page 1ri All washed ,,ut- the Severe and rapid erosion of the embankment behind several yards" of track without anything under it. CN �lne CN station on Maitland Road occurred over will be dumping 20 carloads of gravel fill at the site several days last week due to the -early thaw and left this week. (Photo by Cath. wooden ) 0 Board wants your co at When cbes punishment by a teacher at school become corporal punishment? Should teachers .ever be allowed to use the strap on students who seriously misbehave in class? If so, what conditions must prevail? Should students and parents have recourse against a teacher who uses physical force to discipline a pupil? At what age is a student capable of responsible self- discipline? • These are some questions the members of the Huron County Board of , Education are asking themselves and the ratepayers of Huron County during the month of March. Mudslide makes tracks treacherous The. power that -.Mother Nature hods engin to rather awesome at times, especially when she decides to unleash it. Because of the quick thaw the area experienced over the past few weeks, a huge mudslide occurred directly behind the CN train station on Maitland Road. Tons and tons of embankment gave away leaving several yards of track closest to the edge spanning thine'''. • The erosion began last Monday, February 23 and continued until Saturday morning after more rain- fall. Now that the weather has frozen up again, the slide has stopped. Area CN engineer Ivan Hilburn said that a crew will be at the site this week to take preliminary steps to solve the problem. Twenty cars of gravel fill will be dumped at the site, but Hilburn said that is all CN can do at present. Hilburn stated that "experts can't be sure that (the sliding) won't happen again.- It• just went with the early spring." He said that the track affected by the slide was not damaged and will not be replaced: 133 YEARr-9 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4,1981 50 CENTS PER COPY Need new attitudes about schools BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER The mood of the Huron County Board of Education Monday afternoon in Clinton was to begin to change educational attitudes here. Board members had, some success too, as two delegations from the Clinton area were told flatly that any additional expenses incurred by the board now - would be 100 percent funded from the .pockets of Huron County ratepayers. One taxpayer from the crowded chambers rose to suggest that instead of deleting the machine shop courses.at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton which were estimated to cost $50,000 each per annum, the board should consider cutting the salaries of teachers and administrative staff to effect sufficient savings to fund the courses. "A year ago I would have made the same kind Of statement," said new board member John Jewitt. "But when you get involved with board business, you can't really believe it. A statement11ke that is irresponsible." Trustee R.J Elliott reminded the audience that four years ago, the board tried to say no to the teaching staff of Huron's secondary schools. "It was great for three or four weeks, with the parents of the county solidly behind the board," said Elliott. But after a while, Elliott went on, with the kids underfoot at home and people worried about their students' futures, the board was urged to settle The teachers' strike at any cost. He said the board is feeling the effects of that decision now. "We're doing the best we can," said Elliott. "What we need to do now is change our educational attitudes," Elliott told the meeting. He said people have to understand that over the past 10 or 12 years, education has changed "tremendously and dramatically". In the past, students out of a high school technical course could go directly into a decent paying job in the community. Parents and students still expect that is true. But more and more today, employers require much more specialized training than can be achieved through a four year course in a high school. Students coming out of high school are discovering that to land any job at all, they must have a Grade 12 diploma. They are also finding that to go into on-the-job training where it is available, or to a community college for intensive technological studies, they require the basics of 'mathematics, ' arts and com- munication and science to cope with the courses and to meet the competition in the work force. "tf we can provide a good cross- ection of the basic curriculum, we should be able to prbvide our students with the best opportunity to make their choices and meet the challenges," said R.J.Elliott. Trustee Marion Zinn who had attended a con- ference called Learning, Living and Earning, said she learned that industry presently wants people between the ages of 25 and 40 years of age. "Youth will always have a&problem getting a job," said Zinn. "We will have difficulty absorbing un- dergraduates into the work force." Zinn predicted there will be more and more adults in school in -the years -to comertanii that -by -the -year 2,900; unemployment will reach 25 percent. She pointed out the conference warned that educators must be, cautious about training for long term trades which will disappear in a fast -pace changing society. Zinn recommended a "rigorous academic course" for students to the end of Grade 12 at least.. • "This student la the one who will survive," warned Zinn. "Without a Grade 12 dipk(xna with .plenty of mathematics, science and communications skills; the student doesn't have a prayer in our future economy." "It pains us all to think,some programs have to go," said John Jewitt. "I have been critical of the high education costs in the past and I feel I cannot go back to my ratepayers and"tell them that it is going to cost them more." The total annual budget of the board of education in Huron is something in excess of $26,000,000 said Chairman Donald McDonald. "Do the ratepayers understand that we only control about 15 percent of that budget?" asked Trustee Eugene Frayne. The chairman concurred that 85 percent of the $26,000,000 spent by the board is eaten up in fixed costs sueh as salaries, maintenance, transportation etc. "The people are just not aware of the obstacles this board has to face," offered Frayne. • Will cut 23 courses,10.5 teachers in fal It was standing room only at Monday afternoon's meeting of the Huron County Board of Education, but board members stood firm in their intention to hold the line on education expenses. Despite the pleas of two delegations from the Clinton area, it was clear from the outset the board would not be swayed from its decision to skirt the request for a credit music program at Central Huron Secondary School, and to cut the machine shop course from the curriculurn at the same school beginning in the fall of 1981. As well as the machine shop course at efISS, shorthand 400 and mathematics 552 was deleted from the curriculum at CRSS. At F.E.Madill Secondary School in Wingham, the course cuts included accounting 451, drama 301, French 141, geography 141 and 151, History 251 and 401, Latin 251 and 351 and office practice 342. At Seaforth District High School History 550 and French 550 were discontinued. At South Huron District High School in Exeter, Latin 550 and 450 was cut along with computer Uses sling shot science 400, welding 300 and 400'and electronics 300 and 400. No course cuts are proposed for Goderich District Collegiate where a "core curriculum" is now in place. • These course cuts will result in a staff reduction of six teachers in the secondary school panel. The elementary panel suffered staff cuts too. The board approved changes that will eliminate 4.5 teachers in Huron County elementary schools for 1981-82. Hensall Public School will lose one teacher with the effect being a combined Grade 7 and Grade 8 class of 24 students. Usborne Central will lose one-half a teacher, a fulltime librarian becoming half-time. Zurich Public School will have one less teacher, with the Grade 7 and Grade 8 classes split into class size not exceeding 28 students. Colborne Central School will lose one teacher through combining a Grade 3 and Grade 4 class, and a Grade 4 and Grade 5 class. Class sizes will not exceed28 students. Shatter bug on the loose -.Someone went on the rampage with a sling shot in town this weekend. Windows in seven houses, one business and one vehicle were broken by what police believe to be glass marbles fired from a sling shot. Damage has been estimated at $500. Police are gue: ing that the slim shot was fired by someone 16 years of age or older with a car since the inc idents were scattered throughout town. Police Chief Pat King warns that anyone found with a sling shot can be charged under the Criminal Code for possession of an offensive weapon. He is remin- ding parents to remind their children that sling shots can be dangerous and that the police will not tolerate them. At Vanastra Public School, teachers will be required to teach their own music and physical education classes, resulting in a reduction of a half- time teacher's salary. At Walton, teachers will be required to teach their own music, physical education, health and library classes, resulting in a reduction of a half-time teacher's salary. Board member R.J.Elliott who presented the report, said enrollmentAhroughout Huron County is dropping off. Figures were presented to the board which showed that in 1979, enrollment in the elementary schools of the county totalled 6,538. In 1980 it -dropped off to 6,425. This year, it is6,367. Next year's enrollment predictions and that of the following year in the elementary schools remain fairly constant. But in 1964, enrollment is expected to drop to 6295. Estimates are that by 1986, elementary school enrollment in Huron will be down to 6166 students. "To predict much further than that requires' a crystal ball or some research in the bedrooms of the county," said Elliott, In the secondary panel, total enrollment in 1979 was 4475. In 1980 it was 4235 and this year it is 4020. Next year's secondary -school enrollment, however, is expected to drop sharply to 3757. In 1983, predic- tions are for an enrollment of 3571. Enrollment in the secondary schools in 1986 should be about 3520. ' Would grant $1,00 Goderich Recreation Board at its regular meeting Thursday, February 26 voted to recommend to town council that the Goderich Minor Hockey Association be granted $1;000 to offset its large deficit. GMHA president Don Larder and Bill Rahbek appeared as a delegation before the board and stated that the association could have a deficit of nearly $8,000 this year. This figure is defrayed somewhat by gate receipts, financial help from various service clubs, and a recent skate-a-thon, leaving the group about $2,500 to raise. Rahbek told the board that the GMHA was asking for help in the form of reduced ice rentals if financial aid could not be approved. Rec board member Ron Bushell told the delegation that "we get so many different groups asking for rate redtaction...we can find some other way of aiding minor hockey." Councillor Jim Searls suggested that the request be handled in the same way as the request from the Trotters Association and that the board should send a recommendation to council and the finance com- mittee rather than include the grant in its own budget. Councillor John D�oheety-moved that the rec board recommend to council that $1,000 be granted to the GMHA. The motion was seconded by Seeds, who is also vice-chairman of the finance committee. Rec board also waived the rental fee for the 10 hours of ice time that minor hockey and the figure skating club used for their mutual fund-raising skate- a-thon. - Director of Education John Cochrane at Monday's regular board of education meeting in Clinton referredto a memorandum from the Ontario Minioster of Education Bette Stephenson. In that communique, Ms. Stephenson forwarded for `rear tion and comment' an amendment to the Ontario regulations governing corporal punishment in, schools. That amendment would make it the duty of a teacher-, -including -the--principal--leacher, to refrain from the use of physical forcein disciplining a pupil except to protect himself or another pupil. An accompanying report from the Ministry regarding the legal, moral and psychological aspects of the questions was presented to all board members for consideration. That report has been referred to the April .6,' 1981 meeting of the boa rdof education. Cochrane is hoping that during the month of March, any teachers, students, taxpayers or other interested persons in the county with an opinion to share will take the opportwuty to either speak to their board representatives coneerning the matter of corporal punishment in the schools, or make written sub- mission of their views either through the county weekly newspapers or directly to the board office. In the meantime, Cochrane is getting data from the county schools to determine to what extent corporal Turn to page 16 • New Kin club In Dungannon area A new Kinsmen Club has been formed for men living in the Dungannon area. An organizational meeting was held in the Dungannon Agricultural Hall on Monday evening with over 70 people attending. This number included 'members of the Goderich Kinsmen C ii ub, members the newly formed Dungannon area club and the reeves of Ashffeld, Colborne and West .Wawanosh Townships. Guest speakers were Jack Riddell, Liberal in- cumbent for Huron -Middlesex and Evelyn Carroll, supervisor of the Kinsmen workshop for retarded adults in Goderich. , Any Men living in the Nile, Port Albert, Dungannon or Kingsbridge areaswho missed this week's meeting but would still ke to become chaster snembersofthe newly formed club, are invited to attend the next dinner -meeting on Monday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. in Dungannon hall. A petition for a chaster has already been signed by over -20 men and will be sent to the national executive after the next meeting. Gerry Paoli'', external ex- pansion chairman, .expects that the charter for the new club could be received as early as:May. Music offered • at -nigh.t-' school A small but determined group of music enthusiasts from the Clinton area stood their ground in a crowded board. of education .chanalters, Monday afternoon to present a petition bearing 460 signatures of taaipayers - who Want a credit course in instrumental music in- cluded on the. Central Huron Secondary 'School... curriculum for 1961-82. The delegation showed that combining 28 students from CHSS's feeder schools coming into the system this fall, and 17 students already enrolled at CHSS, there are a total of 45 students who want First Year instrumental music for the next school year. An extra -curricular music course is in operation at CHSS now and working well. Students arrive early each day for classes via personal transportation, and out-of-town students are able to go home by bus. Board members who were on the education - personnel committee had met with members of the delegation earlier. At that meeting, a recommendation was ' ham- mered out whereby a credit instrumental music course could be provided at the Morning hour, through the auspices of the night schot ➢program. To qualify for night school funding, the course must be offered outside normal school hours and be available to students from the general public. That recommendation was approved at Monday's regular board session, along with an amendment made by Trustee Joan Vanden Broeck at the meeting. That amendment gives approval in principle to the estabiishinentof a music credit' ourse at CHSSiin the fall of 1982, pending `favorable reaction from feasibility studies undertaken by a committee composed of parents and board members who are also serving on the education -personnel committee. A recorded vote showed that only Trustee Frank Falconer was opposed to the recommendation. t r^? J....d4^ki'ty:g�?".te,si is it .i'.4�"..-.'nti± o;xi,weeiS"l=snA'.:M:€ tsria e'y 161 rI? INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Water treatment fa On page 1A, Joanne Buchanan features the hydrothrerapy program fit at Bluewater ' Centre. which is exercising in water. Kinesiologist ;Gordon Galbraith is the man in charge and his '4. job is also featured. et 0 Bone -chilling drama Goderich Little Theatre opened Witness for the Prosecution last week and when a person. is murdered right in front of you on the stage, the effect is downright creepy, says Joanne Buchanan who reviews the bone -chilling play onpage '1A. Here'come e brides The season for wedding is approaching, and if you are planning y r own wedding or someone else's. then take a look at our special Bride's Edition enclosed this week. Regular lar Features 05 A Tid Bits Pg. 2 Real Estate .. Fa. 15-16 Obits Pg. 5 TV Pg. 4A .1. Columns Pg. 4 A. Board Pa. 5A ' '?.1Editorials Pg. 4 ('. (comet Pg. 6A p, Sports Pg. 9-12 Church Pg. 7A i'l.(lassified Pg, ],V 4. E�am}�1 '1F ' Q- 1.14