The Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-08-19, Page 4PAGE 4 —GODERMISIGNAIATAR, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19. 1981
effiawawas
lave
sykes
My scattered, unplanned and totally
unpredictable life is errantly crashing in
aroundme.
The dIlemna stems from the fact that
plans are unfolding rapidly and my spur of
the moment brain can't cope. Planning
simply drives me around the bend unless, of
course, some advance work is needed for the
hockey draft or an out-of-town baseball
excursion. ThatI can handle.
The major obstacle in my master plan is
procrastination. Time runs out before I even
think about tackling a project but eventually
I get around to doing the job, although it
maybea few months late.
That flighty attitude towards respon-
siblity has been known to ignite the odd
controversy in the household. Controversy is
a polite term for battle.
The little lady is a meticulous planner
whose life must be mapped out in'an orderly
and precise fashion. I have a strong pen-
chant for tossing each day into the wind and
taking the pieces as they fall.
Not to with the little lady though. And
every time I offer an evasive answer to the
scheduling process like, "Let's play it by ear
and see what develops." she has to restrain
herself from tearing this diminutive derelict
apart.
But my procrastinating and carefree
ways are slowly backing this correspondent
into a corner. The alarm is about to go off.
Several weeks ago, perhaps that should be
months, I was presented with a list of
pressing household jobs and assorted
maintenance projects. The list was
oininously tacked to the fridge door for
constant revision and updating.
But now the days are tinted, with a hint of
autumn and imminently, the sununer job
list could be outdated. At least that's my
plan.
The better half will undoubtedly have
different ideas and simply. tack the aban-
dnned projects to the fall -winter list as an
addendum. She can be totally mean and.
shrewd that way.
While my own schedule may lack planning
of a precise nature, it is not helter skelter.
My summer iinerary included baseball, a
bit of golfing, and some newspaper related
work with minimum, stress on.labour of the
sweat -producing variety.
And my fall schedule, not that it should be.
of interest, is also an impressive- list of
evasion. Football games are a major at-
traction ons cool Sunday .afternoons and
other than that my plans aren't substantial.
It will drive the little woman crazy.
Unfortuneately my procrastinating habits
often sneak into the work schedule where
there is no escaping deadlines. They are
met, but with much difficulty.
Newsroom cohorts are on to my un-
systematic approach to life' and berate my
scheduling. In fact there is much guffawing
and knee slapping about the pulsating
newsroom each year when the annual
executive planner calendars are handed out.
Everyone receives these little planning
books with tacky vinyl covers that serve as
daily appointment boobs. Most people in the
office make use of the calendars to list
appointments. and maintain some sem- ,
blance of order in their work routine. As I
scan my book .I find that I had two ap-
pointments on January 5 and another on
January 19.
Other than that the book is blank, which
would indicate my work schedule has not
been too rigorous this year. But be assured
that I have attended more meetings to date
than the three mapped out in the ap-
pointment book.
That scenario only serves to indicate and
offer evidence to my procrastinating ways. I
have made weak and sketchy promises of
change that never materialize.
Tonight, however, I may just take that job
list off the fridge and destroy it.
eiA
BLUE
RIBBON
AWARD
Second class
mall registration
number -0716
SINCE 1848
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DONALD M. HUBICK-Advertising Manager
DAVID'SYKES-Editor
•
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outh deserve credit
. Far too often, in our grown up and fast paced world; the
accomplishnetits of the young are overlooked and . at
times hidden.
- The sixties perhaps had more to do with the tarnishing
of the youth image than any other decade, but that is now
history:Nouth is -our primary resource, our hope for the
future.
Certainly many people are aware of outstanding young
peoplein the community who may not be recognized for
their unselfish deeds.. Their presence is evident in every
community.
But acknowledgement is long overdue and in an effort to
restore the image of youth and offer credit where it is due,
CP Air and the Ontario Community Newspaper
Association are 'sponsoring �a new program to recognize
worthy accomplishments by young people between the
ages of six and 18...
The program is speufically designed to offer individual
awards for outstanding achievement and there are also
special group awards to duly recognize the efforts of
young-people-hrmany- communities across the province.
The Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year program was
established to draw attention to worthy young citizens and
offer public recognition that is richly deserved but often
overlooked: The young people honored under the program
will 'exemplify values such as courage, ingenuity,. -
0
ilytime
If you think that economic trends are putting a bind on
the budget, considerthe plight of the national budget.
For the fiscal year ending March 31, 1981, the Canadian
Government's budgetary deficit was only $12 billion. That
figure is beyond the realm of a penny-pinching household
budgeter but government people were somewhat pleased
with the final tally.
The budget of last year had called for a deficit in the
$13.7 billion, range but that forecast was boosted by the
American deficit that doubled to over $60 billion. •
The deficit system is mind boggling, considering the
figures run into billions of dollars and take into account
trade effects, exchange rates and economic growth. One
of the reasons the deficit failed to meet expectations was
that the growth rate exceeded the modest expectations of
the government and maintained a faster pace
throughout the fiscal year
resourcefulness and'f ortitude.
The public across: the province '.is responsible' for
• making nominations, suggesting young people up to 18
years of age who have contributed to their community
through courage, initiative. or. selflessness or simply
young • Penple who are involved in the community end
makenotable contributions.
The awards depend largely on the .participation of the
public and the program , offers communities a unique
opportunity to display„ the talents and,- initiative of its
youth. From the nominations, a panel of newspaper
editors will make the final selection. •
The award winning, junior citizens receive a framed
• certificate outlining their accomplishment, an Ontario
Junior Citizen of the Year pin and a Canada Savings bond
valued at $200. Presentations will be made during the
.Ontario .Community Newspaper Association •annual
convention, where winnersand their,families will be in-
vited to spend the day.
• The program depends on nominations- and forms are
available 'at this newspaper if one wishes to nominate a
young person inthisarea.
Your community newspaper takes pride in being a part
of a program that emphasizes the positive aspect of youth.
D.S.
will tell
Discoveries
That prompted economists to speculate that the
economy is in a better position than anticipated and gloom
and doom prognostications aren't quite holding up. The
small growth also had side benefits in the tax department
as the governtnent picked up an additional $1.4 billion
from the little guys. Theincrease boosted the tax total to
$40.6 billion for the fiscal year. . •
That news will only serve to at least temper adamant
cries that the government should be sitting to straighten
out the whole mess. Taxpayers are chipping in more while
the economy seemed to be falling apart around them.
And while our MPs were on holidays, after padding
their wallets with a substantial raise, strikes, unem-
ployment, high interest rates and a falling dollar threw
Canadians into fits of despair.
Maybe the fears were premature. Time will tell. D.S.
I think I am coming down with a mental
illness. It's hard to be sure about these
things. I mean, terms such as 'mental
illness' and `personality disorder' are very
disturbing. One prefers to call oneself
'eccentric' or 'quircky' or 'kinda weird'.
The fact that.I may be mentally unstable
doesn't worry me a great deal. You see, I
like to live under the illusion that I am an
avant-garde artist which the world has yet
to discover, my talents as a musician, chef,
nouveau writer, and photographer-
extrordinaire being far ahead of their time.
It is common knowledge that such garret
living beatnick types are all mentally un-
stable.
However, my fast -breaking personality
disorders seem to be playing havoc with
friends, co-workers, and family. It is fine for
one to be nutso if nobody has to deal with
one. But I have a social conscience.
For instance, I have developed a strong
aversion to crowds. Friends have found
great difficulty in getting me into social
situations which include anyone other than
*eel
"Hey, C.W.! What's say we go hoist a few
beer at the local institution?" buddies may
ask on any given hour.
"What? ! Are you kidding? All those
people? What if the roof caved in? It hap-
pens you know. Then we'd all be killed. How
can you stand all those raucous and sweaty
people? Yuck- Not me, no way " and so
on until the said buddies back off with
worried looks on their faces.
I have nightmares about being exiled to
Canada's Wonderland.
Me, I'd just rather stay at home in the
dark. I worry,people. Last Friday night, a
pal dropped by to discover me sitting on my
window sill three stories up, feet dangling
over the edge, looking down, and humming.
I wasn't contemplating anything drastic. I
By Cath Wooden
0
AR REA
BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER
Have you ever wished you had notquit•school
when you did? Have you ever resented the fact
you wanted to, stay in school but could not
because of financial pressures of some sort?
Have you ever wanted 'to go back to school,
despite your age, and get the educational
qualifications you are lacking to get that big op-
portunity you want?
Well take heart. The Ontario 'Ministry of
Education now believes that' life is a valuable '
learning experience on its own. In fact, the new
policy called Equivalency Credits' for Mature
Students may put a whole new construction on
your, future.
We've all heard about the "school of hard
knocks." Many of us have been attending that in-
stitution for more years than we would like to ad-
mit. But nobody thought you could be earning
credits toward a secondary school graduation'
diploma.
My information is that your living experience
to date can be worth as much as 12 of the
necessary 27 credits for a secondary school
graduation diploma.
Each year of high school you did complete,
even way back when, can count for as many as
seven credits.
In addition, any apprenticeship training, home
study course or night school program you've
taken can all be considered for additional
credits.
That means that even if you have only com-
pleted Grade 10 in the normal school stream, you
may have already earned the maximum number
of equivalency credits that can be earned - 23.
That means that only four additional credits -
all of them in subjects at the Grade 11 or 12 level -
must be earned in day schools, night classes, cor-
respondence courses or, in some cases, through
private study.
With the exception of correspondence courses,
which are handled directly through the Ministry
was just sitting there and humming and
having a good time.
But my friend shouted, "Don't do it! It's
not worth it! Espcially from there, C.W. Atl-
you're going to do is sprain your ankle. Why
don't you try from something higher?" Hey,
true friends are always helpful, but honest, I
wasn't even thinking about biting the big
one.
Neither is my cat, and she likes to sit and
hum out the window too. I identify with my
cat. This seems to be another problem area,
which friends whisper to each other about. I
talk to my cat and ask her questions and
actually expect her to give me answers. This
kind of activity is usually reserved for very
old spinsters, but I'm only 22.
Twenty-two isn't old is it? I worry about
that, being old I mean.' look for grey hair
every morning. This makes me late for work
and my editor gets mad. "Sure," I say.
"Yell at me. You're just out to get me.
ERS
of Education, most continuing education is car-
ried.out by local school boards with the help of
direct grants from the Ministry.
A high level"of interest and participation can
be seen across the province, with about 20 per-
cent of night schoolers studying high school
credit courses. The remaining 80. percent are in-
volved in general interest, hobby and sills im-
provement courses.
- The majority of adults enrolled take two credit
courses a week. That means many mature.
students with the maximum 23 credits already in
their record can earn their secondary school
graduation diplomas in just two years.
The Ministry of Education believes adults
make excellent students. They should. If they
have .been able to hold a job, raise a family,
maintain a home and keep body . and soul
together during the last few years, they should
certainly be able to study effectively enough to
earn a diploma from secondary school.
I would suspect that an adult who is out after a
secondary school graduation diploma for some
good reason, would be the most motivated of all
students. Horseplay and nonsense would be the
furthest thing from the mind and every fibre
would be directed towards learning and retrain-
ing whatis Learned. That's a plus for the student
as well as the teacher.
Although few adults have the time, some do
choose to return to their local secondary school
on a full-time day school basis. If you are in-
terestedin that sort of thing, you should contact
your local school board representative or drop
by the local high school principal's office.
Night school is another good way to attend
classes. Again, it necessitates a visit to the board
office or Ideal high school to make certain the
classes you need are offered.
But perhaps the most popular way of doing it,
is to enroll in the Ministry's full range of free cor-
respondence courses. More than 60,000 adults
are currently studying secondary school courses
this way in the privacy and comfort of their own
homes. • .
If you live in Ontario, are at least 16 years of
age and meet a few basic requirements, you can
enroll. You can -begin a course whenever. you
like, work at it at your own speed and earn a
credit for each completed course at any time of
the year.• '
In., most cases, those enrolled in cor-
respondence courses, receive all of their books
and learning materials free of charge: Each
completed assignment is reviewed, graded and
returned to you by mail with the teacher's in-
dividual comments and suggestions.
For information on correspondence courses,
you can -ask the local high school or the nearest
regional office of the Ministry of Education, Lon-
don 472-1440. Or, if you like, simply write to Cor-
respondence Education, 909 • Yonge Street,
Toronto, Ontario M4W 3G2.
For a copy of the informative pamphlet
"Credit 'for The School of Hard Knocks" or
"Mag the Most of Night School Studies",
write to the Ministry of Education, Communica-
tion Services, Branch; Queen's Park, Toronto,
M7A 1L2. •
If you have your goals set really high - if you in-
tend to pursue post -secondary studies, for in-
stance - the courses you choose can prove 'ex-
tremely important. You may want to see a
guidance counsellor, either at the local secon-
dary school or at a university. These trained per-
sons should be able to help you make the right
choices.
More and more people are finding out that on-
going education is an absolute must in our highly
competitive and changing society. But up to now,
too much of the continuing education has been
going on among those who are already well
educated.
Now everybody can get involved more easily
through this new program. Even you.
Everyoouy is out to get me.'
I realize that paranoia is a pretty boring
mental illness for an avante-garde, garret -
living beatnick to have, but we all slip into
mediocratity sometimes. I know for a fact
that when I drive around The Square, people
try to hit me. It's a club.
And the other day my brother offered to
tune my guitar and then broke a string. I'm
positive he did it on purpose. He's just afraid
I'm going to get better than him. Stabbed in
the back by my own kin.
I've taken to reading Dear Ann Landers,
but I haven't taken to writing her. Do you
suppose I should seek professional help? I
don't think I like the idea of people playing
with my mind. Imean, if they got inside my
brain and discovered how it worked, they
might try to fix it or something. I wouldn't
like that. All my avante-garde, before its
time, artistic genius would go away.
I'd rather the crowds went aaray.
cath
wooden
A