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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-03-16, Page 9Anthony Schiel (left) and Jason Dempsey both belong to the Art Experience Club in Goderich. Although Jason participates in a bit of sports, his mother says Jason prefers the arts. Are children in Huron County, being exposed to the arts? Does artireally play an im- portant part in a child's development?( photo by T.Marr) Can Michelle become an artist? By T.Marr For twelve year-old Michelle Rotteau of Goderich there are two things which are extremely important in her life. One is attending Pathfinders, the other is art. Like all elementary school students, Michelle takes art in school but her interest is so keen Michelle is also enrolled in an Art Experience Club. Each _ Saturday Michelle attends a one -and -a -half hour class where she learns about both, art and pup- petry. Sponsored by the Goderich Recreation Department and the Ontario Arts Council, the classes are taught by artist, Mona Mulhern and part-time puppeteer, Marian Doucette. Because she has been able to join the club, Michelle has been able to learn things which she might not learn in school. More importantly Michelle has learned how to visually express herself because her imagination has been challenged. But is Michelle an oddity in Huron County? Has she been afforded an opportunity which all children deserve, yet may not be getting? If so, should there be more of an emphasis placed on art education in the school curriculum? Or is art something that only the artistically inclined benefit from? Is it really important to every child's development? Should educators place more im- portance on other subjects and leave art education to people such as Mulhern and Doucette? Mulhern feelthat ex- posing a child to the visual artgis a necessity. Outlining the importance of visual arts, Mulhern says, "a child who is subjected to the visual arts will learn to be more observant .because the child has looked more closely at things." "The child's., imagination will grow and therefor he will have a broader outlook on life and he will gain confidence because he will learn he can be imaginitive and that he can express what he imagines." "The child .will also learn how to solve problems more easily because he will be more visually aware." If what Mulhern says is true, then ,art education is important and should not be ' overlooked by both, educators and parents. If both educators and parents worked together in order to promote art education, Mulhern says all of society would benefit. "If a child got the art skills in school and the enhancement outside of school, we would have many more creative people," she explains. BLit in order for children to receive the skills and enhancement, Mulhern feels there are certain barriers which must be overcome. One of these barriers, is the task of trying to educate the parents. Siting both,hockey and Goderich as arr example Mulhern says," Goderich has a pride in its hockey and therefor there is a strong adult gronp behind the sport. That adult group will get out and lobby in order to raise money for things such as new uniforms and operating expenses and the same thing holds true for softball." "The parents are familiar with both activities and they • see the quick benefits of their child participating in those sports. Some parents can't understand how their child can benefit from watching a play." "How do you educate a parent about the benefits of visual art if the parent themself has not be exposed to it or they are not familiar with it?" Mulhern asks. Perhaps the solution to increasing parental education lies in increasing the amount of art which parents are presently ex- posed to. With the exception of the Blyth Centre for the Performing Arts, the closest art galleries to Huron County are located in London and Stratford. Since Blyth does not have continuous art exhibits, parents who want to go to a gallery with their children are sometimes forced to travel a long distance. Since many parents don't have the time, the money or the desire to make a trip to London or Stratford, both they and their children, don't get the opportunity to view art exhibits. Perhaps if local libraries and churches held more art shows, parents would gain a greater appreciation of. art. More parents might also understand why schools include art in the curriculum. The miscon- ception which some people have; that art is taught simply to turn out artists, might also disappear. Besides educating the parents, Mulhern feels that schools need to place a greater enphasis on art, "some schools do not em- phasize the importance of the visual arts because some educators do not consider art as important as the three Rs," Mulhern says. But at the same time she admits, ',leachers do the best that they can with using the art training that they. have. But most teachers have to teach a large class and they have to teach so many subjects in one day that sometimes art is not emphasized." "Jelin Kane, principal of Victoria Public Shool in doderich, is one educator who is very .aware of the importance of art education. His school has set up an art committee which plans a year's activities and Kane says the school has made use of Ontario Arts Council grants, when planning the events. Over the past few years Victoria students have worked with writers, artists, weavers, poets and pup- peteers. "One year from now we would like to have a wood carver come in and demonstrate his work to the children," Kane says. Kane explains, "that Victoria's philosophy is, that „art is an all encompassing field,,it's not simply a crayon and a piece of paper." "Art crosses many subject areas," Kane says. "It is used every time a child illustrates an explorer's trip or a science project," he adds. Even though some educators such as Kane are making strong efforts to increase students' exposure to art, it still may not be enough. Grade 10 student, Jim Bissett says he doesn't remember what he learned in art class in elementary school. "I remember in Grade 8 we had to illustrate • • ••• Cente • Accounts totallig more than($00„,000 were ',Ordered 'ow when potter** Township ,' Council Met in regular dessiOn March 7. Of this amount, $74,500. was for Partial taxes ter the Ewen „county Board of Education; $17,000 was for. tile. drain loans, $0,300 was for road superintendent payroll; and was for half the Bayfield Fire Area budget G. Hinz was present at the meeting to request. approval ,of a predesign plan for the land being retained by J. Levis subsequent to his regent severance. Council rescinded a previous motion giving approval to the design showing three lots and ap- proved the pre -design as Prepared by C.R. Kiar showing five lots on the i'etained parcel. Permission was given to the Goderich Legion Ladies' Auxiliary to hold tag days at Zehrs. Tile drain loans requested by Margaret Hallman for ; $5,525 on part lot 10, con- The Hobbit but besides that I didn't learn much," he says. Another Grade 10 student, Stephen Brindley, says that art class was used as a time, "just to,fool around more or less." • Stephen's classmate, Joan Lamb, says, "I didn't really learn very much." Unlike Joan, Stephen and • Jim, seventeen -year-old, Tim Gaudett has benefited from elementary school art classes, "I learned how to sketch faces, I learned all about shading and actually I - learned an awful lot," Tim ' explains. But Tim attributes what he learned to a certain teacher's interest. "The teacher's name was Mr. Bullen and he was a really good artist, in fact the guy was unbelievable," Tim says. "For me, he really instigated an interest in art," headds. Tim was fortunate, since he was taught by a teacher, who knew a great deal about art. Bat what about the students who aren't so lucky? And what about the teacher who doesn't feel comfortable teaching art? • What does that teacher do? At some schools teachers are allowed to trade subjects if they wish. For example, if a teacher does not feel they can teach art adequately they may trade with a teacher who feels the same about another subject. Bob McCall, superin- tendent of programming for the Huron Board of Education, says that prin- cipals try to hire a staff member who can be used in such a capacity. "Although it would be advantageous, Huron County has nerer had an art con- sultant, simply because of econorhics," McCall ex- plains. "Since there isn't a consultant we use an -alternative approach such as trading subjects," 'McCall adds.— If Harm County schools are trying their best with the budgets they have, then perhaps art education should be *eased by local Recreation Departments. Currently the Recreation Departments in Seaforth, Exeter, Clinton and • Winghain do, not offer any ° art related programs. Bryar Peter, Seaforth's recreatbn director, says art is not oflered, "mainly due to a lack of available space. Wingham's Recreation Department also sites the same ptoblem. Exeter's Recreation Direeto., Lynne Farquar, says tht her department has nor offered art classes in the winter, "because children are into different things then and during the summer we (the Recreation Depart- . ment) concentrate on a playground program:" SinceClinton does not have an 'official Recreation Department any programs which are offered to the childret are run by volun- teer organizations. Peoplt may argue whether it is the Recreation Department's, the schools' or the parents' responsibility to promote More art awarne. But Huron County residentt should be con- scious of the fact that, maybe, their child isn't getting enough of it. Perhaps parents should ask theinselves, do I think art is itaportant? And if so; then hot, can I help promote more ars awarneas? cession 1 and. by Ray. mcabicbey for $5,02e5 Ort part lot 17, VelleeeelOn 1 Were approved by council, subject to the availability of funds. C. Dendekker was present at the meeting to consult with the ladies' catering groupsregarding the kitchen layout at the township halL No .motions were recorded regarding this. Ken Dunn reviewed the plans for a township garage and submitted cost estimates for a timber core steel clad building versus an all steel building. council passed a motion that B.M. Ross and Associates proceed with the drawings for •a timber core building: In a letter to council, Bev Cooley protested the water conditions adjacent to her cottage at lot 36, concession 1 and also the spreading of liquid sewage and the en- vironmental damage. The clerk was instructed to reply that the road superintendent will investigate the drainage question while the, Huron County Health Unit will answer the other problem. Miller• Slade Sikriitted request to, offer *prance quotations on township in- surance ,polieles. A motion was passed that .the clerk proceed with a comuariaen -atutlY, of the insurance portfolio, using the Offers submitted by 11,0.14.A., • Miller Slade and the present policies held' by F. Cowan; end that the clerk be authorized to obtain such assistance AS might be needed ..to Conduct a com- .parison study. Building permits were issued to G.H. Stirling to demolish a verandah on lot 37, concession 6; to .Frank Radford to build a storage shed on lot 20, Huron Road; to James Wright to demolish. a house and a shed on lot 21, concession 1; to Art Bell to build a new house on lot- 23, concession 4; to John Voskamp to demolish a shed and build an implement shed on lot 7, concession 4; to Wayne Elliott to build a hog barn and liquid manure tank on lot 18, concession 8; and to • McNeitte' Ob„. ben house lot 63, Basc Line. The clerk was iri,Stratetefto check into the reason why the deedsfor two lots in the S.A.M. subdivisiOn.balre not been produced—the deeds which the townshili is to hold as security for installation of services, and the reason for the sale of another lot in the sub -division. • The bicIlirain- Hellerschmid Drain Report has been finalised, Due to a Mistake in the Map showing the watershed,. the report will be re -submitted to W.J. Bartlett for further checking before being read. , The township was in- corporated in 1835 and will celebrate 150 years in 1985. Council has called for a general public meeting to be held March 23 at 8p.m. in the community 'centre to see what interest exists in celebrating the sesquicen- tennial, and if an interest does exist, what forms of celebration should be held. A special meeting was ' Art, WEDVIESDAY, litaBCfi 16, 1983,--PAGV:9 ublic meeting unty Planning Depart- April 7 at 1;15 p.m.eqUe, Stetodprboyeeeothewi Ihurthilne Piannh)g Department On mept zoning by-law and council Council • thin adjourned gorped to meet with the. until March 21 at 1 p.m. otary hears about ydro home survey Jim Peters introduced John Baunthach, residential applications supervisor of Ontario Hydro's western region, and the ; Goderieh Rotary Club's guest speaker on Tuesday. , Baumbaeh introduced Rotary members to. the Hydro's Residential Energy Advisory Program (REAP), saying that under this program, any homeowner - can have _a survey of his home done by a well-trained Hydro or local PUC em- ployee. Baumbach stressed the savings that can result om modest expenses in in- sulation, ventilation of at - ties, weather stripping, caulking and so on. The survey will result. in estimates of the cost of alterations. and the period of tin* it would take for the savings to equal the costs. This would enable the owner, he • said, to make sensible decisions based on expert advise.. One spin-off of this survey results from the Hydro workers' ability- to report to the owner any 'electrical hazards noted during the survey. Baumbach was thanked for his timely offer by Howard Aitken on behalf of the members. See The Exciting Lineup of 1983 Honda • MOTOR • During 110011, fpu,!:1,11y's. "5 1 1 OW OF STR GT I PRIDATilATUIDAY 20. • NT E R • On the Spot Financing • On the Spot Insurance ST Verna, Ontario 519-262-1316 Western Ontario's friendliest and most complete motorcycle centre. Hours: Tuesday - Friday 8 a.m. - 8p.ni. Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday - 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. (Sales Only) Closed Mondays West of Highway 4 between Mensal' and Brucefield ,71 ••• •