The Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-11-24, Page 4pA�
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4-GODERICH SICNAI,-STAR, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1977
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SIGNAL- ''TAR
The County Town Newspaper of Huron
Founded In 1800 and published every Thursday of Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CWNA
and OWNA. Advertising rates on request. Subscriptions payable In advance '13.09 In
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In the event of typographical error. the advertising spore occupied by the erroneous Item.
together with reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but the balance
of the advertisement will be paid for at the 'applicable rate. In the event of o
typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price. goods or service may
not be sold. Advrtlslne 1. merely an offer to sell. and may be withdrawn at any time. The
Signal -Star Is not responsible for the lou or damage of unsolicited manuscripts or photos.
Bu.iness and Editorial Office
TELEPHONE 524-8331
area code 519
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Published by Signal -Star Publishing Ltd.
ROBERT G. SHRIER — president and publisher
SHIRLEY J. KELLER editor
EDWARD J. BYRSKI — advertising manager
Mailing Address:
P.O. BOX 220, Industrial Park, Goderich
Second class mail registration number -.- 0716
Need trust
d'I
Contract negotiations between the Huron
County Board of Education and its teachers
have completely bogged down. A mediator
has been appointed by the Education
Relations Cummission after a fact finder
report said the negotiations had been a
dialogue of the deaf, neither side listening
to what the other is saying.
The report indicated that there was a
feeling of mistrust between the two parties.
The teachers feel their demands are not
excessive. They want a wage increase that
will enable them to maintain their spending
habits and stay abreast of an ever-
increasing cost of living. They want, wage
parity with their peers in other counties
and municipalities claiming their job is just
as difficult and important in Huron County
as in Toronto.
The teachers also argue they can do their
job more effectively if the pupil -teacher
ratio is reduced. They claim that students
suffer when teachers, because of large
classes, have to divide their time amongst
25 students. They say the bright child is
held back and the slower child is not given
the time needed to improve.
The board argues that the economics of
Huron County is individual and can't be
compared to more urban areas. It points
out that agriculture is the primary industry
in the county and because of a low per
capita income compared to other. counties,
Enter now
Huron taxpayers can't afford to pay high
salaries in the public sector.
The board also wants to reserve the right
to establish pupil -teacher ratios. It claims
that by accepting lower ratios, the board
will be forced to keep teachers on the
payroll despite declining enrolment that
may reduce the need for teachers in the
future.
The arguments for both parties are sound
and should not ,be treated lightly. What is
needed is trust. The teachers must trust the
board and understand that it is confined by
finances and is responsible to taxpayers.
The board must trust the teachers and
understand that they are sincere in their
desire to provide a top quality education
system for children.
Both parties should realize the plight of
the taxpayer. Heisunable to participate in
contract negotiations and is left with no
option but to trust the board and the
teachers. When a settlement is reached the
taxpayer is asked to pay the bill, trusting
that his elected representatives and the
teachers he supports have struck an
agreement that offers the best possible
conditions for his children and his budget.
A three-way trust is the goal. To obtain it
there must be genuine evidence that the
board and the teachers understand the
taxpayer's desire for all the education
excellence he can afford to buy.—JGS
First things first
DEAR REA
D
ERS
Santa will make his entry into Goderich
this Christmas season on Saturday,
December 3. It is a big event each year with
hundreds , of children and their parents
circling The Square to catch a glimpse of
the jolly old gent and the gaily decorated
floats which go ahead of him to herald his
arrival.
The theme this year is a cartoon
Christmas and it is to be hoped that many
of the favorite "funnies" will be on view
doing all sorts of Christmas -like things. It is
also to be hoped that this year's parade will
feature much of the real Christmas story,
too. Cartoon characters like Charlie Brown
often use the Bethlehem birth of Jesus
Christ as a vital part of their Christmas
cheer and it would be wonderful if this
same bit of good news could be carried
aboard several floats in this year's parade.
Since Santa's parade will be a kinu of
anti -climax to the giant Sesquicentennial
parade which wound its way through the
streets of town in July, there might be a
tendency on the part of some regular
participants to opt out of this year's
Christmas march. That would be a shame
and everyone is urged to make a special
effort this December to be represented as
usual in the Santa Claus parade.
Tomorrow (Friday, November 25) is the
final date to enter. Pick up the phone right
away and be certain you, your group and
your cause are visible next Saturday when
Saint Nicholas will appear to set the eyes of
young children dancing for one more lime.
— SJK
BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER
Not long ago, I had occasion
to visit a couple of nursing
homes out of town. I wasn't on
an inspection tour. I was
merely visiting - and in-
cidentally observing the
deplorable condition in which
some of this country's senior
citizens are allowed to live.
Perhaps it is because my
own family is just about
grown and gone completely
from my home that I was so
startled to realize that the
time may come in my life
when I'll have to be cared for
at a nursing home. Old age is
a privilege -unless one is shut
away - forgotten and alone - in
an institution where the
building is old, the safety of
the building is questionable,
the opportunity for privacy is
rare and the general living
conditions are dowdy,
depressing and downright
deficient. Then old age would
surely become an
inescapable prison with the
only relief being death.
There is some excuse for
part of'f'he problem. The truth
is that many of the men and
women who are today's
senior citizens have• usually
through no fault of their own,
made little preparation for
old age. Most of today's aged
have worked hard all their,
lives without being able to put
aside much money for their
golden years. Some are
sickly, probably because they
worked hard in their lifetime
without having the adequate
medical attention which is so
readily available today. Still
more have failed to keep
abreast of the. changing
world, living less and Less for
the present and more and
more in the past.
And there's a good lesson in
all of that for those of us who
are younger. . . but getting
older.
- It is also true that society
has changed its viewpoint
about the aging. Families
now do not accept the
,responsibilities for their own
elderly members as they did
in the past. When mother and
father grow old, they either
care for themselves or go to a
nursing home. There they
either pay their own ex-
penses, or become a kind of
charity case. Certainly sons
and daughters don't take
parents into their homes as
was always the case years
ago ... nor do children assist
parents financially as a
general rule, so that the aged
family members have some
choice in their own
disposition.
All too often, old people are
shuffled off to the first
available accommodation
that takes the pressure off the
family and provides the
basics of food and shelter
without any money from the
children's pocketbooks.
That's the way it is these
days.
Gradually, senior citizens'
housing is changing. Here in
Goderich, for instance, we
are fortunate to have the
beautiful Maitland Manor
where the aging can live in
comfortable, pleasant
surroundings. The county
home for the aged, Huron -
view; is also a credit to the
community. The Bluewater
Resta Home at Zurich is
another lovely spot for senior
citizens who are unable to live
in their own homes.—"I'm
certain there are othersin the".
area with which I am not so
familiar.
It is also gratifying to note
that facilities such as Maple
Grove Lodge, also here in
Goderich, are being
developed where senior
citizens can have the best of
both worlds - independency
along with the much desired
care and companionship.
The Legion's 109110
another example of eze
accommodation for
citizens . . . small, m
efficient units with]
moderate price range
centrally located to ass
certain amount of`.
mobility for the residents,
Hope is also increasing
that 70 new units to l
senior citizens will be
available in the coi
Goderich in the nob
distant future. That
would be good news for
aging in the area
ultimately for the e
community. `""
+++
Many touching spe
are made from time to
regarding senior citizens,
all are valid, There
solutely no reason that
should attain a crown
public -sponsored jewels
Turn to
it
Safety first
The volunteer fire brigade in any com-
munity is composed of community -spirited
citizens who deserve the commendation of
everyone. These men usually give of
themselves in a very special way for the
protection of people in the municipality
who also receive much peace of mind from
the knowledge that competent, interested
and devoted firemen are on call in an
emergency. The contribution of a volunteer
fire department, then, cannot be over
emphasized in a town like Goderich where
householders, businessmen and in-
dustrialists alike rest easier because of the
local firemen.
What's more, the community is usually
anxious for the town's brigade, to keep up-
to-date in their firefighting ability, their
equipment and their general municipal
knowledge. The recent acquisition then of
automatic pagers to be carried by each
fireman at nearly all times should be
viewed as another positive step towards the
greatest level of efficiency in the Goderich
Volunteer Fire Brigade and ultimately as
additional assurance that life and property
in Goderich is well protected in case of fire.
One point has been raised though, which
has caused some citizens concern. When
the fire siren no longer sounds, residents in
the area of the fire hall Sear there will be no
adequate warning for pedestrians and that
a fast moving fire truck may indeed be a
hazard to some folks.
The chairman of the fire committee of
council,`Stan Profit says this concern will
be discussed by the firemen at their very
next meeting. Councillor Profit does point
out, however, that for sometime yet the
whine of the fire alarm will be heard
throughout town until it is proven the new
pagers are totally dependable under all
conditions.
It may be, adds Councillor Profit, that an
extra measure of precaution -• such as
always activating the siren on the fire truck
while it is yet at the station - may be
deemed necessary to warn residents that
the fire truck is on its way out of the
firehall. .
In any event, the Goderich Volunteer
Fire Brigade has always taken its work
seriously and there is every reason to
believe that in this instance too, the safety
of residents "will remain a top priority item
with each and every man on the for-
ce.—SJK
Use the Signal -Star
Letters to the Editor often
DEAR E
D
RCMP - OK
Dear Editor:
Talk about "the pot calling
the kettle black"....the
allegations that our MP s are
launching at the R.C.M.P. are
just that.
Where can we find more
corruption, dishonesty and
deceit, than in a group of
politicians?
Your "Dear Readers"
column of last week seems to
pin point the problem. No
headway is • being made in
solving the important issues
of today, so the people we
elect, are making fools of
themselves and Canada.
We live in a country that is
virtually assassination -free.
Perhaps it is because the
Mounties have done their
homework. Let's keep it that
way!
Sincerely,
Shelagh Sully
Impolite
Dear Editor:
I wish to bring to the at-
tention of your readers a
circumstance which upset a
bereaved family very much.
While travelling in a
funeral procession of about a
dozen cars from Teeswater to
Dungannon, we encountered
a variety of reactions from
the drivers meeting the
procession. Many did stop
and pull over on the shoulder
but many kept right on going,
regardless.
What really bothered those
in the procession, however,
was that one driver was in
such a hurry to get to his
destination, that he passed
the complete line-up of cars
and cut in front of the hearse.
Such conduct, in my
opinion.; shows complete
ignorance of "old-fashioned"
customs of respect for the
dead,' as well as utter
disregard for safety of any
others who might be on the
road. It also shows in-
sensitivity for the feelings of
those in bereavement. •
Maybe others have had the
same kind of experience and
maybe there should be more
ITDR
formal instruction on how to
behave in certain situations. I
do not know if this driver was
young or older but he sure
was in a big hurry.
Mary Bere
Suggestions
Dear Editor,
I agree that the hub of
Goderich is so unique and so
naturally attractive that it
lends to special possibilities,
through beautification and
restoration, as the centre of
attraction for the town, and
hopefully through the
thoughtful consideration and
deliberate action, the centre
of activity as well.
In your editorial last week
on the recent symposium
on the problems fat
downtown core areas ins
towns, the feeling wag
more is needed than
painting everything up
waiting for people to ar
that there must be some
in the stores that will b
people in. But what is
something? I have a
ideas.
First, how about invi
the people to write, per
even anonymously, to
Businessmen's Associati
and say why they don't
more on the Square, why
go instead to the malls
out of town? Such infornta
could provide a key tofu
Turn to
LO
75 YEARS AGO
Jackson Bros., Clinton, a
name widely known and
identified with the clothing
trade since 1854, are retiring
from the retail business to go
!tore extensively into the
wholesale manufacturing of
boys' clothing.
A young man was sum-
moned before P. M. Seager on
Monday on a charge of
disturbing the Salvation
Army Service on Sunday
evening and the P. M. finding
the charge proved fined
defendent $1 and costs.
Things look well for our
plumbers as many citizens in
the town have expressed their_
intentions of putting
bathrooms into their
dwellings.
Pety returned to town from
the Bruce Peninsula and
brought with them three deer
as the result of their ex-
pedition.
25 YEARS AGO
Snowplows and other
vehicles assigned to keep
highways and roads in this
aresi open this winter are now
equipped' with Mobile
Godericii voters will go to
the , polls on Monday,
December 8 to elect a,Deputy-
KING BACK
Reeve, six councillors and a
public school trustee for St.
David's ward. Mayor J. E.
Huckins and Reeve J. H.
Graham have been returned
by acclamation. Also elected
by acclamation were Thomas
Taylor and R. G. Johnston to
the PUC and ai school
trustees, Bill Hill in St.
Andrew's ward, John II.
Lauder, 1952 chairman of the
board, in St, George's ward
and Carlton J. Worsell in St.
Patrick's ward.
The annual meeting of the
Huron County TemperOnce
Federation was held in
Auburn Baptist Church on
Wednesday with a large
attendance from all parts of
the county.
5 YEARS AGO
Kathy Doherty and Rita
Knoop were presented with
awards by the Goderich
branch of the St. John's
Ambulance and the London
branch of the Red Cross
recognizing their bravery in
savieg The life of Tony Xfloop
last' May. The youngsters
were sWimming in the Port
Albert River when Tony lot
into deep water and went
under. Initially his sister
attempted to pull him out but
in panic he' pulled her unddr
,Kathy swam, Out arid'
dragged the then unconsc
boY to shore and appl
mouth to Ma
A detailed policy ford
education in l4uron Colin
Schools us well 2S tO
abuse in the county sell,
especially as it relates tO
pupil population, was pas
Monday evening in Clint°
the board's 00
November meeting.
si;ueThrevneeayu Tit ahoyowor nui zt e odEtntoaglipinreipartvi'
and 'proposed services in
Iridustrial Park. Cost
work is an estimate