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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-11-02, Page 4PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2 , 1978 A The County Town Newspaper of Huron Founded III? Mt end published every Thursday at Goderich. Ontario. Member of the ONNA and OWN& Advertising rates on request. Subscriptions payable In advance 94.50 In Canada. 'MIN to U.S.A., '35.00 to all other countries, single copies 35'. Display advertising rates available on request. Phrase oak for Rate Card Ho. 0 effective Oct. 1, MB. Second class moll Registration Number 0710. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of typographical error, the advertising space coact:Awl by the erroneous item together with reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but the balance of the advertisement ,v1111 be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price. good* or service may not be sold. Advertising Is merely an offer *0 1011. and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signol-Star is not responsible for the loss or dornago of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. Business and Editorial Office TELEPHONE 524-8331 arga code 519 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 The green light Itis good to see that the last major stumbling block to the 53 -unit apartment building for senior citizens at the corner of Waterloo and West Streets is now out of the way ... and the construction can begin. There's little doubt the facility is badly needed in Goderich and area. The project undertaken by Goderich in co- operation. with Goderich Township and Colborne Township has been three years in the development. Long hours of meetings, trips to Toronto, tedious planning and study have finally culminated in what promises to be one of the most attractive buildings this town can boast. What's more,the location is ideal being close to the core area, yet very definitely in one of the very nicest residential areas of the community. Truly it is the best of .both worlds. It will be another year before senior citizens will begin moving into the new premises, but there's reason now to give a loud cheer for the men and women who worked so tirelessly toward their goal. Senior citizens and their families are the grateful recipients of this benefit and the community joins with them to say a big "thank you" to anyone who has been involved with the project to date as well as to all those who still have much work to do before the doors swing open for occupancy.- SJK Watch this newspaper next week for the special pre-election issue. Questions are being sent out this week to every candidate for council in the town of Goderich, as well as to the school board candidates. Unfortunately, questionnaires won't be distributed to the candidates in the townships, but Signal -Star's editorial staff is making an effort again to challenge candidates with pointed questions about municipal government...and asking them to return their answers to this newspaper for publication next week. The ground rules are the same. All candidates for the same office will receive the exact same questions. All candidates are encouraged to answer the questions honestly and in as much or as little Debt is real Debt counselling carne up for discussion int-luron County recently and according to all reports, it isn't a very well understood subject. Debt counselling, like everything else that is proposed to assist people these days, is costly. It isn't any wonder that siiine people find it difficult to justify the spending of some people's money to assist others to save theirs. There's something that just doesn't ring true about that kind of an approach. Yet there isn't much doubt that many, many people are deep in debt - and many of them for no other reason than they have no concept of how to avoid it. There's nothing new about people who don't know how to handle their money - but there is something frightening about the fact that while people today are making more money than ever before, crushing, disabling debt is becoming more and more common. Even the average wage earner who is managing to make ends meet often asks himself, "flow come? Why can't I save anything these days? Why can't I have a new car when so-and-so who earns less than Ido gets a new Buick every other fall? What am I doing wrong? Probably everyone has read the articles in family magazines about a man and his wife who were so far in debt it took five years of eating porridge for breakfast, dinner and supper to get back on top. Certainly everybody knows somebody who brings home a good salary and still manages to get further and further into debt each year. Why is that? And what's to be done about it? It has been proven that debt counselling can help. Professionals, well skilled in the knowledge of budgets and balance sheets, working in privacy with willing individuals, can accomplish a turn around for some financially troubled families. But like anything else, persons Who are in debt must realize their need for help, ask for it, co-operate with the consultant and be willing to work towards a lasting solution. If there is a legitimate criticism of debt coun- selling, it must surely be that the people who need detail as they see fit; All replies will be published as the candidate wrote them. There is no charge for this special information service. In the event a candidate chooses not to answer the questions, the reading public will be so advised. Signal -Star hopes this will assist the voters of Goderich and area to be better informed for the 1978 municipal election. Voters are also urged to talk to their candidates if there are further questions or concerns or to take whatever opportunities there may be in the next few days to develop a clear understanding of what's at stake in this contest. Use this time to get ready for November 13. And on November 13, be ready to vote as you see fit. - SJK debt counselling the most don't usually seek it. Huron Warden Gerry Ginn is right. Much of the problem of people in debt is brought on themselves. A misuse of money, perhaps. A complete, lack of understanding about which things are vital. An inability to discipline oneself where spending is concerned. Simply put, the solution is to stop spending more than is earned...but that's often easier said than done, particularly in a society built on the credit system. And Ginn is also dead right by suggesting that debt counselling...or rather, how to avoid ever needing debt counselling...belongs in the schools. Modern young people raised in an affluent time, need to know the value of a dollar and how to hang onto money once it is earned. But what of the young wife who can't ever make her grocery money stretch? What of the mother who doesn't understand that her monthly children's allowance cheque from the government isn't necessarily a ticket for a night out on the town, away from the kids who might not have the proper food or clothing? And what of the man who works hard at his job every week and cannot comprehend why it is harmful for his family if he spends $10 at the hotel before coming home on pay day? And what about the young couple who take two decent pay cheques and get so badly involved with a credit agency that there just isn't rent money left at the end of the month? These are real life situations...and they are being dramatized all around every neighborhood in the country. What can be done to stop this stifling sickness? And doesn't an individual's inability to handle his own financial affairs ultimately reflect on others? Isn't Canada's future built on the financial stability of the people who live here? Debt counselling may seem on the surface like sending good money after bad. But is it? Isn't debt counselling one very basic step toward ensuring that the citizens of this county reach their full potential as productive, contributing Canadians in a progressive country? - SJK How do you rate? I am informed about the upcoming municipal, election I know all the candidates I will be voting on November 13 or at the advance poll November 4 r wf•.•'•"' „ • * ' - 4 4. ','.i.' I, ' ...r , `` ', ,',14-4,5i-,, !•1.),...t.0.4.,.., ..:,..4,.• t - , v.., . ' , ....,. :-,.., :,';,, ,„,,,` X-,:..,.. "yr;:, '.,?fti, : 1, es', ,,.. +: " ' :'' , , • .,. , .F. . , .......er'' e • '44,4k^ .r. .,. .. ....• „....• 1. $ ., „. , :' '4'.'" PN • . ' 4 ...5. •.• AP ,, ' % .... . q.e., ' '' ' "..k..'.,'''4. *".i.e.. 4,': . . 0:', ' :'!.,....i.', q. ;.: ' : . '4',,,,,A ',..' '.'"' . , . ''.. ... ' '.';.. . ,,. ' • , ' ..‘...:.°.•-... ',.'-'. ,'.1'. . ' .',: , : , .....c'. . c ,,,, c .. :., s• ; e,-,-. "4. ' ' ' 4 #V , .•.,,,,,•,'Its*- • Y :; ''' , • , Hallowe'en fun? 11111111111111MY. • 'o•A't'r3.4i.:',1' • • • •, By Dave Sykes BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER What do teachers do at a - professional development day? Monday was another professional in Huron County, and I was on the inside looking out this time. I was a member of a panel at the professional development day which was held at GDCI. Our panel was on homework, but a number of other topics were being discussed at the same time in °dm rooms. It . was 'a MAO of brain- storming session on a variety of subjects of interest to teachers. The first order of business - and where is it any different? - was coffee. That's a time honored custom but believe it or not, coffee time in a setting such as that has its values. Just weaving through the group one would hear teachers swapping ideas, problems and en- couragements. It was a real therapy session one could say - a time when teachers could really get down to the nitty-gritty of educational ideals with others of •same interests. One of the joys for me was hearing those teaching professionals address me as "Shirley" not "Mrs. Keller" or some other non-descript title. It gave me a feeling of accomplishment to know that many of these people knew me through the Signal-Star...and felt comfortable enough with me to call me by my first .DEAR READERS name. That was great. Thanks friends. + 4 - Our seminar was chaired by Don Kenwell from the Clinton office of the board of education. Others on the panel with me were Sharon Pollock, a student; Gary Jewitt, principal of Brookside Public School; and Bill Murdie, vice-principal of GDCI. The topic of homework was thrashed out for an hour and a half, but the conversation 'didn't get boring afar as I was concerned At the con- clusion of the session, though, it was just a little disconcerting to hear Bob Raeburn, principal of Holmesville Public School, say that nothing had really been resolved through it all. And I guess, really, everyone felt that way. -For homework is just that kind of a subject. Everybody agrees that homework can be a vital part of the learning process - but hardly anybody agrees that homework assignments always accomplish what is intended. One, of the things I wanted to hear was a definition of the purpose of homework. Is it just a way to help the teacher cover the course? What isn't done in class is done by the student at home? While the teachers admitted that this may happen - the bell rings to end the period and the teacher assigns the student to read to the end of the chapter or finish the page of questions - the main purposes for homework are much more defined than that. Teachers agree that homework should be a learning experience for the students, a practical application of what was taught in class, an op- portunity to do something for oneself and a lesson in organizing one's time outside the classroom for some worthwhile pur- suits. I think it was Bill Murdie who said homework should help the student' "love to learn". And that's a tall order, isn't it. That's probably why Bill Murdie also suggested that a teacher should spend as much time preparing the homework assignments as getting ready for the lesson. The group also touched on another "must" if homework is to be suc- cessful - that is, homework assignments must be taken up in class the following day in order to be truly beneficial as a learning experience. + Since the group was composed of both secondary and elementary school teachers, much discussion was heard on the length of time a student should spend in homework - or as some teachers preferred it "at home work". It was generally agreed that students from Kindergarten through Grade 6 should have little or no -homework. It was surprising to me, therefore, (and I think to some of the teachers present) to hear one father (also a teacher) say his child in Grade 4 had more than an hour's homework most evenings. Why? None of the teachers could answer the question precisely. But it was suggested that some children make homework for them- selves...or that some kids perpetually daydream in class and teachers must assign homework in the hope that the child will at least spend a little more time with the books. There also seemed to be general agreement that students in Grade 7 and 8 should have homework on a regular basis - probably a half hour of it - in preparation for high school when homework assignments are a regular part of the routine. But the irony of it all seemed to be, that homework isn't a regular part of the routine in high school - particularly not in Grade 9 and 10 and often not in Grade 11 and 12 when students are enrolled in the four year course. The bulk of the homework assigned in secondary school - at GDCI anyway - appears to be given to the students in the five year stream and most particularly to students in Grade 13. After thinking about it for a day or two, I could understand some of the wisdom in that. It is generally taken for granted that students in the five year courses are bound for institutes of higher learning where good study habits will be a help. On the contrary, students in the four year course often leave school to join the work force directly...and the benefit of good study habits would be lost on such young people. But it worried me, just a little, to hear teachers Trinke-q-emarks such as, "Kids in 'the -four year Courses jrist won't do homework." What do parents out there feel about that During the coffee break which followed that session, I had a chat with a fellow who sat in on a lecture given by Pearl Cassel on the subject of discipline. She ap- parently told that group that nobody - no students anywhere - should ever have homework. She feels there are child labor laws to protect kids from exploitation in the work force..,and since most jobs in the work force entail an average eight- hour work day, so should the study day of a student involve a nine -to -five kind of situation. Well,, you point, too. Sharon Pollock, the student on our pariel, said she has no trouble Most days coping with the amount of homework she has to do. She admitted some weeks are heavier Turn to page 5 • can see her 75 YEARS AGO A special meeting of the town council was held on Tuesday evening for the purpose chiefly of hearing from Mayor Yes.... No.... Yes.... No.... Yes..., Noe. Lewis, a report of his trip -to- Montreal on C.P.R. matters. As a result of his trip, His4 Worship is more sanguine than ever as to the prospects of a C.P.R. connection for Goderich within a short time. Miss Grace Polley of Goderich left this week for London where she will stud,y china painting urider the tuition of Miss Burnett, the gold medalist and well-known teacher. The quarterly meeting of the Boitrd of Trade was held on Monday evening and four new members WP:rrecyadrrvelriattletodn. They,pvr J. LOOKING BACK Morrow, T. H. Brophey and Hugh Dunlop. The schooner Azov came this week with a load of lumber from Johnston's Harbor and loaded additional cargo here from the sawmill for Chatham. J. B. Kelly has taken the local agency for a line of automobiles manufactured in Geneva, Ohio and on Tuesday one of them arrived at the station here. It is a fine, one -seated steam auto which carries eight gallons of gasoline suf- ficient to run the machine for 100 miles. The cost is only 8450. 25 YEARS AGO Goderich's population stands at 5,765 according to figures presented to town council last Friday night, an increase of 423 over the 5,252 population last year. Town council at a special meeting Tuesday night named F. M. Hall of London as chief constable of the new town police force. He will head the new force which is scheduled to start duties on January 1. Improvements have been made to the ap- proach to the Dr. Tiger Dunlop tomb at Saltford by the Huron County Museum curator J. H. Neill. Some 24 feet of stairway have been built from the highway up the hillside and from there a pathway has been con- structed to make clim- bing easier. The Goderich Recreation Foundation, in a preliminary report, states that members, of the committee are gathering information on various recreational activities in town to gain knowledge for plans to be made by the group. Air Vice Marshall Sully, chairman of the foun- dation has been called to Brazil on business and Leon Black has been named deputy chairman. 5 YEARS AGO Work will begin NoveriTher 7 on a 6130,000 expansion of Bell's un- derground cable and conduit , facilities in Goderich. The new facilities are required to meet demands for new serviices from new subdivisions, apartments and trailer parks in and around Goderich. George Parsons, president of the Goderich Elevator and 'Transit - Company Limited, an- nounced yesterday that the company has suc- cessfully negotiated the purchase of Upper Lakes Shipping Limited facilities in Goderich. Ken Straughan of Goderich caught a 32 - pound, 43 -inch Chinook Salmon in the Maitland River below the bridge on Monday. Officers of the Goderich Police Department and postal officials are still con- ducting an investigation into vandalism at the East.Street Post Offic on Thursday morning of last week in which an attempt was made to set fire to mailing bags containing the October 25 edition of the Goderich Signal -Star.