The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-05-03, Page 41
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PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, MAY a , 1979
Godericnt
SIGNAL- STAR
The County Town Newspaper of Huron
Founded In 1840 and published every Thursday at Godorich, Ontario. Member of the CWNA
and OWNA. Advertising rates on request. Subscriptions payable In advance '14.50 In
Canada. •55 :00 to U.S.A.. '55.00 to all other countries. single copies SS'. Display advertising
rotes available on request. please ask for Rate Cord No. 8 effective Qt. 1, 1978. Second
class moll 'Registration Number 0716. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that In the
event of typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous Item,
together with reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but the balance
of the advertisement will bo paid for of the applicable rate. In the event of a
typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or sarvlco may
nolle i . Advertising r merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time, The
Signal -Star Is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts or photos.
Business and Editorial Office
TELEPHONE 524-8331
area code 519
Published by Signal -Star Publishing Ltd.
ROBg,RT G. SHRIER — president and publisher
SHIRLEY J. KELLLER — editor
DONALD M. HUBICK - advertising manager
Mailing Address:
P.O. BOX 220, Industrial Park, Goderich
Second class mail registration number — 0716
Priorities in question
Huron County council's decision not to support a
program in Goderich aimed at integrating mentally
handicapped people into community activities
raises some doubts about council's priorities.
Goderich appealed to the county for funds to
support a program it has operated for two years,
with a grant from the provincial government. The
project is designed to get the handicapped involved
in minor sports and recreational programs. The
goal of the project is to get the handicapped out into
the community and teach them the social skills to
allow them to get involved in community affairs.
The program is administered by the Goderich
recreation department for obvious reasons. It
would be ludicrous to operate the program from the
parks department and limited numbers- don't
warrant setting up a separate department just for
the handicapped.
Therein lies the argument against county
council's reasons for turning down the Goderich
request.
Council claimed that recreation was the
responsibility of individual municipalities. It. felt
that if the Goderich program was supported by the
county the door would be opened for all
municipalities to ask for county funds to operate
programs it had on the go. Council'sugge.sted that if
funds were given to Goderich to help integrate
mentally handicapped into recreation the county
would be obligated to support minor hockey in
Seaforth.
But what councillors failed to recognize was that
the money Goderich wanted was not to support its
recreation program. It was to support mentally
handicapped.
At the same time as council seemed to be
ignoring that fact, it was busy spending over $1,000
for county place mats, giving $400 to the Canadian
Cancer Society, $246. to the Brussels Agricultural
Society and $100 each to the Huron Holstein Club,
the Lucknow Agricultural Society and the Perth -
Huron Shorthorn Club.
Aside from those grants council agonized over
whether or not it should replace a section of worn
out steps at Tiger Dunlop's tomb with wood stairs
or steel stairs.
Council may argue that those donations are in
support of activities common to Huron. Agriculture
is the base. of H.ur_an's economy but the expens.e.-can-
still be classed as isolated by some people. Is a
youngster in Goderich ever going to join a Shor-
thorn Club?
It can be said that if the Goderich youngster
wants to join the Shorthorn Club, he can. But can a
mentally handicapped youngster join the same
club?-JGS -
Money no object?
It was interesting to note recently that the Huron -
Perth Separate School board will shorten the
French periods in its schools beginning this fall.
Teaching oral French in 40 minute doses is just too
much for the average student in Ontario, the board
learned. Twenty minute classes get much better
results, the_._board was told by the Ontario Ministry
of Education.
But while the periods will be shorter, the same -
amount of French instruction will be given. You
guessed it. Instead of 40 minute classes every other
day, there will be 20 minute classes every day.
The board was easily convinced this will benefit
the students as well as the teachers. After all, the
board has discovered that the lengthy French
periods foster discipline problems in the classroom,
requiring the classroom teacher to stay on site to
assist the French teacher who may not be able to
cope with the enthusiasm of her students for a full
40 minutes. That's a• waste of valuable teaching
time, the board agrees.
What's even better, the board agrees, is that the
itinerant French teachers will become morea part
oL-the school staff because they will be in the
building every day instead of every other day.
That's a bonus for the travelling tutors.
And there are other positive results, the board
reasons. If a school' day is lost due to a winter storm
or a professional activity day, the students only
miss 20 minutes of French instruction, not 40
minutes...assuming of course, it is a French in-
struction day that is lost.
What's surprising, though, is that nobody seems
to have asked about the increased costs to the board
for teachers who must travel twice as far to get the
same amount of work done. Or where those extra
dollars are coming from in a budget that is already
strained to the breaking, point.
The Ontario Ministry of Education is quite right.
Two 20 minute French classes on two consecutive
days is probably the .best way to teach French.
Certainly it is much better for students and
teachers than 40 minutes every other day. It only
makes sense.
But since when have sensible solutions taken
precedence over saving money? Or can teachers
and pupils soon expect more good news - such as
smaller classes, more teaching . staff, better
materials and equipment, improved selection of
courses?—SJK
It would be nice
It's difficult to sift out real facts in recent events
at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station at Douglas
Point.
There have been allegations from an inside
worker at the Bruce plant that the mishaps there
are sufficient to indicate that a nuclear accident of
similar proportions to the one at Three Mile Island
in Pennsylvania could happen here.
The Bruce'informer leaked seven documents to
MPP Eddie Sargent claiming that failures at the
plant severely jeopardized 'safety. Also two hydro
employees were exposed to excessive amounts of
radiation last week.
Hydro chairman, Robert Taylor, in a letter, said
that all incidents were reported to the Atomic
_Energy Control"Board and "that none 'of them
represented radiation risks or emergency
situations. •A legislature committee` on Ontario
Hydro willl--meet this week to hear hydro's response
'to the allegations.
The difficulty in a situation like this is knowing
who to trust.
The inside worker, using the name M. Schultz,
obviously believed there is some threat to safety
'with the mishaps at the Bruce plant,
Hydro says all incidents were reported to the
satisfaction of the Atomic Energy Control Board
and represented little risk of danger or creating
emergency situations.
It's 'difficult to say whether the informer is an
alarmist or Hydro downplays the incidents.
It would be nice toknow, though_ -__
Winter's aftermath
Why ride
Dear Editor:
Re: The ride for cancer
and -why I participate
1. While living in
Ottawa I was i close
t
contacwith cancer
patients working in a
nursing home as a nur-
se's aide.
2. I have lost a sister
some years ago due to
cancer.
3. While in Ottawa I
suffered two cardial
arrests • and •had. a., four
artery bypass operation
and open heart surgery.
4. Since returning to
Goderich in• 197,.6 I was
working fully time. But
due to illness, I was
.forced to give up this job
and told I must find
lighter occupation which
is hard to find.
5. So I cannot donate in
cash to the Cancer
Society and therefore I
by Jeff Seddon
DEAR EDITOR
do what I can by riding a
bike, for the cause.
6. I feel cancer can and
will be beaten somehow,
or some way. It takes
research a-nd-- researc-h
costs money. I hope in my
way the only way I can, it
is helping the cause.
7. But without sponsers
I can't ride. So thank you
to everyone whospon-
sered me in this great
cause, no matter how
small the pledge. It all
adds up.
8. Also thanks to my
husband who was behind
me all theway with a
milk jugof orange juice.
Sincerely,
Betty Bowers
(The Turtle).
In response
Dear Editor,
B. Markson's letter in
the March 19 Signal -Star
suggests that Canadian
Book of the Road does not
give the towns between
Owen Sound and Grand
Bend a "courtesy
mention".
A careful examination
of—the book, published
jointly by Reader's
Digest and the Canadian
Automobile Association,
will show that these
towns are clearly marked
in the book's atlas and on
five maps in its main
section.
Canadian Book of the
Road is as "complete" as
we have been able to
make it. Thirty thousand
miles of highways and
byways across the
country appear in its
pages, One hundred and
eighty sections of road
(including a route
through the beautiful
Bruce Peninsula near
your town) are
generously described and
illustrated.
However, even in a
book of this scale,
limitations of space have
prevented us from in-
cluding everything as
fully as we would have
liked.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Byers,
Editor,
Canadian Book
of the Road
Overwhelmed
Dear Editor,
I am overwhelmed with
surprise that you feel that
the operation of
Alexander Marine and
General Hospital is not
the business and concern
of the town and township
people dePending on this
facility.
The people of the town
and townships are
assessed on a pro -rated
figure based on use or
that area when A. M. and
G. Hospital requires
financial assistance. The
County also is assessed a
given amount so you see
the taxpayer is in fact
paying twice. Why should
he not be asking
questions when in doubt,
and certainly I am.
Therefore the people
paying taxes in the area
should all be concerned
as to th'e operation
financial and otherwise of
OUR hospital.
During the time of J..
Banks, he told the board
members the Ontario
Fire Marshal had •con-
demned the laundry
facility. However, as a
former board member I
do not recall having ever
seen this in writing :quite
a difference, hearing but
not reading.
I realize you now attend
board meetings and, at
times when the meat of
the problem is to_ be
discussed you are
removed from the
hearings. Consequently
Turn to page 5 •
75 YEARS AGO
The harbor ice melted
away early in 'the week
•and the northeast wind
carried the floating
debris from the ol'd pier
way out into the lake and
now navigation is open
from this port.
The Court House
Square is now being put
in order and it is hoped
our people will keep to the
gravel paths and by so
doing show that they like
to see the centre of the
town beautiful.
Gavin Green, whose
henery on the flats below
the Grand Trunk is now
well advanced, obtained
111 chickens from his
first incubator hatch.
Mr. G.W. Rife of
Hespeler, representing
«the Ontario Beet Sugar
Company of Berlin, is in
LOOKING
this section endeavoring
to interest farmers in the
growing of sugar beets.
Last week the Salkelds
put in a telephone system
connecting the three
farms of, Joseph, John
and Isaac and as the
three brothers generally
work together, it will be
an immense saving of
labor. It is likely the
innovation will be
followed in the near
future by other "families
in the township.
25 YEARS AGO'
Work was started
yesterday -for con-
struction of a building at
the Kinsmen playground
to snow flurries
yesterday and Tuesday
as Old , Man Wsinte'r
suddenly replaced
Spring.
Construction of the
$700,000 grain storage
bins at Goderich harbor
is proceeding rapidly and
work is nearing the stage
for pouring the,cement.
The north shore at the
Goderich waterfront has
received a face lifting as
a first step toward
establishing more
bathing beach area.
Finishing.touches to the
new swimming rciAti-'y?t
Judith Gooderha
Memorial Playgroun
are expected to be made
before the end of the
on South Street to house month. Goderich
washroom facilities for Recreation and Arena
the kiddies who use the Council received an
playground all summer. application for the
-SFr- g took a back-§-eaT-posiTon of- swimming
BACK
instructor. during the
summer months at the
new pool at its Tuesday
night meeting but
decided to table it for
further reference.
This Week town work-
men started to plant 100
new maple trees along
streets in various parts of
town:
5 YEARS AGO Despite the recent
acquisition of a harbor
rescue boat, Goderich
Police will still have to
rely on tugs during heavy
weather, The Goderich
Rescue Committee
learned last Thursday.
Harbor Airport had
several windows
smashed out of it by
vandals last week.
Youngsters combining
roller skating and alcohol
caused serious discussion
among members of the
Goderich Recreation and
Community Centre Board
-
during their regular
meeting Tuesday.
Textral Fibres Limited
of Elmira have obtained
a $550,000 mortgage loan
from the Ontario
Development Cor-
poration to build a 24,000
square foot plant in
Goderich's Industrial At the stroke of mid-
Park, Jack Riddell, MPP night last Friday night,
for Huron told the Signal- Joanne Walters was
Star Tuesday. crowned queen ' of the
The rear turret of the G.D.C.I. At Home by last
L_aaF�kPrw:—�.„ rr ge queers —Oconee
mounted out at Sky Crawford.
DEAR
READE
S
BY SHIRLEY J.KELLER
It just worked in perfectly.
On Friday, I attended a day long
professional activity day for Huron
County Board of Education elementary
school teachers who were learning
from Hamilton Board of Education
staff about morals -values education.
On Saturday, I went to Hamilton "to
visit some family and friends. It was a
perfect opportunity.
Admittedly, a beauty parlor isn't the
best place to get an argument going
over education. But if you want
grassroots reaction, a beauty parlor is
an excellent spot to glean the
viewpoints of ordinary people. I siezed
the opportunity with relish.
Ever so gently, I baited the room
with son -ie comments about my in-
teresting Friday at a teachers'
professional activity day. I told them
about a group of Hamilton teachers
being there to conduct some of the
sessions, and I explained a little about
what I'd learned from my day .... all
about warm fuzzies and cold pricklies.
I explained that' I had recently at-
tended a management training
sefninar in Toronto which'taught some
of the exact same principles to a group
of women managers from all over
Canada who were employed with some
of the nation's top companies ... and I
expressed my surprise that these same
concepts were being taught suc-
cessfully to children at kindergarten
level.
"We're going to have a generation of
management experts," I quipped, not
really expecting anyone to agree with
me.
"They may be experts on
'management," one woman retorted,
"but they won't be able to spell cat or
they won't be able to add two and two
without a calculator.''
"My daughter isn't stupid," said a
lady. "She's always been above
average in school. Her report cards
were always good. No trouble at all.
Until she hit Grade 8. And now, the
teachers tell me my daughter is in the
low quarter of the class. .They even
suggest she may not pass. What hap-
pened between Grade 7 and Grade 8?
Or is somebody scared? Does
somebody finally realize • that my
daughter justdoesn't know what she
needs to know to go into Grade 9?"
"The Grade 8 teacher in our school is
taking the rap for all the teachers who
went before and didn't do their job," a
mother surmised. "I've been worried
for years about my children. They
can't read. Simple mathematics baffle
them. And every time I asked anything
or made a comment, I am told the
teachers are the professionals and I'm
-Only the mother. What do I know?"
"My daughter won't even talk about
it with me;" the lady went on. "They
may be learning about ego states and
warm fuzzies, but -. whenever I ask
questions about school, my daughter
just clams up. She doesn't like my
attitude, 1 guess."
"I may not even get, into college this
fall thanks to education experts,"
commented a pretty young blonde.
"The school was to fill in a portion.. of
my application for college and got it'all
screwed up. It was late going into the
college. Now the college has it, and one
of the se/za-etaries there messed it up
again. It sat on het desk past the
deadline. I telephoned the cnllere the
otherday and they told me my name is
in the computer somewhere. If my
name comes up in the fall, I'm in. -If
not, I'm out of luck." .
"I think the staff is deliberately
messing up applications," was one
suggestion. "I think they are really
afraid some of these kids are going to
get enough education to put them out of
a job." •-
"It wouldn't take much to 'do that
kind of, a job," i-nterjected the pretty
little blonde. -
"I'd like to give the schools a cold
prickly," offered another.
And I thought about the conversation
I'd had with one,Huron County teacher
who is well experienced in the
classroom.
"We may owe it to kids to learn more
about themselves and the people they
meet," this teacher admitted. "But I
think we also owe them a chance to be
good readers, good spellers, quick at
understanding everyday arithmetic,
and have some practical knowledge
that will help them get a job and pay'
the bills for a family. 1"irs things
firct "
•