The Wingham Advance-Times, 1985-06-19, Page 5El Robertson leaves Howick
after 22 years as principal
Bruce Robertson, the man
who has been principal at the
Howick Central School ever
'since , it opened, will be
leaving at the end of this
school year.
It will be difficult for him
to leave Howick for he has
been very much a part of the
school for the past 22 years,
but he is looking forward to
new challenges as principal
in Wingham.
Born and raised near
Bluevale in Morris Town-
ship, Mr: Robertson at-
tended S.S.. No. 10 before
transferring to S.S. No. 8
(BrcwicFpwn) for his public
school education.
He went, on to attend the
Wingham High School and
while in Grade 11 he decided
to become a teacher.
Mr' Robertson's mother
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had been a teacher which
may have'nfluenced his
decision, b it also appeared
his broth was destined to
take `over the family farm,
meaning young Bruce was
expected to make his living
elsewhere.
He set off to Stratford'
Teachers' College for one
year before teaching in
Kitchener for four years.
In 1962 Mr. Robertson
returned, to school to com-
plete his degree since he was
interested in becoming
principal. at the new Howick
school, which then was under
construction.
His application was ac-
cepted and he was hired by
the township board of
trustees to commence duties
as principal in September of
1963.
In tact the day of the
sc'hool's official opening,
Nov. 22, 1963, stands out
vividly in his mind as the day
American President John F.
Kennedy was assassinated.
Those were exciting days
in education, said Mr.
Tank truck
Continued from front
He and other fire officers
also told the board they have
been waiting a long time for
some new equipment.
"We asked for a new
building in 1969,"Mr. Hickey
noted.
Mr. Stafford asked
whether it is because the
department had been
managed by the town of
Wingham before, "and now
we're easier to get money
out of — more dedicated?"
The explanation is really
quite simple, Mr. Gaunt told
him: "We tried to save
money (in the past) and now
it's catching up with us." •
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The Wingham Advance -Times, June 19, 1985—Page 5
Ft obertson. The Ontario
Ministry of Education, under
Minister William Davis, had
etnbarked upon an ambitious
program to consolidate one -
room schools into central
schools. Howick was one of
the very first, if not the first,
"central" school in this part
of the province.
When Howick Central
opened in the fall of 1963 a
total of 537 students were
enrolled in a school that bad
been built to hold ap-
proximately 450. But there
were tougher times ahead.
Enrollment at the school
reached its peak in the late
1960sand early 1970s vrhen
almost 700 pupils were at-
' tending Howick.
Looking back on those
years Mr. Robertson said
they were very chaotic with
children alma') "hanging
out the windows" .
They were exciting years
as well. A Kindergarten was
added in 1967 along with a
library and three additional
classrooms. There seemed to
be a never-ending supply of
dollars to be spent on
education and Mr. Robertson
said it sometimes was dif-
ficult to spend all the money
allotted.
A big change was the move
from township ' to county
boards of education in 1969,
putting more responsibility
on the shoulders of the
principal.
In some ways the change
'was good because a principal
had more leeway in dealing
with" problems, but it had
been nice to have someone
close at hand to go .to when a
problem arose, he said.
The 1970s brought a trend
toward "freedom" in
Aducation, such as un -
/structured classes with the
emphasis on letting the.
children "do their own
thing". It is a. trend Mr.
Robertson is glad has passed
since it made teachers and
principals .very insecure
abouttheir roles as
educators.
The pendulum has swung
back to a more structured
curriculum and standards
are higher. Not that Mr.
Robertson relaxed those
standards during the 1970s,
but he is • glad about ,the
change.
There has been a steady
decline in enrollment over
the past few years at the
Howick school, something
Mr. Robertson attributes to
larger farms and smaller
familes. Today the school is
at its optimum enrollment of
450 students.
There are approximately
330 students at the Wingham
school and Mr. Robertson.
said he is looking forward to
the challegges a change . in
locale will make.'
One of the biggest
,problems faced by ad-
ministrators and boards
today is the steady decrease
in education funds from the
government: From the free -
spending days of the ,1460s.
and early '70s, educators
now have to fight to keep
existing programs in place,
let alone initiate new ones.
Mr. Robertson said he sees
the integration of the
trainable -mentally retarded
into schools as the biggest
challenge today. However if
it can be done it will be
regarded as a great ac-
., complishment and a benefit
to all of. society.
He also sees schools of the
future as the first contact
children will have with the
new technology and is eager
to bring computers into the
classroom early in the
students' school career.
Mr. Robertson said he and
his wife Lois have no plans at
the present to move from
their Gorrie home. They
have three children.
PRINCIPAL LEAVING—Bruce Robertson of Gorrie has been principal at the Howick
Central School ever since it opened in September of 1963. Mr. Robertson was
presented with. a portrait of himself by Wroxeter artist. Morris Darling, however the
painting is to remain in the school. Mr. Robertson will take over duties at the Wingham
Public- School this fall.
Wroxete Personais 1
• MRS. ALLAN GRIFFITH
Visitors over the weekend
with Mr and and Mrs. Art
Gibson . were Mrs. Mary
Mellis and Mrs. Margaret
Barnard Of Hensall,. Mr. and
Mrs. Bill Gibson of Van-
couver, Stanley Dane of
Midland and Marcia Gibson '
of London.
Mr. anMrs. Larry Timm
of Kitchener and Mr. and
Mrs. Dalton Dickison visited,
Mr. and Mrs. Pat Campbell
Sunday.
Mrs. Edith White of Lucan
visited with her father, Cliff
and Mrs. Marks, last
Saturday.
Piano pupils
hold recital
WROXETER,— The -piano
pupils of Mrs. Art Gibson
presented an enjoyable
musical program for their
families and friends last
Thursday evening in the
United Church,
Mrs. Gibson played
several familiar tunes as the
group assembled. Those
taking part were: Jane,
Colin. and Amy Darling,
Janihe and Julie Gibson,
Valerie and Vincent Brewer,
Peggy. Price,. Dale Schefter;
Angela Chambers, Chris
Bender, Debbie Edgar,
Tracy Roth, Shannon Werth,
Julie, Jennifer and Lori
Brown, Sherri and Pam
Bennett, Michelle Eadie and,
Jason Edgar.
Mrs. Gibson thanked her.
pupils for their cooperation
and their families and
friends for attending. She
also thanked Julie .and
Jennifer Gibson for the
beautiful .flower arrange-
ment. Pictures were taken
and a social time enjoyed by
all.
`God's Garden' theme
on June UCW meeting
WROXETER — The
United Church Women met
in the church hall last
Wednesday evening with 17
members and four guests
pi went: Mrs- Doris -Hays -of ._
the Wilting Workers Unit
took charge of the worship
portion, using "God's Gar-
den" as the theme.
Mrs. Paul Elgie chaired
the business part of the
meeting. The trea'surer's
report was given and
minutes of the previous
meeting adopted,
Mrs. Elgie gave a brief
report on the Westminster
Weekend, which she and
Mrs., Glen McMichael at-
tended, The ;ladies were
reminded of the bazaar'to be
held Nov. 30.
The • highlight of the
evening was a slide
presentation and talk by
Marjorie Ann McMichael
about her: recent six-month
stay at a sheep farm in
Tasmania. She also had
many pictures and articles
on display.
Mrs. Russell Lockwood
thanked Miss McMichael for
her interesting presentation.
The next meeting will be
held Sept. 22.
•
Mrs. Doug Weber, Kevin
and Dawn of Erin, were
weekend visitors . with Mr.
and Mrs. Stewart Musgrove.
Mr. and Mrs. Scott
Galbraith and Shawn of
Paisley visited last Saturday
with his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Ken Galbraith.
Mr. and Mrs. Adrien
Poirier, Weston, were
weekend guests. with Mr. and
Mrs. Cliff Marks. Other
Sunday visitors were Stanley
Marks, Brussels, Mr. and
Mrs. Tom Powell and boys,
Kitchener and Mrs.
Marguerite Sanderson. '.
We are pleased to report
Mrs. Harvey Bradshaw and
Lyle Harthave been able to
return home after being
hospitalized in London:
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Gilbert,
Krista -and Troy of
Harriston, visited Sunday
with Mr. and Mrs. Oliver
Riley.
1 Mrs. Allan Griffith visited
Mr. and Mrs. James
Robertson in Goderich last
Friday.
Mrs. Arthur Leggatt,
Orillia, was a weekend guest
at the home of her sister, Mr.
and Mrs. Stewart Higgins.
•
Their brother and his wife,
Mr. and Mrs. Lawson Doig of
RR 2, Wroxeter, visited at
the same home Monday and
enjoyed the visit.
Clarence Clement, who
underwent surgery in the
Wingham and District
Hospital last week, is im-
proving and we are looking
forward to the day he can
leave.
Gordon Gibson returned
home last Saturday evening
following a week-long visit
with Mr. and Mrs. Crawford
Gibson of Barrie. For-
tunately their home was not
in thearea devastated by the
recent tornado:
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence
Rivest were in Windsor last
weekend where they visited
A
at the home.of her sister, Mr.
and Mrs. Leo Marchand,
who hastecE a surprise party
last Saturday evening with
about 50 relatives in at-
tendance. They celebrated
Mr. and Mrs. Rivest's 40th
wedding anniversary Sun-
day along with Mr: and Mrs.
Marchand's 36th wedding
anniversary (June 19) and a
niece's birthday with a
barbecue.
•sinsi■■■■■■..■.■■■..■■.■■■iimmuu ra■■■■■■■■ isuma
•
COMMUNITY CALENDAIt
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• Insurance - All types. Home business, auto, farm, life.
• WINGHAM 351-2636 GORRIE 335-3525 •• i
Thurs., June '20 to Wed. june 26, 1985 •
NI Thurs., June 20 Annual Meeting, Wingham & Dist. .
• Hospital Corp., Auditorium of Wingham al
■ • Public School, 8:00 p.m.
•
Annual Meeting, Wingham & Area Day
• • Centre for the Homebound, Wingham Ar- 1
• •
mouries, 1:30 p.m:', Speaker.
• Community Dance, Wingham Armouries,
■ • Sponsored by Wingham Seniors Happy
Gang, 8:30 p.m. ,
LaLeche•
•
League Meeting at home of Laurie
• Willits, RR 1, Wingham, 8:00 p.m.
• Fri. June 2f ' Retirement Party for Mabel Wheeler, at S■
• . Lucknow Public School, Family Dance, 8:00 ■
■ • •p.m. ■
Sat.�June 22 Country Fayre, Belgrave Comm. Centre, ■
•• 4:00 p.m., Cold Meat Supper, 5:00 - 7:00
• p.m. Sponst4r Knox United Church.
1 Sun. June 23 Family Cat—Rally, Junior W,1., Pre-
■R•egistration Only, Phone' 335-3069 after •
•
1:O1i p.m. ■
• Mon. June 24 Coffee Party at Wingham & Dist. Hospital
■ Cafeteria for Present and Former Staff, to ■
••
• Commemorate the Doctor of the Year
• Award for Dr. MEL CORRIN, 7:30 - 9:30•
■
• p.m.
••
Wingham & District' Hospital Auxiliary •
�.................. __ -.__Meet.in.g-in-the-Hospital.Aoacd-.Room.-2-00--_..__._
■ p.m. .
1 CPR Course, Also Tomorrow Night, 6:30
• -10:30 p.m.'
• Tues. June 25 Garden Party, Fordwich United Ch' ra,
• Strawberries & Ham, 4:30 p.m. on.
1 Wed. June 26 CPR Course, Also Tomorrow Night, 6:30
10:30 p.m. •
•
ROXY HOME VIDEO •
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Phnne 357.3371
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