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The Huron Expositor, 1988-02-10, Page 5BACON ,PLAIN or PATTIES GARLIC . LB. ®? 9 SAUSAGE LB. 1 Our MOO 3 PUBLIC NOTICE The Board of Health of Huron County invites members of the public to a Public Meeting from 2 - 4 p.m., in the Clinton Town Hall on Tuesday, February 16, 1988. to hear the "One -Stop Access" Review of Proposal Members of the University of Guelph Research Team will be present to answer questions. CHAIRMAN - HURON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH 1 Hensel) FINAL SALE up to 507°Off Entire Stock Store will be closing Mar. 1/88 CTHE $ c,� J/� ,, Q V V /Deet c. 262-3447 Day school builds self esteem. BY HEATHER DICELWRAITH The old adage, "'you're never too old to learn", is being given the ultimate test by a number of area adults. They are par- ticipating in an adult day school program operating out of Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton. The program, designed to give adults - former highschool dropouts - the opportuni- ty to work towards credits for their Ontario Secondary School Graduation Dimploma (Grade 12), was initiated by Canada Employment in response to the declining local job market, and the cancellation of a Conestoga College retraining program of- fered in Vanastra. Canada Employment approached the Huron County Board of Education who turned the program design over to Linda Lentz and Judy Weber. They wrote up the mandate for a program and had it accepted in November 1986. The program officially got" underway in March 1987. Their program operates on much the same basis as established correspondent programs, except students share a com- mon workplace, and teachers are available at all times to provide assistance and give students the incentive to continue. Students are encouraged to work at their own pace and at their own level. And, since test anx- iety is often the major obstacle for return- ing students to overcome, they are allowed to choose the time and place for their tests, in order to make sure they're mentally prepared. 30 DIFFERENT COURSES Students can study approximately 30 dif- ferent courses on their own, including math, english, computer, typing, accoun- ting, science consumer/family studies, history and law, but there are some formal classes they must attend. One of these is a life skills class, which students say has helped them combat their fears about going back to school, as well as think more positively about themselves and their capabilities. Some adults in the program have been out of the classroom only three years, others as many as 30. Some need only four credits to attain their Grade 12 diploma, others need the full 27. For that reason go- ing back to school often seems a formidable task. But it doesn't have to be. Both Mrs. Lentz and Mrs. Weber stress getting those re- quired credits may not be as impossible a task as it appears. Students who have been out of school for some time may be granted up to a maximum of 12 equivalency, or maturity credits, based on their age and life experience. These maturity credits are awarded by the principal of the highschool, but may not bring a student's credit total to more than 23. No matter what the age or ex- perience students must get at least four credits on their own. "What happens is adults discover they have skills that are valuable - living skills that come with maturity that maybe they didn't necessarily know they had. These skills are given a value and count towards their highschool education," said Mrs. Weber. ' Those last four credits have to be senior credits (Grade 11-12) and according to Mrs. Lentz and Mrs. Weber, for some people that's tough. "We have limited coarses and some peo- ple have limited interests and abilities. But we're looking for other co-op options. It's amazing the variety of skills in our folks. They come from a variety of backgrounds and have a lot of skills to offer," said Mrs. Lentz. Mrs. Weber added adults in this area, who quit highschool before graduation, are realizing more and more most employers won't look at them unless they have at least a Grade 12 education. And, with factories shutting their doors all too frequently, she said adult education is something people really want. BACK TO SCHOOL Hilda Young and Linda Brovrn are two of a number of Seaforth adults participating in the day school program in Clinton. Both are former employees of the Genesco Shoe Factory, dissatisfied enough with factory work to embark on correspondence pro- grams at home. But when the factory dos- ed and they were left without work, they us- ed the situation to their advantage and returned to school on a full time basis. "R was an advantage to us that the fac- tory closed," said Hilda. "Suddenly we were out of a job, wonder- ing what we were going to do next," she said. "So I decided now's my chance (to go back to school). If I don't do it now, I won't ever do it." Linda's outlook was much the same. "For 10 years I worked at a job that I tolerated, and it maybe wasn't what I wanted. If the factory wouldn't have closed I probably would have just continued on," she said. Admittedly returning to school was a big step for both women, but one they took readily. Hilda, who quit bighschool during teacher's stn'ke in March of her graduating year, said she found it hard for the first month to get back into the routine of finding time to study. "But my husband supports me. Lie's wanted me to go back to (regular' 7oo1 for years, so he helps out at hor " the said, adding husband Colin eve- red to buy her a Garfield lunch pail. Like Hilda, Linda quit highscho, moving a teacher's strike, only she a a • ' - 10 at the time. "I thought I was a + a ur tc make m} own decisions. But 1 s have quit. 1 had good grades t ,,,{ght making money was better n waiting for the teachers to go back ' she sa Now, 11 years lanai, Linda, now a wife and a mother of three children, is finally finishing what she said she should have finished ear er nd, thankfully she's get- ting a lot of support vhile she's doing it. "My husband >upports me in it, so he helps out. Aral tht t -'ds have been really good. They let mom do her homework and it encourages them to do theirs," she said. "The hardest thing about coming back to school, was not coming back. The hardest part was getting on the school bus those rt few mornings." Now, with graduation looming on the horizon Linda said she has a new outlook on life. 1 --THE HURON EXPOSITOR, FEBRUARY 10,1988 — 5 .--cocmstc ?-louse Bed ey''Breakfast 506. and (Gen Patterson 'P.O. BaC 1125 (5191527.2040 Scafort/, Ontario a(DJK 1 M1tU RUMP, STEAK or SIRLOIN TIP SIRLOIN 6.9 STEAKLB. or WING�I 3 ROAST LB. 2 9 Wide Variety of FROZEN FISH & SEAFOOD STORE MADE STORE MADE 821 TEACHER'S AIDES - Linda Brown and Hilda young, both of •Seaforth, will soon graduate from the adult education program at Central Huron Secondary School in Clin- ton. Both quit highschool before graduation and have returned to get their Grade 12 diplomas. As teacher's aides they are able to relay some of the computer knowledge they have gained in recent months, to fellow student Jackie Johnston. Mcllwraith photo. •at - CUTTING THROUGH THE HOMEWORK - Pat Carpenter of Vanastra and Donna Costello of Seaforth are two of a number of adults who have returned to school in pur- suit of a highschool diploma. Both say they feel better about themselves because of it. Mcliwraith photo. "I feel better. I know I have the ability to learn. And, the more you learn, the more you want to learn and the more you know you can," she said. "All I had to do was take one big step. I just wish I could get through to the kids that education adds to the options you have a few years down the line. If you don't have all the education then part of you is un- satisfied with what you do. They (the students) want the same things in life we do, and to realize it when we have is not bad, but... Teenagers don't have the pro- blems and responsibilities that adults do. They have their education to worry about and it should be their main focus." Linda added she feels better for having gone back to school and now feels she can clear up some of her dissatisfaction with her professional life. "I just hope that my children can see the advantage of staying in school," she said. Hilda too said she hopes to be able to en- courage her children to finish school, and possibly go on. My parents didn't encourage me, they didn't care about school." she recalled with remorse. "It was March or April of the year I was to graduate, when the tr. . 'rs went on strike. I was offered a lee at .he factory, and I took it, Dumb, th.,l i um. "Going back to sr , . net something I ever thought T'rt hr' dr ,,ut I'm getting a lot of encou •nent from friends and even the teachers in Seaforth. Everyone's offering to help," she said. "I hope the program has a chance to con- tinue. If people know the opportunities are there, they might use them. If you're not happy in what you're doing, then going back to seta el is like giving yourself a se- cond chance to do something you do like. Anybody can further their education if they want to." Both Hilda and Linda are hoping to find office work ifter they graduate. Both are familiar with computers and have been working as teacher's aides in the computer classroom at Huron Centennial School.. "I've worked in a factory and I think I've) had enough of it," said Linda. AIMING FOR COLLEGE Donna Costello quit highschool in 1977 while in Grade 11. "It was March, the teachers were on strike, and my parents weren't pressuring me to wait it out. I decided to take a job at the shoe factory and at 17 was making steady money, and I liked it," she said. "I never thought I'd go back to school, but then I didn't think Genesco would close and I'd get laid off." When Genesco did close Donna said she looked at it as a sign for her to do something else. "I didn't want to jump from factory to factory, so I went back to school." And going back to school has been an uplifting experience for Donna. She has especially benefitted from the compulsory lifesidlls class. "It helps you (earn more about yourself and the values you place on different aspects of your life. You realize more about yourself and the people around you," she said. "It's built up my confidence and helped me to set goals. I'm thinking further ahead than I used to." Donna expects to graduate from highschool in June, but her plans don't end there. Donna has applied to three colleges, and hopes to be accepted into the Office Ad- ministration Executive program in Sault Ste. Marie in the fall. "I thought if I was going this far I might as well go farther," she said. "I thought, Chits is just a stepping stone to bigger things." Unlike other dropouts Donna said she doesn't regret having quit school. "I think I've matured more. I've found more of my goals, because I know what I don't want to be doing: Most important, I've come back (to school) without being forced." "It's been a really positive experience. It's a good feeling to know you can go back to school - that you have a choice. I didn't even think of college then, but I see myself in a different light now. I want the security of a good job, and to be doing something I want to do, and not something I have to do for lack of a Grade 12 education." GRADE 8 EDUCATION It's been 30 years since Pat Carpenter of Vanastra left school. A wife, a mother and a gra dmother too, Mrs. Carpenter said she decried to return to school because "you just can't find work with a Grade 8 education". "I've worked at a lot of places - in offices and factories, but in those days you Could get through without all the education. Now they (employers) don't want to look at you unless you're educated," she said. When Mrs. Carpenter enrolled in the adult day school she wasn't at all sure she could learn, especially after her lengthy absence from school. But she decided she had to try. "I feel just great now. It's been a real ex- perience for me. I've learned a lot," she said. Mrs. Carpenter noted when she first look- ed at the math she wanted to know what language it was. "I didn't have a clue. But then, what they're teaching kids in Grade 6 today, they weren't even teaching in Grade 7 and 8 when I was a kid." "When I married young I pretty well felt that was what I was here for. Now I've started achieving for myself again -and it's a real upper. Going back to school has done much more for me than give me an education." "I really think I'm a changed person since I've come here. I look at life different- ly. I'm more aggressive and I stand up for myself more - I don't know if that's for the good or the bad, but I'm doing it anyway." A LOT OF REWARDS Adults who have returned to school have found their lives enriched by the experience. "What we see is an ever increased sense of self worth and confidence, that enables them (the students) to make another change. And, the more changes one makes the easier it is to make other changes, and the easier it is to go forward," said Mrs. Weber. "Suddenly," added Mrs. Lentz, "there are bigger frontiers. Horizons that were very immediate now start to go out. Our folks (adult students) are finding they're able to experience a lot more things through the growth of their confidence." "The whole idea of the program is to not only allow adults the chance to get their missed education, but to build their self esteem," added Mrs. Weber. "They might not get that if they are tak- ing a correspondence course, isolated at home." Canada Employment will fund the educa- tion of 25 adults per year at Central Huron Secondary School, and will give returning students with children, a child care allowance. Anyone who does not qualify for government funding is still more than welcome to attend classes. Students attend various combinations of hours, on various. days of the week. RSP INVES'VIENT ADVICE ISCLOSEATHAND. Learn how you can build capital for a secure financial future with a DS Partnersbf» RSP. Attend a free seminar in your arca hosted by Dominion Securities. Y( ull also receive a FREE 66 PAGF. TAX PI.ANNIM; (;i T1)E prepared by Touche Ross. 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