The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

J "A Family Tradition for 132 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, May 26, 1998 - 7 What's to become of the arts? By Nicole Barton Drama, English and Art extra curricular activities have always been a special highlight throughout my aca- demic career, However, my school career 1s coming to a close and jt seems with my leaving, all of the English, Art and Drama activities that made school so enjoyable are slowly coming to a close forever. In grade school I was involved in many activities from literary guild to school play productions and as I moved up to high school I began to notice that all the school activities that I had enjoyed so much were slowly diminishing. Throughout my high school career I was involved with some very specific examples of extra curricular activities that were not sports oriented (swayed more towards the artistic side of the school curriculum) that were given little to no sup- port from the student's par- ents, school faculty and com- munity. Three years ago I was involved with the Sears Drama festival in the play "Scent of Honeysuckle." On our opening night, we did not have a teacher supervisor present. Only after we won the contest did we have any recognition or support from the school. Another example of the lack of support is just recent- ly I was involved with the Literary Guild. Through my Hilltop News Happenings and opinions gathered by the students of Port Perry High School involvement I learned that the school board used to put more money into the festival than it does now, so that the experience could be more rewarding for the children involved. When I thought back to when I was a child in the fes- tival, it was a school involve- ment that most children looked forward to much like many of the other extra activ- ities the teachers would involve us in. I feel that some (not all) teachers and parents have lost their spirit in keeping these activities alive. In order for our class to put on a festival, we had to go to the Prince Albert School. We put about two weeks of work into planning the festival, to make it a rewarding experience for all. When we arrived at the school the children were more than happy to interact with all of us. The festival was a smashing success and a great deal of fun. A thanks is necessary for Ms Ebbensen and her writ- er's craft class and also to Ms Fox-Commery and all her Grade 9s and a special thanks to Ms Talbot for orga- nizing this event, for putting so much work into this impor- tant event and making it such a success. Regardless of the wonder- ful success of the festival and the success of the Sears Drama festival I was involved in I feel that more things should be done to sup- port these important learn- ing and growth experiences. If more support is given for these wonderful activi- ties, kids will be able to enjoy all the activities that 1 enjoyed so much and made my academic career so rewarding. The activities really make a huge difference in all the tough years of adjustment kids have to face. They help to start and build friend- ships, they even teach impor- tant social skills. I really don't want some- one like my sister to miss out on the wonderful experi- ences I was given. I am scared that if things continue the way they are, she will miss out on all the fun school has to offer. To the Editor: Just over a year ago I moved from Toronto to the Port Perry area. Having problems with my cars muffler, I took it to the Port Perry Brake & Muffler Shop. I drove away shaking my head and smiling because of their excellent service and sense of humor. Knowing I had not been ripped off or given the run around is something I've rarely encountered in the "big city." Six months later I went back Happy customer feels like 'a somebody' for brake work and experienced the same prompt and courteous service. Thanks, guys, for making me feel like a "somebody." Bonnie Bradley, Little Britain You can fax letters to The Star at 985-3708 Editor's 'Notepad by Jeff Mitchell ROAD TRIPS, GODZILLA AND JERRY IT'S A SEASONAL THING: Interesting in scanning a number of community newspapers from throughout the area, how many columnists last week chose the long weekend traffic as a topic. Most of them took the oppor- tunity to vent the anger they've obviously yet to purge after God knows how many near-misses. I's sad, but true. The summer season and the week- ends we all love so much seem to bring on a certain bone-headedness on the roads, eh? Just check out Highway 12 on a Friday afternoon: Everybody's hell- bent to get to the cottage immediately. Even if it kills them. Come Sunday night, it's time to race home to the city, and heaven help you if you get in their way. Makes staying home kind of attractive, doesn't it? IT'S A SEASONAL THING (I1): They've started the near-perpetual ball game down at the Water St. dia- monds. You know: The one that begins in May, just after the water drains off the field, and ends sometime in late September? Oh, they're playing elsewhere, to be sure -- throughout the township. But it's the Water St. game that so captures the spirit of this ball-mad community. Fastball, = slo pitch, three-pitch, lob ball, whatever... the game has begun and it will continue through rain, darkness, heat and humidity. In the grand scheme of things, we're just in the top of the first. Play ball! CORRECTION: What a dunce. And given to hyperbole, too. In last week's column | ranted on about the new Godzilla (which has been panned by The Star's John Foote and all his colleagues), wondering if we really needed it, and claiming the old, subtitled version is preferable. (It's got Raymond Burr, too!) Well. The Japanese monster movies, as we all know, were not subtitled, but poorly dubbed. Stomp! Stomp! Rrrraaaargh! | HOLY #%$&*!!I: Saw my first episode of Jerry Springer a while ago. | was at a pal's house on a Friday night, and we were in a funk after the Sabres put away the Habs in overtime. He flipped around the dial and settled on this program featuring a panel of truly hideous people, all accusing, taunting, and, eventually, pounding one another to a pulp. It went something like this: 'Why you (beep-beep) if | ever (beep) catch you with her again I'll (beep-beep-beep) kill you!" Whack! Punch! Kick! "Beep!" What a load of (beep). Random Jottings by J. Peter Hvidster SENSELESS SHOOTING SPREES ON THE RISE took place in the U.S. last week - when a troubled 15-year-old teenager opened fire on a crowded cafeteria at his In addition to the rampage at the school, the boy also shot his parents in their home. This latest shooting is just one in a string of inci- dents that have taken place over the past few sters seem to be directing their rage towards their _ schools, classmates, and teachers and parents. Since late last fall there have been numerous similar situations: Another senseless shooting school, killing two students and wounding 18 others. - months throughout the United States, where young- In Oct. a 16-year-old student in Mississippi killed his mother, then proceeded to his school and where he shot nine students, killing two. "In December, a 14-year-old Kentucky teen killed three students and wounded five in the hallway of a high school while they were in a prayer circle. Last March, two boys, 11 and 13 years of age, opened fire on classmates in Arkansas, killing one teacher and four students, and wounding 10 more. Last month, a 14-year-old boy killed a teacher and wounded two students and another teacher at a grade eight graduation dance in Pennsylvania. And only last week, police in Missouri averted another near tragedy when they were tipped off that three Grade 6 boys had compiled a 'hit list' and were plotting to kil of school in a sniper attack, similar to the attack in Arkansas last March, ; All of this senseless camage has authorities, psy- chologists and the public stunned and trying to determine why this is happening. I's hard not to think that some of these angry, frustrated and confused kids are patterning their slaughter of classmates and teachers on similar | fellow classmates on the last day incidents taking place around the country. And many incidents of violence occurring today appear to be directly linked to the violence our chil- dren are subjected to everyday on our TVs and in the movies. This may not be the case in the latest incidents. but it makes me wonder how much violence effects a young persons mind, and if all the brutality and rage they see on the screen is stored deep in their subconscious only to be triggered when they . become upset or frustrated over some incident. It seems society has changed so much over the past couple of decades, we are not entirely safe anywhere. Even the old adage... your home is your castle... is not altogether true as break-ins are increasing at an alarming rate. As unfortunate as these incidents are, we must by not to let them take control out of the way we ive. We don't want to be afraid to let our kids go to school... sit in a restaurant... or in fact go to sleep in our homes... for fear some maniac decides to let loose with a hail of bullets. £150 At least that's the way | see it!