[rm ---------------- -- b aby] "w I ES a Ex SF SR IMAGINATION One of the things that appealed to Valerie and I as we were looking for a place to settle was the community of Milford. The store, the church, the library and the exquisite setting of the village around the millpond. But despite the idyllic setting, Milford and its residents still live in the real world with its worries and concerns as well as its happy moments. Children still have to be raised fed and educated. With this in mind I had been discussing with Valerie an article by 25 professors from universities across Canada as we trudged through the frosty morning. It seems the professsors have found that recent ecntrants to university have not developed good reading habits and thus are unable to cope with texts and papers that others have in the past. In addition, they have not developed study habits, could not seem to grasp relatively simple concepts and could only think in a linear fashion. "I suppose you have the solution" said Her Nibs. "I think a a lot of the problems they outlined stem from a decrease in the amount of reading kids do. You know in the past how reading was important to us as children who grew up without television. We didn't have computers which of course don't require conceptual thinking and had to use our imaginations a lot." "So How are you proposing to correct the problem?" "I don't know, I'm not a professional educator." I= =a =i [ Paw Prints Pet Boarding I GROOMING SPECIAL During the month of May, Paw Prints is offering a grooming sale so your pets will be clean, comfortable and looking their finest. Call Paw Prints now for pricing and to reserve your appointment. 476-1218 | Quality Care for Your Pet... Peace of Mind for You! I IE IEICE IEEE IEE OER mm li uli "Neither is the Minister of Education" she pointed out. "Now just a minute" I said. "I recall the great sucking in of breath when the first non-doctor was appointed Minister of Health. Later, a non-engineer became Minister of Transportation and we even had a non- lawyer as Attorney General of the Province" I continued from my soapbox. "It seems to me that it requires quite a distinct type of person to make decisions that might have a negative effect on a group of professional colleagues. It can be done, I suppose, but it can equally well be done by a person who is an adminstrator or a business person. However affected groups always bemoan the fact if the elected official responsible for their activities isn't "one of them". If they persue this linear thinking then a convicted felon should be Minister of Corrections". "Yes that's true" chuckled Her Nibs "Set a thief to catch a thief!" "That's a good point" I said with a smile "but not likely one to be grasped by either side of an issue as a good reason, but I can't fault your logic, particularly in these times of financial difficulty." "Just curl up in front of the fire with a good book this afternoon" she said. "Agreed" I said "I'll imagine myself President of the United States as I finish Clancy's lastet tome Executive Orders." - John A. Jackson TELL YOUR STORY A Lasting Legacy for Your Loved Ones Professional writers will interview you and prepare your written biography - From $300. Gerald Walton Paul Kingston Whig- Standard Columnist (613) 542-6472 Dennis Walton Paul 476-7672