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r Returns to School After 16 Years BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO, NOVEMBER 7, 1979 SECTION TWO Mature student, Jo-Anne Mehring, a 33-year-old Bowmanville homemaker (foreground) takes typing as one of her subjects toward a Grade 12 diploma at B.H.S. Jo-Anne sorts out a chemistry problem on the blackboard along with regular students. "I should have stayed in school" is a well worn phrase. Thousands of people across the country are floundering in a sea of unemployment. Lack- ing adequate job qualif- ications in a flooded employ- ment market leaves many unable to snag a job. Generally speaking, employers today want specialists. With no credentials, even an interview is unlikely. Employers can afford to be fussy since there are legions of unemployed from which to choose. Then there are those who dropped out of school and did manage to secure a job only to later find it was not what they wanted or their full potential was not being realized. For some, quitting school means the achievement of short term goals like buying a set of wheels, having a few bucks in their pocket or buying a wardrobe of fancy duds. After a few maturing months or years of toil in the work-a-day world, those short term goals sometimes cease to look so appealing. Long term achievement and personal fulfillment suddenly take on a new perspective. Not completing a secondary or post secondary education is viewed by some as water over the proverbial dam. One such person who is not content to sit and cry over spilled milk is Jo-Anne Mehring, a 33-year-old Bow- manville mother. She is one of the 1230 students who registered at Bowmanville High School in September. Part way through Grade 11, Jo-Anne quit school in 1963 and admits she had her priorities a little mixed up at that time. Returning to school as one of B.H.S.'s mature students, Jo-Anne is aiming for a Grade 12 diploma and following that, she hopes to take a laboratory technicians course at Durham College. Combining ber role as a homemaker, mother of a teenage son, and part time cashier at a local grocery chain, with returning to high sçhool is not an easy row to hpe but Jo-Anne is determin- ed. "The sad part of the whole thing," she said, 'is that if I had stayed in school all this would not be necessary now." In an interview with Jo-Anne on Friday, while accompanying ber to three of ber Grade 12 classes, chemistry, math and, typing, she said she is still intimidated by the whole high school scene. As an onlooker I saw that it takes real intestinal fortitude and dedication to a goal to do what Jo-Anne is doing. She is a brave lady who realizes it's never too late to try to rectify a mistake. It's even no longer unfamiliar to read about senior citizens returning to high school or university for a degree and nine times out of ten they graduate with flying colors. When asked if it was difficult to get her brain in gear after such an academic lay-off, she responded it was, expecially in subjects like chemistry where you forget all the background material you once knew and have nothing to draw from. Vice-principal at B.H.S., Charles Clarke, had many positive comments to make about the mature student. "We have had four or five a year for the past few years and we treat them exactly the same as regular students," he said. "We very much encourage anyone wishing to complete their education to'do so and we have, in the past, put an advertisement to this effect in the newspaper," stated the vice-principal. "Mature studerits are more willing to participate in classroom discussions there- fore creating a more mature exchange of ideas," explained Mr. Clarke. "These mature students add another dimension to the classroom and, of course, we experience no discipline problems with them." "By the very fact they have returned to school, mature students have a beneficial effect on regular students," said Clarke. A potential drop- out may have second thoughts about the seriousness of education when they see others returning for a diploma, explained the vice- principa. Summing it all up, Mr. Clarke said B.H.S.'s experience with mature students has been a very pleasant one to date. After attending night school last winter Jo-Anne found she liked it and made ber decision to enroll in regular school in September. "Because of my age I was very nervous about returning," she said. With seven weeks of school behind her she makes ber way about the halls like a pro, not looking unlike the rest of the regular students. Chemistry was the first class to which I accompanied ber. Trying to put myself in Jo-Anne's shoes I listened to chemistry teacher, Mr. Austin's instruction and though I once passed this Grade 12 subject, it all sounded like Greek to me now. About the only thing I could Chemistry teacher, Grade 12 diploma will Durham College. readily recall was the symbol H20 for water. Not terribly proud of myself, I saw what Jo-Anne was up against and I silently gave her a lot of credit. For anyone who has been away from the educational system any length of time, a lot has changed. For instance, the chemistry lab is most impresively equipped and teachers can utilize a modern line of sophisticated instruct- ing aids. Though not disorderly, student attitute in class is extremely casual. "Nobody says "Sir" anymore when addressing a teacher and the whole thing is far more open," stated Jo-Anne. "It flabber- gasted me in the beginning the way students speak up to teachers," she said. "When I went to school teachers gave their opinions but now it's the other way around." Although blue jeans are still a very prominent part of the student dress code, Jo-Anne says she thinks the pendulum is swinging back to "dress- up.1 Attempting to absorb some bit of knowledge from the 40 minute chemistry class, Prm happier now knowing that hydro fluoric acid (HF) is a clear colorless liquid which must be stored in a plastic contained because it eats glass. Regular student reaction to the mature student can be Don Austin, offers Jo-Anne instruction. Securing a allow her to pursue a laboratory technician course at summed up in one word, "indifferent." A buzzer signals the end of the chemistry period and Jo-Anne leads me to the math class. Her enthusiasm for algebra equations far surpas- sed mine since it bas always been my nemesis. Contenting myself to observe, I stoicly accepted my mental block against math. Quite the opposite was true of Jo-Anne. Her math teacher, John Kreisz, disclosed she was his top student. The point to be taken here is that a number of years away from school does not rule out the possibility of academic performance. Typing was the last of Jo-Anne's morning classes. Students positioned themselves at modern typewriters and began a five minute warm-up. Again Jo-Anne looked just like one of the group. Mature students have a built in appreciation and respect for educational aids like the typewriters because their quality is far removed from those used a few years ago. How things have changed since Jo-Anne attended Listowel High School in the early sixties. Influenced also by the fact her father is a high school teacher, she bas àlways feit she fell short of achieving her maximum canability. Coping with five days a week as a student and a seven day week as a homemaker, Jo-Anne stated, "I get panicky with the schedule at times but I like it." The road to suitable employ- ment is paved with education and though Jo-Anne didn't take the direct route, her "better late than never" attitude has her on course now. New Vice Principal Takes Over at BHS Urges Careful Con sideration Of Subdivisions Mary Ellen Beamish, the new vice principal at Bowmanville High School. Mrs Beamish was appointed to the position bv the School Board last Thursday. She is a former head of girls' piysical education aid heaith at Port Hope High School. The Northumberland and Newcastle Board of Education should look carefully before it leaps towards approving subdivision developments, a local trustee suggested last week. Speaking to fellow-trustees at their regular meeting,-in Cobourg last month, Bill Uarman said he was concerned that if all proposed subdivisions are proceeded with in the Town of Newcastle, "we're going to be in dire straits." Mr. Carman said he believes the school board should express its concern to the Town of Newcastle over the extra school accommodation and transportation that will be demanded due to subdivision developments. He also said that he is concerned about the costs that must be paid to secure school sites in new developments. However, Jim Bird, business administrator for the School Board, suggested that growth bas not beenas rapid as expected. "We have subdivisions we thought would be populated by now that are still empty fields," he said. He suggested that if growth continues at its present rate, we'll not need another school until the year 2000. The discussion on subdivisions in the Town of Newcastle was sparked by an application for an 84-lot single family subdivision north of Hampton and south of the sixth concession. Rather than a routine statement that the Board of Education bas no objection to the development, trustees decided to table the issue for a report and discussion at a future meeting. BUY GARBAGE RECEPTACLES FOR BOWMANVILLE Newcastle's public works committee is recommending a $2,200 expenditure to keep downtown Bowmanville spic and span. At a meeting Tuesday, October 30, the committee voted to approve the purchase of 20 garbage receptacles at a cost of $110 each. The commit- tee was told that half of this cost will be borne by the downtown business improve- ment area. The municipity will provide the remainder of the funds. Achieving the highest mark in all year two shops at Bowmanville High School netted Mark Roberts, Bowmanville, (centre) the tronhv shown and a cris $100 bill. Donor of the prize was Bill's Glass and, Mirrors, 7 Division Street, and the presentation was macle at the high school recently. From left: Rolly Fobert, Director of the Ministry of Education, Senior and Continuing Education Branch; Mark Roberts; Earl Wolff - B.H.S. Principal.