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

orono weekly times Second Class Mail Registration Number 6368 Published every Thursday at the office of publication Main Street, Orono, Ontario. Phone 983-5301 Subscription: $3.00 per year in advance WHIAT A MILLION $ Ontario Hydro now comes under fire having wasted a total of $1,485,000.00 that is a non-reclaimable amount. The sum of money, sizable in any league, has been reportel to have been paid to an engineering firm for plans for a m'ain office for Hydro. The plans were scraped and the fee paid. It may be such that it would, in the end, be more economical to lease rather than build. But there is more to the question. The waste of $1,485,000.00 denotes poor planning and inadequate leadership on the part of Hydro and the enormous sum makes- it all the more distasteful. Governments who leave scaundered such sums have gone down to defeat but hydro and its administration is immune to the general public. The general public on the other hand is not immune to the continued rising costs which hydro loads upon it. Poor planning and wasteful use of money could well be one cause of continued rising costs from Ontario Hydro. There are also other features of this latest story that are unpallatable. One being that a report states the Canada Square Corp. Limited had a nine month jump with plans over other bidders, one only reportedly having nineteen days. The whole affair denotes poor business ethics and a muddling of monies and for which mistake the general public will have to pay up. STUDENT - TEACHER RATIO Throughout the major portion of the Province salary negotiations between secondary teachers and their boards and in most _cases hung-up on student-teacher ratio and assurance of employment. The increasing of the ratio is a threat tohundreds of jobs which results mainly through the placing of ceilings for expenditures by the Province. The Province was forced to set ceilings as education costs were skyrocketing and in many cases out of control. The Province was justified in its action which should have been applied much sooner. No doubt the ceiling will place some teachers on the unemployment rolls but it cannot be expected, even for education, that the system go uncontrolled. No doubt teaching positions could well reduce through an increase in the ratio as well as a decline in overall enrolment. The taxpayer cannot be expected to pay salaries for those not needed and the profession is going to have to recognize this fact. The local board of education has raised its teacher-student ratio by a half pupil. It would be interesting to know how this affects negotiations. WHAT OTHERS SAY- AN APPALLING PICTURE The student dropout picture in the province's secondary schools is alarmning, but nobody seems to know what to do about it. It generally draws the same negative approach from the public as the drugs abuse fiasco. Everyone goes into their - shell. Fear and confusion set in, especially with parents. Meanwhile, thousands of youngsters - at an accelerated rate-continue to sever their ties with the education world at a crucial period when they are ill-trained and ill-equipped to head out into the world and make their way. The United Counties of Durham and Northumberland provide a good example. Their dropout rate thus far in the 1972-1973 school year has iot only set an all-tilse high, it continues to shoot upwards. It represented 11.9 percent for the year-period from October 1, 1971 to September 30, 1972. That mark, if the present trend continues, will be shattered considerably. A recent report published by the United Counties board of education doesn't exaggerate in the least when it says: "...there is a dropout problem." The report advocates a follow-up counselling service for dropouts, either through the school,or shared with agencies in the educational or vocational area. Many dropouts don't know what their next step should be, or where to get counselling on it. Some 900 students were interviewed; 36 percent left to get a job; another 30 percent wanted to get married, or were leaving home because of health reasons; eight percent for other reasons; six percent were failing tests. Few dropouts were critical of the school, although they said it had nothing new to offer them. They couldn't see education for "enrichment purposes," the report added, "but they were painfully unaware of the alternatives and opportunities available to them." Secondary schools have always had dropout problems, but they were never as serious as those encountered in today's society. Much of the trouble, of course, originates in the home. Children are not taught enough about the intrinsic value of education. They're left too much to fend for themselves at a time when they need stiff parental control. The United Counties report shows just how serious the situation really is. And it will get worse before it gets better. Oshawa Times ORONO WEEKLY TIES Wedn Fishing Season Opens $450 - U.S.A. Letter to the editor Dear Sir: As you know the first season of the Orono Badminton Club ended on Thursday 26th, April 1973, with a paid in full membership of 42 players. The long winter months were made pleasanter and more enjoyable to many adults in all age groups in Orono and the surrounding area who enjoy this sport. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Principal of the Orono Public School, and the members of the Orono Home and School Association Committee who helped make all this possible. They set aside two evenings a week for the Badminton Club to use the School gym from September, 1972 to April 1973. During this period many new friendships were made and everyone benefited by the exercise and good sportsman- ship that seem to prevail throughout the entire season. We hope that our request which has already been sub- mitted to both the school Principal and the Home and School committee for these two days to be set aside for a second season commencing September 1973, will be grant- ed. On behalf of the members of the Orono Badminton Club and myself I would like to say thank you to those who made it possible for the club to have the use of the school gym, and bring pleasure to many in the community during the winter months. E.M. Mercer CARE OF NURSERY STOCK Plants, especially those in a dormant state, are living organisms and require special care while they are out of the ground. The most important requirement is moisture, says D.B. McNeill, horticultural specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. In most cases, plants pur- ehased at a garden center present no problems. They are usually in good condition and if planted immediately should not dry out. Plants received by express or mail, however, can sometimes arrive in a very dry condition. Nursery stock bought this way should be examined carefully. If the roots are moist, the plant should be stored in a cool location such as the basement or garage until you are ready Religious Course to be offerered by N-D board A one-year course on world religions will be offered to year three students in second- ary schools in Northumber- land -Durham next year. The course looked so excit- ing to trustee Al Strike, that when it was brought up for approval at the board meeting Thursday he said he would like to take the course. '"I suggest that they offer the course at night school so that adults, such as myself can study it", Mr. Strike suggested. The course has been pre- pared over the last two years by heads of history depart- ments and interested teachers from other disciplines. A general introduction to the anthropolical approach to rel- igion would start the course and it would continue its studies through the religions of Egypt and Mesopotamia, Hinduism, Buddism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. to plant. If the roots are dry, put the plant in a pail or tub of water for about 24 hours. This will allow the roots to regain the moisture lost during transit. Ideally, nursery stocks should be planted as soon as they are received. If this is not possible, keep them moist and in a cool location. However, if planting has to be delayed for an extended period, bury the plants in the garden until their permanent location is ready. The aims of the course include the development of a sympathetic understanding of the meaning of different religions and their effects on the lives and thoughts of their adherents. Hopefully, the course will clarify each student's position visa-vis religion without tel!- ing him what specific view- point to adopt, and develope an increasing interest by the students in their own values as well as those of other people. The course also aims to assist each student in his quest for a meaningful life and encourage the practical appli- cation of those values accept: ed by the student. Also the course is designed to foster an appreciation of the You need never buy another muffler again! * Midas Mufflers are guaranteed for as long as you own the car, with free installa- tion at 600 shops in North America. * Custom pipe bending for foreign, antique and American made cars. MIDAS5 We instail mufflers for a living. We have to do a better 1j ob. Meet your Midas men at OSHAWA 116 Bond St. W. Phone 576-8111 Keith Tregunna, Brian Ishi, Terry Sutcliffe esday, May 2nd, 1973 2 arts that have their origins in religious experience. Superintendant of instrue- tion, Glenn MacLeod, sain me course would be made avail- able in those schools where sufficient numbers of students show an interest in studying the course. Where there are not sufficient numbers of students interested, the course would not be offered. Evening Guide HOUSEHOLD HINT Handy Towelettes - When your towels wear out - and isn't it always right in the middle? - don't throw them away! Cut off the ends, sew them together to suit your hand and in no time you have a handy little glove that can be used in a thousand ways around the house. Bet you can think of a dozen uses right now! VEN EZIA RESTAURANT Highway 115 and 35 % mile south of Orono PHONE 983-5651 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Specializing in Pizza - Meals Also Week-End Specials Septic Tank Service GENERAL PUMPING 24 HOUR SERVICE LORNE HARDY Leskard, Ontario Phone 983-5728 Building a House? or remodelling your present one? Then Contact Floyd Nicholson Phone 983-5049 Orono Orono Towing GENERAL REPAIRS Phone 983-5249 Orono DX SERVICE STATION Highway 35 and 115, just north of Newcastle Featuring: Premium Quality Products At the Most Reasonable Prices Stove 0il & Diesel 011 Available in any quantit Phone 987-4215 STUTT'S PHARMACY PHONE ORONO 983-5009 William C. Hall, B.Comm. Chartered Accountant Phone Newcastle 987-4240 ALL DAY WEDNESDAY and SATURDAY