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a^Orono Weekly Timés, Wednesday, May 26th, 1976 Federal Minister WORKING TOGETHER IN THE COMMUNITY A special meeting of the Durham Agricultural Society is being held early in June to consider a proposal which in fact could well place a new building on property now owned by the Society. An interest group within the community of Orono is seeking a new arena along with a community centré complex. It would seem that, the interests of all concerned could well be accomplished providing co-operation does exist between the Agricultural Society, the Athletic Society and the Town of Newcastle. The present Agricultural Building has served this community well through the years both as a site for fair exhibits and as an arena. But its days are numbered in the continuation of this service. As an agricultural building it has been jammed to the rafters with exhibits and displays during the course of the annual fair. No -doubt more and better space would be an asset to the promotion of the annual exhibition. A new building could be a further step forward for the gricUltural •Society. . As an arena the building is less than adequate althotig it has served this community well over the years. A new building could well be a stimulus for sporting' activities in Orono. With the addition of a community room it play well be that jnany of the local organizations who now must look elsewhere to hold events and dances could then hold them in their own centre, a most desired accomplishment if Orono is to retain its identity. Mr. Leroy. Brown in speaking at the annual banquet of the Agricultural Society pointed to the desiurability of community use of agricultural facilities such as we have in Orono. He stated that the premises could hardly be warranted for a two or three day fair and then not used for the rest of the year. This point was well made and he further pointed out that community use of the facilities could well arouse greater interest in the community for the agricultural society as the facilties become a focal point for activities within the community. There is little doubt that the fair grounds in Orono would make the best location for an arena and sport centre. There is just no other site as suitable. • The key to success in this endeavour for both the Agricultural Society and the Athletic Association is an open mind and plenty of co-operation. The Town of Newcastle must also be involved in a real and definite manner for without them there can be no permanent melding of the other two Organizations. ■ There is no reason that the people in this area cannot meet this hurdle as they have meet others in the past to come up with a solution that benefits all concerned. IT ONLY TAKES A FEW , TO SPOIL IT ALL Reports of vandalism and rowdyism can be seen throughout the newspapers over the past few days when people took to the great outdoors to enjoy nature over the Victoria Day holiday. Tlisi problem is not restricted to any one area it appear to be throughout the country. Unfortunately camping areas do have a problem in keeping the peace and it has been reported that even though camps are packed on such holidays many are giving up the outing for the very reason that peace and quiteness cannot be assured. It certainly would be a shame if family camping took a swing downward. ' Reports from Sauble Beach area such as exist from the past week-end do nothing to encourage outdoor living,' Vandalism is also reported from the Durham area and thé Ganaraska River Conservation Authority reports hundreds of dollars damage to equipment in Garden Hill and the Port Hope Conservation areas over the week-end. Thqj-e is no explainable reason for such damage which only burdens the taxpayer with added costs and hinders everyone from making full and pleasurable Use of the many beauty spots Within this province. " ' Alastair Gillespie, federal federal minister of energy, mines and resources, attacked the press last Friday for what he called its "virtually criminal" criminal" reportings of nuclear contaninâtion problems in Port Hope. Speaking at a news conference conference called to answer questions questions concerning the government government cleanup of sites in Port Hope found to have high levels of radioactivity, Mr. Gillespie said the government wants to begin the cleanup by June 1st. Mr. Gillespie said Port Hope residents have com- . plained to him that news reports about the problem have given the town a bad name in the United States and in Canada. Some of the series that have appeared, he said, were "ridiculous" ... I would say virtually criminal. "Right from the start I've been anxiuos that there be full public disclosure on this matter We're trying to be as open as we can on the information side , . . but the capacity for headline hunters to blow things up surpasses understanding and is totally irresponsible. The minister said that the goverment is seeking a temporary temporary site within Port Hope to dump radioactive wastes from the Eldorado plant. Towards the end of the meeting a brief shouting match developed when an aide called the conference over. Councillor Lyall of the Newcastle council objected stating he had a petition to present to the Minister. Mr. Gillespie said he would accept the petition which was drawn up by a Newcastle anti-dumping citizens group, but the aide insisted the meeting was o-er. After a few heated words, during which Mr. Lyall told the aide to "sit down and shut up", the councillor handed the petition to the Minister. Han't leave It So Chance Be sure your home is truly protected by a good policy Call us now Mi I Ison Insurance Agency Office: Corner of Church and Cobbledick Street, 983-5032 You've heard it before: You've got to walk before you can run. It's true. So let's get movin'. 4} venant © poRTiciPacTiant Walk a block.Today. "Confrontation is loser's game:" Wells Confrontation-style leadership and the politics of militancy aren't all they are cracked up to be, when measured against what they actually achieve. That was the clear message of Education Minister Thomas Wells when he addressed the February conference of the Ontario Secondary School Headmasters' Council at London. Said Mr. Wells: "Confrontation, with all its implied and actual overtones of hostility and defiance, is a loser's game." ■'Sometimes it' achieves short term gains," he said, "but that is merely part of its allure, because confrontation in the long run is overwhelmingly destructive, . and ultimately ineffective." During the past year, the Minister reminded the principals, principals, "we have seen in Ontario some classic examples of the futility and destructiveness, not to say ineffectiveness, of confrontation." ' Over the past few years, he Thomas Wells: "Confrontation, with all its implied and actual overtones of hostility and defiance, js a loser's game. Confrontation Confrontation in the long run is overwhelming! y -destructive and ultimately ineffective." < i said, some people, have been led to believe that militant » challenge of authority is the way to "succeed. The more militant, - thé more successful the éndeavour. Harassment is the way to browbeat the opponent into submission. But, said Mr. Wells, confron- ; tation is for lowers. "We had better recognize it •fpr what it is, because if we don't, we àre, going to tear our school system'apart!" Confrontation, he said, is '"an enticing exercise. For many people wllo have been lured' to it, it is a new game- full of intrigue, and with overtones overtones of group power and manipulation 1 which some people seem to relish." In what one Toronto education education columnist called the best speech of Mr. Wells' career, the .Minister appealed to ' the secondary school principals in a broader philosophic vein as well. Dismissing confrontation as, futile 'and ineffective in a practical practical sense, he also underlined its potentially disastrous effects on society generally. "In a democracy," he said, "a personal individual rights are sacred. People also have rights both as individuals and as members of'collective groups, be they religious, ethnic, vocational vocational or whatever.. "Hqwever, there is surely a point beyond which a. group's perceived rights run counter to ■ the broader concept of public rights. . ,, ■ "All of us surely know that our present system of democracy democracy leaves a great deal of room for dissent, as ft. should. But it takes no great scholar to realize that dissent taken tço far in i'ts worst sense can ultimately lead t'o a breakdown of a society. "If our democratic system as we have known it is to continue continue to function in a healthy state, there must be demonstrated demonstrated a continuing and strong reshect for authority and a basic underlying allegiance to order. , * "And this relates tô our school system. , "Respect for authority is (learned behaviour/' And for those who find themselves in positions of authority, at'whatever at'whatever level, whether in government government or in a school or in any other entity, there is a responsibility responsibility to earn that, respect, insofar as it is possible for mortals mortals to do so. "Respect for authority is not necessarily a natural phenomenon, nor is it always a joyous, satisfying experience. ' Yet it is essential for the maintenance maintenance of order, and fpr the maintenance of freedom for the individual, and for the preservation preservation of our way of life. "We in our society cannot forget that it is. authority--, adherence to a set of rules which we design in a democratic democratic way--that creates real freedom. Freedom, is not ad hoc dissidence. Freedom is the right to express our views without without fear of recrimination. Free-' dom is the right to choose the disciplines that govern us, and that is, what authority is all about." "I am not talking about blind obedience," he said, "which -1 take to mean an unthinking yielding to the control control or command of others, because our free society could not have been achieved in this way, nor can it be maintained in this way; "I am talking about the fundamentals in maintaining a healthy relationship with, and an 'Understanding of, the existing existing institutions in our society. 1 'am talking about maintaining a realization that the democratic ( process pf refinement of progressive progressive change is 'much to be preferred, over the destructive thrust of confrontation and the vested-interest politics of intimidation,,at whatever level they are practised." Mr. Wells stressed that principals principals have a leadership role that involves authority, both within their schools and, more broadly' In the overall direction direction -and effectiveness of the education system generally. Without referring to any ' specific groups, the Minister described as a "crisis" in education education "the gap between differing views of leadership and the ' way it should operate," He said that if the crisis is not solved,' the institution of public education as we know it could be altered drastically, "I am concerned that all of us could find 'ourselves on a slippery downhill slope, unless "some level'heads of reason can see through 1,1 ie shallowness and futility of confrontation- stylé leadership," altering the course to .a more balanced cooperative cooperative kind of leadership.