Invest in Huron County Or Wither

My view on the current state of declining enrollment at F.E. Madill is simple. What Huron County needs is a training facility, be it trades, be it university courses offered, be it C.O.P.E. programmes implemented into the school that utilizes the space. Instead of RENTING downtown storefronts, for C.O.P.E programmes.


The school board thinks that the easy way out is to put twelve and thirteen year old children into the high school system. It's been done, but again it is an easy way out of declining enrollment at F.E. Madill. Blyth Public School is running at capacity, it has low operating costs, yet the board is intent on closing it to feed F.E. Madill. ARC was told to "think outside the box", although the die was already cast, why the board cannot "think outside the box" defies reason. It is shortsighted, and will be an obtuse choice if they do not come up with something more proactive and inventive.


Huron County needs to keep our youngsters and our adults in the county. As soon as a child is put through the system, they leave to post secondary education elsewhere. Why not give opportunity here? There is relatively nothing for adults, nor those who have just graduated. Why not offer university courses, that actually lead to something? Why not give local businesses the opportunity to retrain their employees and continue education HERE?

I have written about this on Facebook. In my high school years, I started off at Oakridge S.S., then transferred to Beal. Beal was akin to the television show "Fame". There was dance, there was automotive, cosmetology, and there was the Vocational Art Diploma.

In my classes (art), I do remember having adults in the course, not only did they give to the programme, but it was an opportunity for them to use the school.

My point is why not invest not only in our youngsters, but in Huron County itself? Give Huron County a draw, a pull, that brings new people into the educational system? Why just have what we have? Yes, Goderich does offer some courses, but North Huron could do the same.

Blyth has a bustling theatre, why not offer Theatre Tech courses through F.E. Madill? It is my understanding that some of these courses have been cut from Fanshawe College. In essence, my point is, make Huron County a place where people want to be, not a place that they have to leave once they become of age, or need a new vocation. Give opportunity, do not deny opportunity.

Young people move out of the county looking for more, and we could give some of them "something more" at a post secondary level. People who have lost jobs in the county have moved away or now travel an hour and a half to better themselves, why not better ourselves in our own county?

Here's what I wrote on Facebook in response to Michele McDonald's question:Post #1
Michele Manjin McDonald wroteon May 27, 2009 at 9:48am

The declining enrollement at FE has left them with space to fill. The board's solution is to put grade 7 & 8's in there, thus, creating space in the elementary schools and having them close. Then, moving our little kids around to the few that remain open. In some cases requiring portables to suport the excess capacity. Instead of putting our 11 and 12 year olds in the highschool, which is greatly opposed by the public, how can they appropriately fill the space? Let's brainstorm some ideas. Who knows, maybe we can have a delegation at the next meeting to present any ideas that could be viable


You wrote on May 27, 2009 at 2:56pm

In my humble opinion, the idea of separating Adult Education from the high school is a ridiculous waste of taxpayer money. These spots could be filled with learning trades, adult classes in art, or other continuing education programmes which Huron County is in dire need of. Trades of all kinds are needed. There is nothing in Huron County for Post Secondary Education. Goderich occasionally offers courses at a university level. Could this not be offered in Wingham? There is nothing for our children here beyond the secondary level, and maybe, we should steer our focus to not only keeping our young children out of the high school culture, but giving some culture back to the adults that live in the community? Welding, Electrical, Carpentry, Automotive, Computer Tech, Steel Workers, Sheet Metal Mechanics, the list is endless. . .Even the odd Philosophy Course would be a bonus. What about even upgrading skills~~companies love that stuff. Better their employees, better morale. It can be done. Actually, one of the high schools I went to offered these courses to adults, Beal S.S. in London, where you could get your Vocational Art Diploma as well as the regular and advanced courses. We had adults in our classes, it was a norm, not an anomaly.