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THE ERA DAVID HASKELL York Courtly Since CARTER We must press for trains on the right line The longawaited announcement of a north south train commuter service was made this week Federal Transport Minister Don said his ministry would provide or a trial train commuter service from the north to downtown Toronto In making the announcement HP John Roberts emphasized that this would be only a trial service and once the was gone the service would be over He also emphasized that if the entire 000 was not used and the service proved to be both popular and profitable then it would be continued indefinitely and improved That statement by Mr Roberts is the crux of the matter The trial service can be proved lo be both unprofitable and unpopular quite easily The Federal Government in cooperation with the Canadian National Railways can do this by allowing the railway to charge an ox- norbllant rate for operating the commuter ser vice An low fare as well as ap plying high amortization costs against the trial eastern shore of Lake This line would serve the residents of Rich mond Hill admirably and probably nobody else Would the residents of Richmond Hill use this service to any large degree Probably not the Don Mill They would continue to travel to their jobs limited parking facilities These stations and lots could be pressed Into service Immediately for the trial service at very little cost But the Richmond Hill CNR line could not the residents of King Aurora and New market by any stretch of the imagination The northern terminus of this line would likely be located near Wesley Corners east in Toronto In their own cars by the traditional routes of the nearby Don Valley Parkway St and Highway On the other hand using the CNR line through Maple King City Aurora and New market would undoubtedly be moro popular And it would serve the people who really need and want a northsouth commuter service The Maple station would adequately servo the residents of Richmond Hill being situated a few minutes drive from that town It would also servo the heavily populated areas of Township and even Woodbridgo There arc also stations presently located at King Aurora and Newmarket complete with The CNR tracks there cross over a swamp and to make this suitable for passengers would use the entire the government is mak ing available Stations at Vandorf and Mount Albert arc not only out of the way but at the point of tumbling to the ground from age and r service would be an ex ercise in futility The Era urges residents of northern York Region who need and deserve this service to press for this route through their elected Mem- Old Ontario John of River lime Hi leering eld buildings Tl Elton Armstrong on Y Perk spent much el his sketching Ontarios lost dis- reeks is the home of St In which reserved lor The o free lo send yours All we is that you mcloje NEWSROOM NOTES lion Serious questions on education Does the education system mirror society or lead it Where is our education system go ing Does the education system do an adequate tabling youngsters to find meaning and of Educations special public meeting last week And for a number of reasons I found myself engrossed in the problem of values In the scho ol system A hundred or so people showed up for the meeting and along with the 18 trustees divided up Into discussion groups My group proved to be interesting and oddly enough found myself taking part in the discussion Board chairman Ross stated the reason for the meeting it the outset He problems of morality and values In the schools The discussion that followed showed how dif ficult it might be to arrive at agreement as to what values should he Instilled in our young people Two extremes are available The one is an arbitrary set of values imposed by the school system the other Is no set of values with the children free to find their own meaning in life To my way of thinking there are perils in both of these extreme positions The difficulties faced by the board if it then the problem would ho nonexistent But our society Is a pluralistic one There Is no one set of values that all would agree on but many competing value systems And thus the hoard although it might see a need for providing a firm set of moral and spiritual values is saddled with finding a set of values Should they be Christian values Should they be merely ethical values What ethical values would bo applicable to children questions The problem that the hoard is faced with is a problem that permeates the whole of our society Unless the society has a pur- such a purpose aim or direction But man needs meaning in his life Child it In that sense the school system can only mirror society a public school sys tem which must be responsive to Ihc general feeling of the society around it If there is no prevailing set of values then the board Is In a perilous position If it tries formulate a value system Well what is the answer to this dilemma I know what meaning I have found in my own life And being an exteacher I appreciate the problems of modern educators Yet ninny peo ple would reject what I believe as irrelevant Hint last ever had Such lac ought I am referring to the school hoards Invitation to parents to participate in a discussion of com- l included In I tended courage participal learn that it is highly for annoying to attend such an affair and feel that the host was so obvious ly illprepared while Lets slop feigning there the group fell that BILL SMILEY Its called opting out something that is like a cool drink of water had that experience this very morning The story concerned Gene The name wont be familiar to most of my square old readers but will be to my younger ones if I have any is a Canadian songwriter who has made it big in the music world One of his songs Snowbird became a millionrecord seller for singer Anne Murray That led to a wave of song successes which in turn led to an avalanche of royalty cheques Well dear reader and youd better take a deep breath at this point is quitting not want the pressure of responsibilities it He is giving up his Interest in a company set up to handle his affairs and has asked that the royalties be used in part to help young He and his wife left wil probably to hitchhike through Europe Canadian Press quotes I dont know what Ill do dont know when or if Ill will Of course Im not naive enough to com pare him to Diogenes who lived in a barrel and nothing but a drinking bowl Some of But I admire turn his or her walk away ins At some point they take a cleareyed look their parents at the lives they themselves e living and decide This is not for me lifestyle that doesnt depend on status and the buck They will work extremely hard for some thing they think is worth doing Theyre almost invariably gentle tolerant and reasonably clean They are not bums but seekers after something they dont see In our society They use the same fourletter words the other group uses but unselfconsciously They are not blasphem ous but in a strange way religious Friends of ours have a son Mike His par ents despaired of him He had a fantastic hut kept flunking in high school because he was bored silly Never did finish school Bum med around worked a hit quit Then he Bahai He Is at present pioneering the Hes happy working hard and wants lo get some more schooling so that he can go back and teach Eskimo children His parents are proud of him Here was a lad charming witty handsome He had every opportunity lo go to university and would have made a mark in society He chose otherwise but may he making a bigger mark in the long run Our own son has done pretty much the same sort of thing He loo if youll pardon It is charming witty and handsome He has a great musical talent He Is highly intelligent After a couple of goes at university he quit He had his wild times and bad times Now he too is a He doesnt have a degree but he can talk rings around most university pro fessors in French or English He works at a tough job second chef in support himself He had a aimless He showed a genuine concern 1 societys future was perilous because competing sets of values can only ho headed for disaster at some point in the future A reprinted from the Globe and Mall written by an American politic scientist slat selfconfidence in its fundamental values instruct the young in them or enough common sense to do so is courting disaster the articles concludes Not only docs our society not have self- confidence in its values it does not have a clearly formulated set of values teachable to the young Values that truly answer the big questions in life and give children purpose arc I have found my meaning in Jesus Christ and a personal relationship with Him on a day to day hour to hour basis To see others floun dering around searching for similar meaning Is difficult when my answer is so simple yet powerful Throughout the discussion a voice inside of me kepi saying Isnt this what those peo ple want for their children love joy peace real purpose in life Vet who in liie group Who knows Staff sal just aside from the groups whis pering throwing in their home raising child- hut that since they id been teachers they our feelings Hi- tJkifi stand on morals len ing really the issue offer possibilities lets a shorter span of lime tokenism at its worst I Suggestions for im port with at these meetings arc as follows 1 it you moan it well enough in advance and i hit before the the iut frillies so that Iho topics to he em- are clearly tin- lou for dor should then rea brick the recorded item so that they may be a or restated of other discussion BILL GAMBLE An old friend passes away You recall the liny bundle of fluff to the lanky length of ivy coat leaping and bounding like he wrought which once you great him The only melted You remember how lie posed out on the front lawn like the Metro Mayer lion his stern gaze fixed on Ihe midd distance a mighty handsome figure Ihe home And you smile For you also that as a watchdog he was worthless He let anyone the house milkmen burglar salesmen anyone They were all the s the whole thing and go to Froblsher to pioneer Then he thought there were enough mission- George do it They deliberately become bums have no scruples whatever about begging steal ing accepting welfare They are dirty malodorous and blasphemous But often highly intelligent On the other side of the coin are the young people get off the boat for different rea- I cant see much future in trying to con vert to any substantial number of French- Canadian Catholics But Hugh has a peace and Belles York Our Belie this week is the former Wanda UcClun who be came Hits Dave Fletcher Saturday She is a former Hur on Heights student Newmarket High Prior to that she was a pupil in the old school She is sports Inn and is an was a member of the and is presently Ladies Auxiliary Br 4A by 5ti Robert White because you know that through thick and tit he was always your friend When the the world seemed to be against you depend on him to be by your side When stood in the splendour of a prince He you even when you couldnt find a shred trust in yourself lie knew nothing of discriml he didnt like you lie lohl you to face but there were few he didnt But old age and its infirmitte to soon and Hie game of life must end Fi a while yon avoid thns big sad ryes with of plea in them which seems to say think run my mile Please let me die Ami finally you say Alright old alright He walked to his death at one oclock p and in those last fleeting moments you got reeling that somehow he his head and looked back And you get a sudden feeling of reproac and you wonder recalling the words of You feel older lonely and suddenly depriv fill the emptiness you feel The only solace you find is that you ga him a warm place to sleep food to eat an abu dance of love and attention and security fun You even gave him an identity Then suddenly you realize that there is thing left to give him except perhaps