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6-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, February 10, 1998 SCOMMENT_ t 4 ?18191MainSt F MitoneOct. L)[ 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Fax: 878-4943 Classified: 875-3300 Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver A.sciate Publisher David Bou Generual Manager Rob Kelly Editenr Karen Huisman Cireuluutio&n Manager Teri Canas Office Manager Tim Coles Production Manager The Canadian Champion, nublished twce wenkly ai 191 Main Si ,M i l i1 ,L91 4N9 (Box 248) s ofe J lin MetfidaId Printng, Publshing & Dstributing Lid. aroupofn suburban campa- nies wtoctr rcudes: Ajax 1 Pickering News Adeetiser, Barrie Adeance, Brampton Guardiar, Brhington Post, Cty Parent, Colngwood / Waaga Connectren, East Yorkn Mrror, Etoiceke Cariae, Geogetown Indepenrient/ Pton Free Press. Kingston This Week, Lindsoay This Week. Marktram Econemiot & Sun. Miand / Penetanguishene Mifer, Mssissauga News, Newmanhet / Aurora ru Banner. tNrthumberland News, North Yrkt Mirer, Oakville Beaver, ria Tntay, Ohawna / Whthy I Carinter This Week. Peter- borough This Week, Richmond Hil I ThernhilI auhan Liberal, Scabrnugh Marrre.Ubidge I Stoettville Trihene, Tday's Seniors. Adetisîng os accepted one the condition that. in the eent nfia type- grutthical errar, that pertion ot the adnertsing epace occepier Sp thee enennenus iter, tagether wth a reasenahie attnwaece ton signature, wil nt e chageti tor, hut the baance et the etitrement wsut Se paidfrai tutte applicable rate. Tht puhishen reernen thee ight te ca- egerize adeertisemeete or decine. *OUR READERS WRITE Ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure Relative to other centres nearby, Milton is not a very violent com- munity, through no particular virtue of the town save for its size. But there is violence in Milton, and it exists in local schools just as it does eisewhere. So today's lead article on the community page wouid probabiy be worthwhile reading for many of us. Framed within it are the com- ments of Stu AUtyn who studies the causes of violence in schools, and how to avoid as much of it as possible. Mr. Auty notes that schools today are generally more violent than they were 20 years ago, which is no surprise. Society is so înclined as weil. More people are disaffected in today's Canada, ethnic and racial tensions have been exacerbated, financiai security is not what it once was for many, and communities are often fragmented, exist- ing as such in name only withîn a faceiess suburban sprawl. In a circle of two dozen families, the number with a stay-at-home parent can usuaily be tabulated by counting on one's thumbs. In any gathering of adults one need only look a person to the left, n then to the right, to find a someone whose marriage will likely end in acrimonious litigation. For aIl that, though, as Mr. Auty stresses, an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure. The trouble with many of us is, however, we probably haven't made the former investment to avoid the latter cost. And even if we have done so in our immediate families, the ques- tion remains - have we gone that extra mile to make sure some- body else's kids, less fortuate perhaps, have something approach- ing the same opportunity? Let's face it, there are a lot of parents out there who need help with parenting, and a goo d many kids who need yet more assistance coping with dysfunctionai families. Without people reaching out to themn they'li fail through the cracks, academically, sociaily -- in al sorts of ways. As Mr. Auty pointed out, kids who don't get positive feedback in their home enviroeiment, plus opportunity there, wili find some sort of feedback elsewhere, and some sort of opportunity - an oppor- tunity that usually invoives flawed judgment. In an age of stress, pressure, downsizîng and uncertainty, it's with- out question hard for many of us to muster the energy to take a genuine interest in the lives of the younger people around us. And, to be sure, deaiing seriously and compassionately with the prob- lems of the younger set can be time-consumîflg and frustrating. Today, perhaps more than ever, it's tough to do yet today, perhaps more than ever, it shouid become a higher priority for ail of us. one need flot look to far to examine what happens when entire sectors of the community go off the rails, and the consequences for younger people. Look at almost any inner-city school in the United States, or, perhaps more disconcertingly, compare today's pattern of violence in Canadian high schoois with how things were when you attended. The disrepair into which a community can fali is everybody's fault much more so than it is some segment of that c onmutnity's fault. People like Mr. Auty remind us of what we need to do to avoid that, and we should be istening. Letters Welcomed The Canadian Champion welcomes leters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit, revise, and rejec letters. Mail letters ta: The Canadian Champion Box 248, Milton, Ont. 19T 4N9 Reader seeks house history Dear Editor: I have recently purchased the old concrete block house at 2 Third Sideroad in Milton Heights. It was once a grand oid bouse, but we have been unable to find any bistory on it. We do not even know when it was buit other than it is 70 to 80 years old. There have been extensive interior and exterior modifica- tions done on the property. We would very much like to know the original look of the bouse as we are planning many upgrades and restoration projects. Any help your readers might be able to give wiIl be great- ly appreciated. Please contact Mike Turner at 2MTird Sideroad, Milton, Ont. L9T 2W4, or cail 878-0607. M. Turner Milton Pud __ _ __fy Steve Nease Lt Students making a difference Dear Editor: Good news from Africa. Milton youth made it happen! Watching television can give the impression that Africa is fiiied with death and despair. Recent news tells of mass kiiiings in Aigeria and power struggies in Rwanda. But tbe media often misses the positive stories sucb as the work in developing countries funded by students from tbe Miiton area.MTeir participation in World Vision's 30-Hour Famine bas belped save lives. Despite the wars with their front page coverage, peace and stabiiity is reality in some panas of Africa. The official end of apartheid in Soutb Africa marked a milestone in the history of bumankind. In neighbouring Mozambique, millions of displaced peo- pie are retumning home and rebuilding tbeir lives after years of Civil War. Mozambicans are rediscovering productivity tbrougb agricuitural packages provided by local teens wbo support World Vtsion's 30-Hour Famine. Improved bealtb care saves the lives of millions wbo could bave died from easy-to-treat intestinal viroses. Life expectancy in Africa bas increased froro 40 to 51 years.Again, students from the Milton area bave invested in tbese programs tbrougb World Vision's 30-Hour Famine. This good news story does not grab beadlines. But, thanks to people who are willing to see beyond the flow of negative media coverage, we are making a differ- ence. Dave Toycen, president World Vision Canada