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Page 6 Halton Hills This Week, Wednesday, September 9, 1992 EDITORIAL School's open: obey crossing guards Eee marked the opening of school for most kids in Halton Pile itis a time for parents to breath a sigh of set for teach- ers the headache of educating tomorrow’s leaders has ju: A For all of us it is important that we watch for children around schools and obey crossing guards. Kids heading back to school will -- for the most part -- “be excit- ed about seeing friends and not really paying attention to "rules of the road. while we have all been inconvenienced by a crossing guard during our mace it is vitals that we respect the important task the guards perfo: As sickening as as it my be ibe 23 full-time guards who work the various not only face physical danger but verbal apse ok motorists. e guards who “frequently subjected to verbal insults from impatient and abusive motorists,” Sergeant Joe Martin said. Itis abuse the guards do not de: guards — ee tirelessly — stand for several hours both id afternoon, in all kinds of weather conditions The in the morning an Halton Regional Police trying to ae the young people of Halton Hills get to and from school safely. Most of a ‘have no problem stopping to let kids cross the street and — if drivers would take a minute — it : usually quiet enter- taining to watch a group of kids cross a street Not only is disobeying crossing guards Maan itis alsoan offense. Drivers face a $78.75 fine when they choose to ignore guards. In fact, according to police, there are some maniacs out on the roads who deliberately take aim at the guards. It completely offends us to think me people would actual- that sot ly endanger the lives of not only the guards but their charges deliberately. What kind of person could possibly find any satisfaction from threatening the lives of children or hose that watch over them. the guards and will be mak- But the police cannot perform the task without the co-operation of the Publis eant Martin said, it only takes a few minutes for chil- dren Ao cross the road under the supervision of a crossing guard...”let them cross safel As one Lad put it drivers “see us standing there but it’s like we're not ther We are all Be eriye to make the guard feel like they “are ed. there” and that they are being obey Cycle helmet law: "idiocy" The following letter was sent to Halton North MPP Noel Duignan. A copy was sent to Halton Hills This Week for publication. Dear Sir, To coin a phrase; my Canada includes freedom of choice, the right to exercise my own common sense, and the freedom to cycle for Pleasure, without first being told, under penalty of law, how I must dress for the activity. The bill currently in Committee Proposing mandatory helmet use for cyclists is a major over-reaction to a very minor problem. Head injury is a sad occurrence when it happens, but isolating cycling as a major concern is idiocy! There are a greater number of child head injuries occurring in grocery store shopping cart than have ever occurred with cyclists. In fact, shopping cart injuries are the nation’s leading cause of children’s head injuries. Mandatory helmets will do noth- ing to prevent cycling accidents, in fact, a helmet will in all likelihood make a young child cyclist fell less vulnerable to injury and result in increased carelessness. The passing of this law will add yet another burden to already weary parents, who see their children’s Tunning shoes, jackets and sports equipment lost or worse stolen from their school lockers and change rooms. Will the teachers be responsible to see to it that our chil- dren are wearing their helmets when they leave school? Will they be held legally negligent and liable if a head injury occurs and they did not ensure that the student was wearing a helmet? The whole thing is ridiculous and T urge you to abandon the idea and leave the matter to individual choice. Like so many things in this country, if people would exercise common sense and a greater regard for each other, many of our laws would be unnecessary. I want the freedom to enjoy the one non-polluting mode of trans- portation left, unencumbered. I want to feel the fresh air and the wind in my hair. Yes there is an element of risk, but using common sense can minimize any real dan- re r. This bill is unnecessary and indeed, if passed, for the first time in my life, I will exercise civil dis- obedience and encourage my chil- dren to do the same. As my repre- sentative in the Lemsicnaey lexpect you to vote against this bill. That was then... This drawing of Barclay's Block was taken from the Historical Atlas of Halton and is included in the Esquesing Historical Society's "The Story of Georgetown book.Francis Barclay (1822-1889) built the store after he decided to venture into the dry goods business in 1848. The drawing is dated 1877. The store was built at the four corners in downtown Georgetown. Photo courtesy of The Esquesing Historical Society ~ to say they have other arrangement: Have you got a minute? Wheldon "Steamer" Emmerson Advice to persons about to write history — don’t: Lord Acton I see in the paper I am to speak at the Esquesing Historical Society meeting September 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church. Goodness, Lord Acton is proba- bly rolling over in his grave this minute knowing I’m ‘about to disre- gard his sage advice. I’m not going to write about history, I’m going to talk about it. So far eleven people have phones & and will be unable to attend. Maybe Lord Acton should have said “don’t write or talk.” However, it takes a certain aot of gall to accept an invita- ion to speak on a subject you know aahue or little about. I have attended many lectures, speeches, and talks where the audience — after a few minutes — have decided the speaker knew nothing of his topic. With me on the platform a smart audience will know right away. One night I asked if they could hear me at the back and a instant vont! said: “Yes, unfortunate- ‘Some wag once wrote “the fine art of oratory is making deep sounds from the chest seem like important messages from the brait If, you happen to come and you Getting ready for history, "hrumph" hear me going “hrumph, hrumph, hrumph,” you will know I am in read in the hometown paper that desperate need of an important makes life so interesting, it’s what message. you hear.” She knows I’ve heard a During the course of my talk, lot. Well, I’ve decided to let her — when any “hrumphing” starts, I dither and I’m going to talk. hope you will be kind enough to Who knows, maybe the sheriff give me a moment or two — or will serve me with a “bound and even an hour — to receive this gag” order. important message. Rebecca West wrote, “It’s a great By George, I can hardly wait for pity that every human being does the ninth to roll around. For years not, at an early stage of his life, T’ve longed for the day when I - have to write a historical work. Her would be free to address an audi- would then realize that the human ence unencumbered. race is in quite a jam about the Karen Hunter, President of the truth.” Esquesing Historical Society has kindly given me that opportunity to stand up and talk about old Georgetown. My wife i is in a dither. There is the old saying “it’s not what you I’m going to do my best on the ninth to give the true facts, but I’m not apes to let them interfere with ag IfI apes to think of one. Letters Welcomed Halton Hills This Week wel- or as aresult of space limitations. Send your letter to: fod address. Names will be with- The Editor held on request. Halton Hills This Week reserves the right to edit, revise, or reject any letters on the basis of factual errors, punctuation, spelling errors Halton Hills This Week 232 Guelph St., Unit 9 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 HIS WEEN Georgetown, Ont. L7G 481, and is 2 Halton Hills printed in Oakville by Q.£. Web Printing. runt peda) Bellamy pot balls Lyrae jet em : Scott Kline Marie Shadbott HALTON ered THIS WEEK IS INDEPENDENTLY OV OWNED & OPERATED. PHONE: 8; FAX:873-3918