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rue Ell iott Barker Children's champion Dr. Elliott Barker, a psychiatrist who works in the Oak Ridge division of the Penetanguishene Mental Health Centre, and the founder of the Canadian Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, believes that the people he sees emotionally twisted as adults are the product of poor parenting. He also believes that the way to reduce the number of damaged adults is through education of young people before they become parents of their responsibility to be good parents during the critical period of life, pregnancy and the first three years. The Midland and District Rotary Club is supporting the society with a campaign. A half hour interview of Dr. Barker has been made to help publicize the campaign. It was screened for the first time at this week's Midland and District Rotary Club meeting. This column is drawn from that interview. Dr. Barker says that the greatest cruelty possible for one person to do to another person is to maim them emotionally, '"'to screw them up in their mind," so that they are unable to express affection toward another human being. The people who are sent to Oak Ridge for confinement are people who were neglected as infants, "parked here and there" by their parents, ignored, he said. The first three years are the most important years in the forming of a child's emotions, he said. Early experience is more important than late experience. During those months, the foun- dation of a child's capacity for af- fection, empathy, and trust are laid down, he said. "When a child cries, you don't park it in the next room for three days, and then it stops. It's a barbaric system in which a parent does not show affection for fear of spoiling the child. The question to ask is, 'Are we treating the child's needs"'? Prospective parents should consider the changes that having a child could force on them. The male-dominated value system of our society is a source of the problem; in many ways women have been gaining equality. 'The problems will melt away when (women) get an equal role," Dr. Barker predicted. Dr. Barker takes heart for the. future success of his society's aim from the example of the change in his lifetime of the public's attitude toward pollution. Thirty years ago, people are aware of pollution, but they were not concerned. Today every school child is aware of pollution being a bad thing, he said. The way to introduce parenting education in the schools is through the school boards. Parenting education should be taught to young people before they can drop out of school. "Tt's backwards to do it any other way." "I don't see anything else wor- thwhile to do'"' with my life beyond pushing for a change in the public's idea of child care, Dr. Barker said. The Friday Times Second Class Mail Registration Number 3194 and Friday Citizen Second Class Mail Registration Number 2327 Published by Douglas Parker Publishing Ltd at 309 King Street, Midland, Ontarlo./ 526-2283 75 Main _-- Street, Publisher: Douglas Parker Editor: Douglas Reed Penetanguishene, Ontario/ 549-2012 _ The Friday Times and Friday Citizen are distributed free each Friday to households In Midland and Penetanguishene Parker Publishing Limited also publish The Midland Times, Penetanguishene Citizen and Elmvale Lance each Wednesday in the Huronia market. Page 4, Friday, December 4, 1981 en = by Adrienne Graham Gardner Penetanguishene has an official cen- tennial song, written for the occasion by Allan Tucker. The song, "Cent Ans_ pour Penetanguishene"', was officially adopted by the centennial committee at their meeting last night. The premiere performance was warmly received by the committee, and will be repeated at the Proclamation Ceremony, Jan. 4. "Cent Ans pour Penetanguishene"' is a bilingual tribute to the Native, French and English contributions to the town's heritage. The four verses name significant sites in Town has anew centennial song Allan Tucker unveils _ 'Cent Ans pour Penetanguishene' Penetanguishene, and conclude "the children are buildin' your future." The words and music will be made available to Penetanguishene schools, says song-writer Al Tucker. Tucker, who also entered the recent Great Georgian Bay Songwriting Contest, had his tune "Nottawasaga'"' chosen as the Contest theme song. He has been writing "'seriously" for only one year, but already has a dozen songs composed. His music is gently melodic, and his words have a delightful local flavour. "Cent Ans pour Penetanguishene'"' will no doubt be heard and sung by many in the coming centennial year, Christmas with Harmonizers, -- always fun-filled occasion Citizen Manors and have the residents join School Concert, Georgian Manor and by Harry Brown voices singing ,as the Snow may or may not Huronia Harmonizers be glistening, but Sleigh swing into the Carolling Bells are ringing and Single Joys of Christmas. We are always en- thusiastic for this 'Singout Season'. It's great to visit the local Nursing Care Centres, in the old familiar words. The Local Chapter of S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. plans visits to St. Andrew's Manor, Huronia District Hospital, The Villa, Monsignor Castex Penetang Hospital. You're welcome to join us, just contact any Barbershopper for days and times, and share our enthusiasm as we share with others the 'Glorious songs of Old.' Hospitals, and Senior adults form anew club A new club is being formed in the Midland- Penetanguishene _ dis- trict to replace the "Parents Without Partners"' group which folded on Nov. 17. The new club, which is. to be known as "The Midland District Singles Club" welcomes all single adults 25 years of age and over. Anyone who is separated, divorced, widowed or _ never married, is encouraged to come out to its meetings and dances and perhaps with your support, it can become one of the most active groups in the area. Meetings are held at MSS on the third Tuesday of each month. Plan to come out and give the club your ideas so as to get this new club off to a good start. Membership fee is $10. per year. Its first dance, open to all single adults will be held at the Wyebridge Community Hall on Dec. 12, at 9 o'clock. Admission is $3. per' person for members and non-members alike. Lunch. For further in- formation. call 526-8964. St. John Ambulance urges awareness of safety procedures both at home and on the job. Accidents cause about seven percent of all deaths in Canada in a year, and they don't have to happen. St. John Ambulance safety oriented First Aid courses teach safety awareness as well as First Aid skills that save lives and minimize the consequences of ac- +4 4 ett | lls : , ih, . ISTIIAS GIFT -- TO ALUCKY CUSTOMER This unique Gingerbread Creche will be won by the ticket drawn on Dec. 23. For Your Holiday Festivities May we suggest some of PENETANG HOME BAKERY 29Mainst 949-3522 © nee SABRES SS * \ cidents.