If you don't haVe time to read this article - call 894 — 8856. But, if you do - I'd like to try to interest you in a group of people that are presently striving to gain respect and acceptance in society — the mentally retarded. .
You probably have had very little contact with this group of people, but, hopefully, in the very near future, this Will change. But if they are going to become active and in- volved in society rather than Segregated from it, they are geing to need a lot of help and support. They are fight— ing against a long history of mistreatment and misunderstand- ing, of attitudes that told them not to expect anything of themselves because nobody ex— pected anything of them.
Their history as a group begins in ancient Greece, where the philosOphy of the survival of the fittest was predominant. The mentally retarded were con— sidered unfit to live and so as infants they were exposed to the elements to die.
With the coming of the Chr- istian era, attitudes started changing - very, very slowly. Up to the modern times3‘they.n‘ have haen'treated as a menace to society,‘to'normal‘people and to themselves; as an object of pity, therefore, not expec- ted to grow and develop; as a burden of charity, where the recipiant is given what is necessary to preserve life but no "luxuries" and is expected to be properly grateful; and as holy innocents, the opposite pole, where they are placed above mankind,~therefore not expected to take part in soc- iety as an active member.
Their present situation is more hopeful. They have finally been recognized as developing persons, as individuals grow- ing and learning. But, unfort— unately, their history, although nothing they can ‘changeior control, still affects and limits their life. Changing society's attitude is a long, Slow process. Meanwhile, time_ is limiting their chances to develop to their potential.
Sherwood Home plays a large Part in the lives of approx— imately forty mentally retard— ed children. Iswork there; but. 4 wouldn't want to live there, or be limited by—the day-care 'Tagram there. Not that we,
We staff, arenit kind to the tildren. We work very hard “36 give as much as possible. but possible isn't enough; Eithough a small institution, Sherwood Home is still an in— SEitution and minimum staff- ing ensures that they will miss out on a lot of experiences - experiences like having‘gime
7;: aims. ‘ — '3 -‘ “T
to play in the bath tub with a toy before being rushed out; like watching their parent make a cake and get to spoon out the bowl afterwards; like taking a quiet walk through a shopping centre; like going for a ride in the country. Sure, they get out - some of
/ them - usually in a large group where they can be_sure not to be given any individual attention except by the people staring at the disorganized group of children. (It's hard to spare one staff member for only one child.)
However, we're trying — and
where there is effort, there
is hope! We want Sherwood Home to become a developmental cené tre where the children will come, not to be baby—sat, but to learn and develop; where a child will learn his basic skills like dressing and eat4 ing and eventually move on up to social skills. 4/But, this is more in these children's futures than in their present. Meanwhile, we
' are trying to get organized — and we can use all the help we can get! _
Have you got some extra time? An hour or two every week, of even every Second week? Some
’“bfwydur’vOIunteered time can help balance out some ot the time that they have already lost.
I'll be glad to show you around.
Connie Duchene
THE CADRE, OCTOBERETP, 1974; PAGE 3
a..:nm'x-“ ' "’
2‘»
an. NOTE
we apologize for putting in this article unsigned, but it was specifically
requested by the author.
Don't let your mouth write a cheque that your'b‘ody can't cash!
From all the complaining and bitching that has been going on around campus, one would think that the Student Union executive and all the committee heads have been giving the entire student, body the run-aroundll Just where do all of you get off with all your complaints of. no communication and "diff— iculties" in attaining in— formation from your repre— sentatives??? Where were you when nominations and elections took place?? Didn't want to get involved? Playing the pin—ball mach— ines in the barn? or at the Pig & Whistle? Perhaps if G. Jl’s getting loaded? Although you didn't seem to be too interested in the elections last spring, or in any Council Meetings, you seem to be coming out of the woodwork with your compléints.
Maybe you are justified in some of your complaints.
perhaps mistakes have been made.-.Are you free of all mistakes?? Are you the
"perfect" human that you can’
dump on someone~who is at ' least trying to make your university life a little more enjoyable? Try sitting in the president of the U.P.E.I.S.U.'s seat for a while}! Try getting people to co-operate while you are attempting to get October Fest off the ground}! Try heading the Social Committee for a while. Perhaps you haven't got the time to put in, maybe your studies just won't let you get in— VOlved. nut then, didn‘t I see you at the Pig last Thursday night AND Saturm day night? Wasn‘t that you at the Barn all Tuesday afternoon, or was it Thurs- day???‘ ‘ Then of course we must realize that all the exec— utive, council, and comm- ittee headwpositions are
filled by the "elite few". Did it ever occur to you that these people would give up their positions without a wink of the eye to be rid of all the compl- aining and absolute nit— picking tactics of the maj- ority of the "non-involved" students?? Just ask any one
I of them and see what kind
of response you get!!! Then I forgot, you don't want to get involved!!! Sorry....
Just what would you do if the entire student connotl. executive. committee heads. and all the people that are
busting gflezr tacks trying to get things “n3ling on this campus decided CO resigni; oust think...
NO Pig & hhist;es, N0 movies, SO organization in the Barn, N0 C.S.U.R., N0 CADRE.....
Like the saying goes.... S-—T or GET OFF THE POTII!!{