WITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1985, PAGE 23 At Henry High.... Stay hi school. Dryden telis local students fly MARC VINCENT Free Preus Staff The message was clear - don't drop out of higb school, it isn't wor; th it. Former NHL star goalkeeper, Ken Dreyden, went to great iengths to prove to students of Henry Street Hlgh Scbool last Wed- nesday morning tbat tbose students wbo drop out of scbooi at 17 or 18 years old wili suffer in the end and join tbe long ranks of tbe unem- ployed. A lot of students drop out because tbey want a car, stereo or their own apartment or because they are bored witb scbooi. They end up witb littie if any education and then three or four years down the road can't find a decent job because they are passed over by employers wbo are looking for college or university graduates. Dreyden, wbo retired from the NHL in 1979, is now the Ontario Youtb Commissioner. As part of is job be travels to high scboois througbout tbe province to impress upon students to stay in school. In a simple, yet effec- tive demonstration, Dreyden sbowed the gathered students that only 22 per cent of higb school students go beyond grade 12. In the worst cases, Dreyden told the stud- ents, someone drops out from scbool takes a job at a gas station and for a few years drifts from job to job. In the end the individual becomes unemployed, spends bis days sleeping and al nigbt watching television, sometimes becoming involved in drugs or alcohol. Dreyden used the demonstration of asking for volunteers and presenting them as exaniples of student behaviour. "It's bard to keep student's attention for too long and this makes it seem real." be said. In surn, Dreyden told the students, "Tbere is a large worid beyond your control and your best cbance is to stay wbere you are and do wbat you are doing -- stay in scbool." Whitby resident' becomes a foster parent A special commit- ment has been made by a memnber of tbis corn- munitv. Local lady's foater child Maureen Fairman of Whitby, bas become a Foster Parent. Tbrougb Foster Parents Plan of Canada sbe bas "adnp- ted,, littie Ni Wayan Seni of Balil, Indonesia. Fairman's smaii mon- tly contribution brings beip to tbe Foster Cbiid, ber family and the community. Tbe objective is not dependency, but to belp tbe famiiýy become in- dependent and self- supporting, tbrougb programs of medical and **dentar care, vocationai training, and counseiiing by social workers. Ail programs are adapted to tbe needs of tbe people, and tend to be concentrated in rural areas wbere tbe wbole community can benefit tbrougb tbe provision of welis, scbools, and mucb more. Education is stressed, and ail scbool- age members of Foster Families are en- couraged to attend scbool. Foster Parents are advised annualiy of tbe family's progress, and a regular excbange of letters builds a warm and meaningful reiationsbip. Tbrougb Foster Parents Plan, in- dividuais, groups and families in Canada, Australia, Belgium, Japan, the Netberlands, tbe United Kingdom, and tbe U.S.A. are currently assisting over 23,000 ciidren in 22 icountries in tbe Third rWorid. PLAN is a non- .profit, nonsectarian, inon-political social ser- vice organization of- ficiaily registered with tbe Canadian gover- nment. Ail contributions are tax-deductîble. Information on L"adopting" a child tbrougb PLAN can be obtained by writing to 153 St. Clair Ave, W., iToronto, Ontario M4V 11P8, or calling, toli-free 'anytimne, 1800-268-7174. D . THED