. sith meal, your © alvaid tum it of 2 Lessons lessened HE IRRESPONSIBLE disruption of classroom hours for students in the North Shore school system continues. Already faced with such massive speed bumps on the educational learning curve as a two-monin summer break, a two-week Christmas holiday, a one-week spring break and five professional days, the loca] school system has recently had to absorb the absur- dity of two community interaction days, which have little relevance to curricula. And now local students are faced with further interrupted classroom hours to accommo- date unionized teachers and the fiscal whims of Victoria. According to a newsietter from North Vancouver District 44’s Capilano ele- mentary school, for exampte, contract con- siderations and fiscal restraint will force a dramatic change in weekly schoo! sciiedules in the coming school year. Because District 44 teachers must be provided with 400 min- utes of non-instructional time per week in biocks of not less than 30 minutes, the school’s proposed new schedule will include a daily five-minute earlier start time and dis- missal at 1:45 p.m. every Wednesday. Actual in-classroom time will not be reduced, according to District 44 administration, but education schedules and learning times will be disrupted and further devalued. The arcane math of the above formula aside, par- ents need answers to more simple questions such as: Why not invest the two hours from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in non-instructional duties? or How have we lost control of the education system to such an extent that we get less und less for more and more tax money and our children get less 2nd less from their class- rooms every year? The answers are equally simple: We need choice in education and public accountability of the system to those it is supposed to serve. ‘NEWS QUOTES OF THE WEEK “I didn't want to see him get eaten. I just started slicing.” Konrad Nygaard, who rescued a West Vancouver man from a bear by chopping the animal with an axe, on his actions. (Front a June 24 North Shore News story.) a good job.” story) “Cuz I'm broke, ‘cuz [need a job, ‘cuz my bills are due, ‘cuz Publisher cone Pater Spock Managing Editor. Timothy Ranshaw Associate Editor........ .. Noel Wright Linda Stewart . Doug Foot North Shore News, toundad in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper atid qualified under Schedule 111, Paragraph 111 of the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday. Friday and Sunday by North Shore Frag Prass utd and distributed to svery door on the North Shore. Canada Post Canadian Publicalions Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 0087238. Maiiing rates available or request. Submissions are welcome but we Cannot accapt responsibility tor unsolicited Material including manuscripts and pictures which should be accompanied by a stamped, addressed onvelope. Newsroom V7M 2H4 my kids are hungry and ‘cuz I do Squamish Nation construction company operator Larry Douglas, explaining the origins of his Cuz Construction company name. (From a June 22 North Shore News “It’s not a question of person- Oisplay Advertising Real Estate Advertising 985-6982 Subscriptions Classified Advertising rth shore wes SUNDAY SHrRDNEROS?:PmOay 1139 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver B.C. North Shora Managed alities but of facilities. it’s hockey fever, not curling fever, that is sweeping our youth.” North Vancouver District Coun. Janice Harris, during discussions on whether to retain the curling facili- ties at the North Vancouver Recreation Centre, on hockey fever. (From a June 22 North Shore News story.) 986-1337 986-1337 985-3227 985-2131 980-0511 Distribution 986-6222 Fax 985-2131 Administration —_— MEMBER ie ona SN" a SDA DIVISION 61,582 average circulation, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday) a Entire contents © 1994 North Shore Free Press Ltd. Ail rights reserved, Voter demands cannot be met ALL the time SHED NO TEARS for the cynically useless recall and initiative law now being fobbed off by a reluctant NDP government on the more than 80% of B.C. vot- ers who demanded it by ref- erendum in 199], To recall an MLA, the draft bill requires the signatures of 40% of the voters in the last election to be collected by volunteers within 60 days. To initiate a law, 10% of British Columbians in each of the 75 ridings must sign the petition —- and the legislature may still not pass the desired measure. A seasoned California organizer calls the bill “laughable.” tn the Golden State the signatures of a mere 12% of the voters, gathered over 160 days by professional col- lection firms, are needed to recall a state official. And even so, no Californian state politician has ever been successfully fired by the pro- cedure, But it doesn't matter anyhow. Recall und initiative are entirely the wrong way to achieve today’s sore- ly needed “direct democracy.” Far more effective would be three sim- ple reforms of parliamentary proce- dure, viz: 1. Mandatory free votes in the House by individual MLAs on all bills and issues. Party whips would be abolished. 2. The duly elected party leader would automatically become premier, but his cabinet members would be elected by caucus and could be fired only by caucus or with its approval. Sintilariy, caucus would control all government nominations to committees. 3. Private members’ bills would stay on the order paper until eventuaily dealt with in the same manner as all other bills, instead of dying — as so often happens — when the House adjourns. You don’t need to be a rocket szientist to caiculate the benefits these three changes would bring to the democratic process. Free votes would mean individ- ual MLAs could truly speak for their constituents, instead of being forced to blindly toe the party line. MLAs who earn the premier’s displeasure can nowadays expect to be penalized by being passed over for promotion and left as permanent back-benchers. Caucus control of cabinet and committee appoint- ments would eliminate this type of personal “disciplining.” And though private members’ bills might have to be rationed in some way, each would be guaran- teed, sooner or later, a full debate culminating in a formal vote. Given the new freedom enjoyed by MLAs, together with coopera- tion within the caucus, this could serve voters much more effectively than the cumbersome machinery of initiatives. Nevertheless, even this method of kéeping politicians accountable can never, alone, solve all the prob- lems of a highly sophisticated, techrological society. With so many different voices sounding off, a constant danger is the paralysis of all government action. SOMEONE finally has to call the shots or noth- ing witl ever happen. Thus, the very best “direct democracy” can hope to achieve is for the electorate’s voice to be con- stantly heard, loud and clear, in the cabinet room throughout a govern- ment's four- to five-year life. But NOT with everything it says being automatically obeyed! SCRATCHPAD: New in North Van? Then contact the North Van Newcomers Club for Woxien which offers a whole raft of activi- ties and social events to make you feel at home — call 929-7730 or 987-5290. ... West Van Rec Centre, 780-22nd St., needs sum- mer day-camp volunteers — if you can help, please contact the Centre (926-3266) soonest. ... David Patterson, North Shore’s gift to the hospitality biz, asks us 10 update local friends and business cronies on his latest job —- sales director for the Shilo Hilltop Suites Hotel in Pomona, Calif. Anyone like a spe- cial deal on his two-bedroom pool- side Palm Springs condo? ... From the Better Late Dept. an anniver- sary salute to North Van's Elmer and Adelaide Scott — wedded June 2-1. 1936, and now only two years short of the big “Six-Oh.” ... Happy birthday today, June 26, to West Van Kiwanian Ken Meintosh. .. The same again Tuesday. June 28, to fellow Kiwanian Ed Fockler. ... And many happy returns of that very same day to North Van birthday girl Barbara Miller. WRIGHT OR WRONG: Wten someone says “It’s the principle ...” you can be darned sure it’s the money. DAVID PATTERSON: bye-bye. P.S. — Hi there, Pomona!