Dear Editor:

As a teacher I have been cager
to hear how the government plans
to improve the teaching of the
“basics” in our public schools.

The changes that were reported
in the Friday, Sept. 16, News will,
I'm sure, be well-received by puar-
ents and teachers alike. I won't
begin to speculate though, on
where the funding will come from
to implement these changes.

I would, however, like to offer
some further suggestions, Not sug-
gestions on how subjects can be
“more rigorously” taught, but how
our children can increase their
learning petential. Education, after
all, is about learning —-not teach-
ing.

In my experience, any child
(barring students with true learn-
ing disorders) can learn anything,
regardiess of subject matter or
instructional method, provided the
child listens well, cooperates and
tespects his peers and his teachers.

If we expect our children to
learn the “basics” we must expect
them first to have these qualities.

These qualities are traditionally
taught’ at home, previous to schoo!
experience, and then reinforced
while at school.

If they are not taught at home
what the child learns by omission
is irresponsibility, disrespect and
disruptiveness.

These behaviors must then be
somehow untaught at school so
learning can take place. This
process is difficult, often unsuc-
cessful and uses up valuable time
that would be spent teaching and
learning “basics.”

It is a parent's responsibility to
physically prepare a child for
school with clothing, supplies and
a lunch. It is equally important for
parents to mentally prepare their
children with a good attitude, man-
ners and encouragement.

As in any profession teaching
has its share of winners and duds.
Again it is the parents’ responsi-
bility to become involved in their
child’s education: talk to the
teacher if you have concerns, ask
for extra homework for your child,

[KEN BAXTER
j LAWYER

room, observe in the class to
assess if there is a problem in the
learning environment, consult with
the principal over unresolved
problems.

Above all keep in mind that a
public institution cannot be all
things to all people. All the
bureaucratic changes in the world
will not create a perfect education
syslem. AS parents you must be
prepared to seck alternatives if the
system is failing your child.

In the case of “basics” alterna-
tives may mean half an hour of
quality time with you, your child
and a set of flashcards after dinner.
If you don't have the time hire a
tutor for some one-to-one instruc-
tion. The ultimate alternative, of
course, is to enrol your child in
private school where, by the way.
an appropriate learning attitude is
a prerequisite.

Our schools are really a reflec-
tion of socicty. As the modern
family has changed so have
schools, If family values were
more traditional our public schools
would already be traditional
schools. They once were.

V. Stubbs
North Vancouver

Dear Editor:

ft seems a shame that B.C. Hydro can come into
a neighborhood and indiscriminantly hack down
trees without having to answer lo anyone,

They don’t seem to understand that when they
cut down trees, they destroy the habitats of many
songbirds and small animats.

In asmalf park on my street, there stood an old
evergreen. It was a little misshapen from age but it
provided the only shade in the park.

One morning | happened upon its demise. |
asked the faller why the tree had been cut down,
und he said, “It was ugly.”

He told me that it would be replaced. | won-
dered how he could possibly replace a 200-year-
old tree.

Well, there is another tree there now, but Pve
seen more attractive wienie-roasting sticks!

On another occasion, f phoned B.C. Hydro to
complain that un entire stand of trees had been cut
down. T wanted to know why.

A spokesman said they were mostly cotton-
wood and other “weed” trees. He also said that
people in the neighborhood liked it when trees
were cut, because they were provided with free
firewood, which is very valuable.

I haven't taken a survey, but f believe most of
my neighbors would prefer live trees to firewood.

{don't understand why B.C. Hydro has such
wide authority when it comes to tree cutting,

They don't seem te have any feeling for the
Nora and fauna of North Shore neighborhoods.
‘Those of us who do must speak up before it’s toe
late.

S. Kelly
Deep Cove

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