A6 - Friday, June 29, 1984 - North Shore News Stick waving he background to the bitter confronta- tion between West Van School Board and its teachers may appear complex but the essence of the dispute is simple: in con- tention is the right of the trustees to manage the school system in what they believe to be the best interests of the community that elects them. The gut issue is whether seniority or com- petence should determine which teachers are retained when budget cuts force layoffs. After lengthy negotiations aimed at reaching a reasonable compromise on the question, the West Van Teachers Association con- tinues to place greater emphasis on seniority exemption than the School Board majority regards as workable. The Board wants the flexibility to keep competent teachers -- even, if necessary, at the expense of more senior ones. AS a result, the WVFA is talking of job action and the B.C. Teachers Federation has declared West Van “‘hot’”’ (thereby effective- ly preventing the hiring of any new teachers). If the conflict isn’t resolved, back-to-school this September could be a rough ride for all concerned. Right or wrong, the trustees reached a legitimate management decision. If the voters disagree with it, they can discipline the Board at the next election. Otherwise it must be assumed that the community supports the Board’s stand. That’s the way local control of schools works in our democratic system. It is not for the Board’s non-elected employees to thwart the system by waving a big stick at students and their parents. ‘Wing it’ time? ne way or another we’re in for more beli-tightening. The old way is to prop up the dollar with high interest rates, which bring inflation plus unemployment. The untested way is to let the dollar float, creating export sector jobs but hiking living costs through dearer imports. The only cer- tainty is that the old way DOESN’T WORK. Is it time to try winging it a little, Messrs. Bouey and Turner? FOE VOICE OF SUNT TNS AND WEST VANQOUVER north shore news GUMBAY - WEDNESDAY - FHUEDAY Display Advertising 980-0511 Classified Advertising 986-6222 Newsroom 986-2131 Circulation 986-1337 Subscriptions 980-2707 1139 Lonsdate Ave., North Vancouver, 8.C V7M 2H4 Publisher Peter Speck Editor-in-Cnhiet Noel Wright Classified Manager Val Stephenson Associate Publisher Advertising Director Robert Graham Tim ft eancis Personnel Director Bernt tHithard Circulation Director (sill Mec Caown Production Director Cohes Johason Photography Manager Vertey PMeterrs, North Shore Newa. toundeud on 140 a ae Independent nubian Hewnpape: and Qualified under Schedule Wi tant dH Parcageaph I of Ihe tactse Tan Act 9 published each Wednesday friday and Sunday by Noth Shoce brae Progs (td aad disttibuled to avec, door on the North hhore Second Clash Mat Hogistration Number: 1665 Entire contents « 1084 North Shore Free Prose Ltd All rights reserved Subscepllans North and Wost Van ouve: $e prerr yevanr MAesthecagy ater. availiable On request No responsibilty acc aptad lor Hecate ed ManuvsEcipts and pictures which showi be ane addrensed onvelopt Member of the B.C. Press Council fered | 66,666 (average Wednenday Gi. VISION Vaiday & Sunday) Soy SIN - es THIS PAPER IS RECYCLABLE PAO cae tea beray Cparnerd bey a starry At Yy last, Canada g ets its own encyclopedia DMONTON PUBLISHER Mel Hurtig recently told assembled writers at the Cana- dian Authors’ Conference in Calgary that he expects to have his new Canadian encyclopedia ready by July I, 1985. On that date the Lieutenant- Governor of Alberta will present a copy to the Government of Canada. When Hurtig was struggl- ing to obtain financing for a new, up-to-date all-Canadian encyclopedia, it was the government of Alberta that provided seed money of $3.4 million and promised another $600,0000 to put copies into schools and librames across Canada. A large loan was still necessary to cover the operating expenses of such a large undertaking. After be- ing turned down by three ma- jor Canadian banks, Hurtig finally obtained funds from the Canadian Commercial Bank in Edmonton Hurtig, one of the foun- ding members of the Com- mittee for an Independent Canada, has not changed the ideas that ied him to support that concept’ He stall believes that Canadian education is lacking, that Canada ts sell. ing Out to a new wave of con tinentalism, and that we are being overwhelmed by a wave of popular culture from the United States. In surveys made among Cirade I! and 12 students he found a frightening lack of knowlege of things Cana. dian, and in) some. school hbraries he found very few Canadian books - in one school as few as thiee Ex- posed as our young pcople arc to a flood of American television, music and printed matter, how, he asks, can he cxpect to remain a scparate country? It was the frustration of cleven years of trying to stem RUTH SCOTT PHILP the tide of internationalism by speeches, debates, research and petitions that led Hurtig to try another method of focusing the in- terest of Canadians on their own culture. Producing a Canadian en- cyclopedia is a monumental task but Hurtig has proved equal to it. The birth pangs and subsequent growth of this project make a fascinating story. Experts in every field of knowledge have been recruited from al] over Canada to research and write articles. Facts are checked and rechecked; material is criticised by several people to make sure no inaccuracies or undue bias creep in. Where it is impossible to eliminate bias altogether on contentious issues, both sides of such an issue will be reflected. Four editors are commis. sioned to check on all ar- ticles, and over 95 per cent of these articles are signed by LETTER OF THE DAY Let's see Ringette at the Winter Games Dear Editor bt understand that a decision was made not to mctude Ringette in the 1987 Canada Winter Games in ¢ ape Breton, 1 am very disappointed that Ringettc has not been included once again. Will the Canada Winter Games ever include this truly Canadian sport? Since Ringette is a mayor Canadian team sport that was con ceived iw Canada, developed by Canadians and ts played by thousands of females in the winter, tots hard to believe how overlooked Ringctic Muld be s0 continually 1 fecl more faith in Canadian concepts and ideas should be displayed, especially since Rangette has become increasingly popular in other Countries We can only hope this decision will be reconsidered and that we will get a chance to sce this exciting game played an the 1987 ( anada Wintcr Games fAsa Valleau North Vancouver the author. Hurtig first envisioned the encyclopedia as one large volume, but it will now com- prise three volumes of 2100 pages, three million ' words, with illustrations and maps in colour. All work is being done in Canada — printing, binding, assembly and publishing. The most advanc- ed computer technology is being used; publishers from the United States came to look and went home impressed. One purpose, besides hav- ing a product that ts as ac- curate and up to date as possible, was to keep the price low. Whereas a similar encyclopedia would usually sell for at least $450, the governmeny grant will make it’ possible to sell these volumes for $175) after publication Meanwhile, some 130,000 sets will be sold at a= pre- produchion price of $125 to repay the bank loan It is estimated that a stmilar set in black and white would sell in Japan for over $700 An encyclopedia of course is never finished Ten months before the first edition comes out the second will be started lo paraphrase Hurtig, Cret- shy will have set new records, we will have a new Prime Minister, new books and musi wall be written it ots anon going project’ He enva- sions the ume, perhaps ten years from now, when the Canadian Encyclopedia will take up one side of a video laser disc Hurtig is taking a= great financial risk in) producing this new encyclopedia, but it will be worthwhile if he can tnake Canadians more con scious of ther idenuty See pago A7