6 - Wednesday, October 8, 1986 - North Shore News Boter Speck Noel Wrabt fireett (doer Publisher: Editor-in-Chiet Managing Editor Display Advertising 980-0511 Classitied Advertising 986-6222 Newsroom 985-2(3t Distribution 986-1337 Subscriptions 986.1337 News Viewpoint Cida Pitewteart Teacher managers est Vas School Board is having difficulty in deciding whether school principals and vice-principals should be allowed to remain members of the B.C. Teachers Federation, as at pres- ent. North Van School Board has already voted AGAINST their continued BCTF membership. Change is not imminent, but the B.C. School Trust- ees Association is seeking the views of all the pro- vince’s school boards for a position paper that could affect future legislation on the matter. Meanwhile, the BCTF has come out with its own position paper justi- fying continued membership. The nub of the argument Jies in whether principals and vice-principals are primarily teachers or managers. In general terms, of course, they are both. They obviously qualify for their jobs on the basis of their teacher training and their practical experience, often over a good many years, in the classroom. On promotion to their positions of authority, however, they equaily obviously assume a managerial role — responsible to the school board for implementing its policies and for the day-to-day running of the school. For teacher MANAGERS, continued union member- ship clearly invites conflicts of interest. The logical answer, we suggest, is that teachers who aspire to principalships as a career objective are no different from unionized employees in business and industry who work to achieve management status. Both cases call for a personal change of priorities and loyalties. Teachers not prepared to make that change will probably have a happier career by sticking to the classroom. Help wanted: a “STYLE” VS. “SUBSTANCE” is the big issue in this ‘substance’ until faced with the B.C. election. Can enigmatic smiles and a headband beat tricky little question of actually promises of fresh ways to spend your tax dollars? “Substance”, in the form of promises and programs, has always been regarded as the indis- pensable efection weapon until the arrival on the scene of Bill and Lillian Vander Zalm. True, personal image has played its part as well, as in the case of Messrs. Trudeau and Mulroney. But even charismatic Pierre and once-charismatic Brian at least went through the motions of spell- ing out their designs on your pocketbook. Failure to do so would have been regarded at that time as indecent. Nor can anyone accuse NDP leader Bob Skelly of being short on “subsiance’’. He’s getting better every day at campaigning in that grand tradition. Low-cost housing, province-wide upgrading of municipal roads and sewers, the electrification of all railways in B.C. — you name it. If you’re seeking good causes to eat up the remainder of your money, Bob has all the answers. Unfortunately — as almost every elected political leader in his- tory has sooner or later discovered — ‘substance’ is a two-edged weapon. It can be used just as easi- Seerereererermarercrtys 1139 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 MUINTIAY $7,656 5. 3.C. ‘manager performing. Today, however, there are a Noel Wright ly to slaughter you, and frequently is. When plans confidently pro- moted on the hustings go awry, you're in trouble. When the future goodies you sold the electorate cost much more than you promised and produce much less, or nothing at all, the voters start taking an un- comfortable interest in your hide. The ‘‘substance’’ that swept you to victory on polling day suddenly becomes a noose around your neck, At least, that’s the way it used to be. Ask Joe Clark, Dave Barrett and the shades of John Diefen- baker — all politicians of great LETTER OF THE DAY atients suf Dear Editor: It is our intention in submitting this letter to inform you and the public of a matter which we feel is of the utmost concern. Through various methods and for no proven productive results, the nursing structure at Lions Gate Hospital is being changed ar- bitrarily so as to eliminate Licens- ed Practical Nurses. Although a number of nebulous reasons have been proffered including “*cost ef- fectiveness'’, ‘‘total patient care’, and ‘progressive changes'', there has not beer any solvent data or projections to substantiate them. It is our opinion that there is no definitive reason. It is our understanding that ar- bitrary elimination of this kind has been employed in the past in other hospitals, with the result being a reversal, as it did not work. How- ever in the interim, morale suffers, nurses quit or are released, and @ focus @ good many signs that voters have got wise to the “‘substance’’ game. Sure, they’ listen politely and even give you a pass grade for good intentions during the election campaign itself. But they no longer seriously rely on your glowing vi- sions of the future materializing. They’ve been there once too often before. They know that, at bottom, you're just an ordinary human guy like they are, pretending to have the big answers to current superhuman problems. As Abe Lincoln observed, you can’t fool all of the people ali the time. er frol most important, patient care is af- fected. Changes which have not been fully researched, even to assess their impact on financial aspects, both in the long and short term, are ill-advised. This does not even take into account jobs, train- ing, availability of personnel and various other concerns. The Licensed Practical Nurses have been a most intrinsic part of the nursing structure, even though not permitted -toruse all the skills | What they want today is primarily someone who'll stop the problems getting worse and, with luck, case some of them a little along the way. He needn't even be universally loved, just able. What they’re seeking above all is someone who can MANAGE the. goddam show competently! Management, says one authority on the science, consists of ‘getting things done with people’’. That calls for a lot of understanding of all kinds of people and infinite flexibility. The last thing any man- ager worth his salt needs is tunnel vision which blinds him to the endless quirks of human nature. Political ‘‘substance'’ can too easily degenerate into tunnel vi- sion. ‘Style’, on the other hand, rates throughout the business world as a key factor determining whether management achieves the needed goals. How well Bill Vander Zalm's “style? rates that way, I’ve no idea. But his avoidance of “substance”? in the form of slick promises is a refreshing sign. It tempts one to risk testing him. B.C. today badly needs to ‘‘get things done with people’? — ALL its people. Will-o’-the-wisp plans alone are no substitute for good management. we are qualified to practice. We pride ourselves on the skills we have been allowed to use, and our contribution to Lions Gate Hospi- tal. We chose to be Licensed Prac- tical Nurses who have the job em- phasis and training placed on bed- side nursing. We pride ourselves in our diligence and productivity in this area. We sincerely fee) our contribution is an essential part of the nursing procedure that gives the patient the most professional Advertis..ig Director maker et botie contents Tahe Horth Shore tree Press Ltd All nqbls reserved FIVE YEARS. AGO... (From the North Shore News during the week of September 30, 1981) BRACED fer a stormy confronta- tion over the touchy question of merging their two municipalities were North Van City and District councils. City council voted to hold a referendum on the question of a professional study at the upcoming municipal election. But District Mayor Don Bell said the referendum looked like an excuse to bury the amalgamation topic for good. oe ff FUNERAL service at Holy Rosary Cathedral for Indian leader Chief Dan George was attended by 1,200 mourners, -* * EARLY morning fire that gutted at home on Capilano Park Road claim- ed the life of a 50-year-old man. + & PRIME minister Trudeau declared he would hang firm against opposi- tion by eight provinces to the Charter of Rights. cuts and comprehensive care. It is most unfortunate that our collective years of professional nursing service for Lions Gate Hospital are no longer considered essential or meaningful. We therefore urge you and the public to scrutinize these events fully and put ourselves at your disposal to assist in any manner we are able. Pat Winstow Co-Chairperson LPN Committee Lions Gate Hospitai