Let W. Vancouver trustees Fa north shore news MAIL Box make decision on survey Dear Editor: : Re: McCreary Adolescent Health Survey. ‘The handling of : the McCreary survey issue by the : West Vancouver school board is a study in how not to make a ‘decision in a controversial area; A situation has been cre- ated in which the agenda and “timetable of an outside agency has been allowed to dominate _ discussions creating friction within, ‘the community and oSncouraging : tonal warfare. Apparently, this is due in + part to the very. fate submis- . “sion of che final'version of the “MeCreary. survey to the board in early January 1998. . Most of us parents grew up “when- “Don’t. trust. anyone over 30" was the battle cry for :a-genezation coming of age ler the. shadow of atomic hierefore, parents: ‘= orant Of adolescent. addressing difficult:and scem-. helriing issues of wsafety and yes — * Thised by. the cckhand eniplovied : ne of che largest ferry cor-, ions on he West coast of: ¢ : one) af reading “Idled: by Asbestos halts fer- : inter-genera- : data. trom) the adolescent health survey is used, the board aust concern itself with how the data is used. The board has: in place policy 1060, “Research Requests Involving Schools — and Students.” It states thar trustees must be “convinced” (nor, just hopeful) of a “rea- sonable association” between the results of any research requests and the “improve- “ment of the school’s pertor. name- mance of its finction,” ly the “knowledge, skill and attitudinal development of students.” . As well, the district niust be “convinced” (nor just hopeful) that the research will cause “minimum disruption to the school program and would not be detrimental to relationships with the com- munity.” Iv is comfortable for the McCreary Institute not to feel any responsibility for how the adolescent health survey. data willbe used. What a wonder- ful: ‘freedom. - Hoivever, the trustees do not have that free- ‘donvas'clected representatives “of the public who have com- mitted ‘themselves to. be con- sistent. with board policy and act for the benefit of the entire community. : It should be noted that data from the adolescent nealth survey could have many valuable and construc: tive uses; we have been told the dara will also be for sale to the public ar a minimal charge. It is possible that such data could be used by mar- keters or political groups or even racist groups for uses that do not promote improve- ment of the school’s perfor- mance of its function. Thus, although ‘data may be described as neutral by Dr. Tonkin, the uses of that data my noc be neutral and thus the potential impact must be, considered. The trustees have a huge responsibility to make sure that if this data is colicet- ed it is used only in ways that will enhance the school's per- formance of its function. That is a very great responsibility, and should not be zaken on lightly, under the agenda. and timetable of any ourside agency. It has been argued that. if the adolescent health survey permits the “rescue” of even one abused or troubled stu- dent, then the study is justifi- able. “Please consider this: Dr. Tonkin has’ reassured us that this study is designed specifi- ip nould stall ferries the : corporation,: union -rep, WCB. official or: member, of the travelling public, for that matter, —~ be quite so under- ~ standing, sympathetic:: and -forgiving (“Perhaps >. it [employees » concern]. is ‘understandable. ”) if employ- ces. walked -offthe: job: as a: ‘result of mich more frequent ~ exposure to yet-another: Class staff-only sections _ of - the ships? I suspect not. Having said that, none_of the above individuals/groups should be surprised when it happens. ©. Oh, . by the way — the other Class -“A”. carcinogen I'm referring to? Second-hand cigarette smoke! Errol E. Poval:: cally not to reveal or identify individuals. Thus, no immedi- ate action pertaining to indi- viduals is possible, only the digestion of this data by the health and education bureau- cracies, perhaps with a final result that a program could at some time be in place that might help this individual at risk. This is likely to be a rather slow and tenuous process, and our faith in that process depends on our faith in the ° ability of the government and bureaucracies of the dav. Ifthe goal is, to assist individuals at tisk, then it is skilled people, not data, who will recognize students in need. Give our excellent staff support in getting to know their students as individuals, and provide morc staif if nec- essary. Ir is said that a primary teacher can identify clemen- - tary students who will be like- ly to exhibit at-risk behaviors larer in life, and they can do it without data and formal stud- ies. Let us enhance and build on these already available peo- ple-oriented staff skills. The ‘final decision ‘on whether the board should use instructional time to deliver the McCreary survey (includ- ing ‘questions. on. drug. and alcohol use, ‘sexual activity, family - relationships, sexual orientation, . ethnic .- back- ground and family income) to . students as young as 12 years old should be in. the hands of « well-informed. trustees, not under. the agenda. and timetable of ar outside agency or lobby group, and not in the hands of the press. Catharine M. Szibbo West Vancouver - Keith A. Cameron Barrister & Solicitor 30 years experience MORTGAGE INVESTORS Let me help you with your problems. > Purchases & Sales of Businesses > Wills & Estates => Foreclosures => Real Escace. Matters . Frée initial consultation 929- 9.0998: ,, Appointments available evenings 8: weekends upon request Elective Way lot, 1998 Hanns’ Oi te haa Le 2A? -carcinogen « in indoor” impressed with BC. 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