PET TRINCH EAT

THE GOOD news for future
high school math students is
that algebra is going to have
less emphasis in classes.

By Anna Marie D'Angelo
News Reporter

The bad news is that algebra
will be replaced by statistics.

But that's OK according to
Sutherland secondary school math
department head lan deGroot, who
says teenagers these days can han-
die a variety of math challenges.

“These kids will do things that
will blow our ancestors’ minds,
These kids, right here, can think
more creatively than you and |
have ever been able to.” said
deGroot,

DeGroot was one of 15 recent
national level winners of the Prime
Minister's Awards for Teaching
Excellence in Science, Technology
and Mathematics.

_-? The awards are given to out
‘standing teachers across Canada
who have had a “major, proven
impact-on student performance and
interest.” |
DeGroot. and Sutherland sec-
“ondary received $7,000 in cash in
connection with the award.
The News caught up with
deGroot recently while he was
teaching an-afternoon Grade 1
‘enriched math class.
Approximately 30 students were
“sitting in groups of about four,
~ graphing calculators in hand, tack-
« ling math equations.
Caiculators? Is this where peo-
ple get hooked? Just how many
’ adults these days can't add simple
“numbers without first pressing “C”
for clear?
But, said British Guiana-born

SA Maps

ere Tes

ath wizard

Sutherland teacher [an deGroot doesn’t take the square’s route to enjoying math

NEWS photo Mike Wakelield

SUTHERLAND SECONDARY school math head lan deGroot checks out some calculations dur-
ing an enriched Grade 11 math class. DeGroot recently won a national award for innovative

math teaching.

_deGroot, “The technology has to be

used because it allows us to pursue
higher level concepts in class.

“The new skill is estimation.
People should be able to estimate.
and get a sense of the numeric
value.”

DeGroot said addition, subtrac-
tion, multiplication arc the given
basics taught in elementary school.
The new high school basics will
include:

# computer literacy (including
working with technology):

creative problem solving:
@ statistics;
@ data analysis.

During the interview, back-
ground noise coming from the class
reached almost rock-concert levels.
Unphased, deGroot finally popped
his head out of his adjacent. office
and said to the students, “Do you
have a solution for me?”

That brought the roar to a halt in
a way only teachers seem to be able

‘to do, About a minute later, the

toar was building again.

_ Rate changes
for electricity users

A recent decision by the B.C. Utilities Commission has resulted in electricity rate
changes for B.C.Hydro residential and commercial customers, effective Jan. 1,
1994. The changes reflect a new way of applying the now confirmed rate increase

of 3.9 per cent, which has been in effect since April 1, 1993.

In our rate application, we proposed to move to flat rates in about eight steps. The
April 1, 1993 interim increase included the first step. However, the Commission has
now ordered Hydro to flatten Residential rates in two steps and General rates in
three steps. Accordingly we are changing our rates.

These changes will not result in any additional revenue for Hydro. The new rate
design schedule will result in decreases for some customers and increases for others,
some in excess of the bill increase cap of 5.9 per cent proposed by Hydro.

Monthly residential bill changes will range from, decreases of 5.5 per cent to
increases up to 10.1 per cent, depending upon the amount of electricity used. Com-
mercial customers on the General Service rate could see monthly bill changes
ranging from decreases of 12.2 per cent to increases up to 9.8 per cent depending on

their electricity use.

For more information on how these changes may affect your clectricity bill please
contact your B.C. Hydro Customer Service office at the telephone number indicated

on your Hydro bill.

DeGroot has been around math
classrooms since the''70s. His

numerous accomplishments include -

being past-president of the B.C
Association, of Mathematics
Teachers, and serving on the edu-

cation ministry's curriculum com- -

mittees, He has also co-authored a
Grade 12 math textbook.
DeGroot, who some students

describe as enthusiastic and fun,
said he was not too surprised about
winning the award,

“T've done a tot of things,” said
deGroot, who is currently the only
Canadian on the 12-member board
of the National Council of
Mathematics Teachers, based in
Washington, D.C.

This is deGroot's third year on
the board.

Since deGroot became math
head at Sutherland there has been a
20% increase in female enrolment
in mathematics, according to the
school's statistics.

“T encourage females. A lot of
female students think they can’t do
math because their mothers
couldo’t da math, and, in North
America, mith is not supposed to
be a feminine thing to do.” said
deGroot.

DeGroot said he was contribut-
ing his two-thirds share of the
$7,000 towards two overhead pro-
jectors, iw photocopier and comput-
er equipment for the math depart-
ment, (One-third of the prize was
given to the school to be used with
deGroot's input.)

Meanwhile, Carson Graham
secondary school math and science
teacher Maureen Murphy won a
local-tevel Prime Minister’s Award
for Teaching Excellence’ in
Science, Technology | and
Mathematics for 1993.

Murphy was credited with
designing, writing and teaching a
math course that challenges top
students and encourages students
Who have had little previous suc-
cess in the subject.