4 — Wednesday, March 13, 1996 — North Shore News

Tough choice

INTEGRATING SPECIAL
needs students is neces-
sary, says the mother of a
disabled child.

By lan Noble
News Reporter

And in the long run. it
may save society some
money. But right now, with
cash-strapped School
District 44 looking for ways
to cut costs, parents and
instructors worry special
education faces the chop.

Cathy Abraham appreci-
ates the attention her daugh-
ter Sheila, 9, gets in her
grade two-three split class at
North Vancouver's Fromme
Ele-mentary School.

“I’m so comfortable with
her here,” Abraham said
while sitting outside Sheila's
classroom. A full-time spe-
‘cial education aide helps
Sheila integrate with a typi-

Apprenticeships

NORTH VANCOUVER
School District 44 has
launched a unique appren-
ticeship prograrn.

Twelve North Vancouver
students are among the pio-
neers in a program that could
move Canada closer to the
goal of a national apprentice-
ship system, said program
planner JoAnne Ward.

Students attend school but

cal class of children.

“This is my security.”

Before 1989, special
needs chifdren such as Sheila
were in “resource rooms”
within regular schools, said
Abraham. She agrees the
instruction method may have
been more cost-effective, but
it stunted the students’
growth. If society segregates
the disabled in childhood, it
has to be prepared to segre-
gate the disabled later on in
working and living environ-
ments, she said.

work in the spring or summer
at companies involved in the
students’ chosen careers,
“The idea is to make a
smooth transition between
high school and the world of
work ... and produce job-ready
graduates,” said Ward.

An information meeting
for the Accelerated Secondary
Apprenticeship Program, for
interested students, employers
and parents, will be held at the

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That. according — to
Abraham, would be more
expensive.

Cash-strapped North
Vancouver receives $10.5
million in special needs
funding from the govern-
ment. Jt spends about $12.9
million, said Jay Merilees,
the administrator in charge
of special education for the
district.

But because of a compli-
cated funding formula, one
can’t make the leap in iogic
that the district spends $2.4
million more for the 1,124
special education students
(which inchides 350 gifted
students) than it receives, he
said.

The figure, he said,
closer to $1.2 million or $1.4
million.

Norma Pollock, Sheila’s
aide, teaches Sheila social
skills such as how to get
along with other students.
Pollock assists her in math,

offered

Leo Marshall Curriculum
Centre on March 14 at 7:30
p.m.

Students entering grades
1! and 12 are may apply for
the program.

Participating students
could graduate with a sec-
ondary school diploma and up
to 1,300 hours toward a first-
year apprenticeship.

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redding, and computer use.
Pollock even accompanies
Sheila at recess.

Pollock has stood by
Sheila for five years, ever
since Sheila began school, At
that time, the 5-year-old girl
could not talk, walk on her
own, read, and was fearful of
anything different or new,
said Pollock.

Now, Sheila, 9, can read,
walk on her own and has

See School page 10

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NEWS photo Paul ticGrath
SPECIAL EDUCATION student Sheila Abraham
receives computer help from aide Norma Pollock at
Fromme elementary.

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