10 ~ Sunday, April 9, 1989 - North Shore News NV HIGH SCHOOLS Calculus course doesn’t detract from humanities 1 2 A NEW high school calculus course designed to help prepare North Vancouver students for university level mathematics is not having a significant impact on enrol- ments in the humanities and fine arts, as some feared. Assistant superintendent Dr. Robin Brayne recently reported to North Vancouver School Board that 182 high school students chose the new, locally designed Calculus 12 course in place of a wide range of courses. But questioning of the calculus students revealed that only 20 per cent would have chosen a humanities course had calculus not been offered, while 16 per cent would have chosen another math or science course. Only four per cent would have taken a perform- ing arts class. The survey showed that the students’ alternate choices were spread over 27 different courses. Handsworth Secondary math teacher Bill Kokoskin said the calculus course was introduced in response to feedback from former students. Other schoo! districts have been offering high school calculus in- struction, such that North Van- couver students have been finding This week NORTH VANCOUVER CITY COUNCIL, Monday, April 10 at 7:3) p.m..: Application of pesticide notification bylaw/ Nuclear weapons-free zone committee rec- ommendation/ Business _ licence application Park and Tilford Cen- CHERRY “Succeeding Together” Office: 984-9711 Pager: 645-9549 By MAUREEN CURTIS themselves ‘‘a bit behind,’? when they hit university level mathematics. “There's quite a bit of dif- ference between high school and university and this course attempts to bridge that gap,’’ said Kokoskin. He said that the course isn’t a full blown university course, but aims at ‘‘easing the pain’’ of get- ting into calculus. The high school teachers do this by teaching at the students’ pace, whereas in university the instruc- tors ‘‘just fly,"’ said Kokoskin. A heartening observation, he noted, was that the course is at- tracting about the same number of girls and boys. Windsor Secondary math teach- er Bill Bowles told the school board that North Vancouver’s lack of high school fevel calculus had started to tell in progress reports from UBC math professors which showed local students slipping in their ranking compared to other school districts. “Calculus 12 should have a ma- jor impact on their progress,’’ said Bowles. He also noted that some 80 per cent of first year university stu- dents take calculus. School trustee Richard Walton, who had voted against bringing in the Calculus 12 course last spring, reiterated his concerns. “It seems that the universities are dictating to us what courses we should offer. Something about this offends me,’’ said Walton. He could sec the use of the high school calculus course, however. “—T went from an A in high school math to 60 per cent in uni- versity...there’s no question | would have done better with a course like this,” said Walton. Kokoskin stressed that the course had primarily been in- troduced in response to the con- cerns of students and parents. “We're giving it a try and hop- ing to prepare the students that much better,”’ said Kokoskin. at N. Shore counciis tre/Gardens/ Central Lonsdale downtown revitalization progress/ Application to rezone !05 Fell Ave./ Westview Shopping Centre/ Challenge "89 summer program/ Secondary/illegal suites/ Establishment agreement North BOUTON On Beautyrest* Back Care Elite* and Luxury Elite* NOW AT COLONY %- 9 Friday t2 - 4 Sunday OPEN EVERY y HOME FURNISHINGS DAY . WAREHOUSE/SHOWROOM 1075 Rersevcll Cres, North Vancouser 985-8738 Shore Arts Commission. NORTH VANCOUVER More Council HEARING PROBLEMS? WE CAN HELP HAROLD JANZEN, M.Sc NEIL WALTON, M.Sc = “SZ Pacifi Ic Aucie! 3011200 Lonsdale Ave. # Hearing Clinic North Vancouver BC. Paciic Audiology Associates inc 985-2501 PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS JAMES M. POYNER Lawyer Free Initial Consultation 988-6321 310 - 145 Chadwick Court North Vancouver Gust south of the market next to the SeaBus) Lonsdale Quay Plaza DON'T PUMP HOT WATER (STEAM?) INTO YOUR EXPENSIVE CARPET AND MAKE MUD LET US DRY CLEAN YOUR CARPET * Short drying time * No fading * Removes difficult dirt * No shampoo residue © Stays cleaner longer Our exclusive puritication process feaves your carpet “OZO-FRESH”. RECOMMENDED BY CARPET AN EY, Yr iBook Your Your Spring Greaning | Now! 7 FINAL OF THE ON _UNTIL APRIL 16, 1989 4 ™%PRICE-ALL DOWNHILL "ROSS! FISCHER, OLIN, KASTLE, BLIZZARD | 4PRICEALL JUNIOR DOWNHILL SKIS -r=500. onsin 1 PRICE-ALL X-COUNTRY SKIS, BINDINGS -ROSSI, TRAK. FISCHER BLIZZARD, SALOMON § y 14 PRICE-ALL SKI POLES -KERMA, GIPRON, SCOTT | 4 PRICE-SPECIAL SELECTION OF SUNGLASSES +35 | 2PRICE-BINDINGS ‘axe “SALOMON 7 447, 547 M36-M 46-M26 Look Roons 09, 2RC, 2R, 2 LIA — LADY D, SuRTOR< 90, 45, 403 | ALL SKI CLOTHING REMAINING - 50% OFF (omait sevecrion) STENNIS EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING NOW IN STOCK MOUNTAIN BIKES & ACCESSORIES NOW AVAILABLE e IN BOTH STORES « ye « IN BOTH STORES «