Bob Hunter

THE MOST revealing comment
thus far in the election has been
Post-secondary Education
Minister Russ Fraser’s statement
that people ‘‘should put off their
education if they can’t afford
it.””

Good grief, does he think it is
going to get any cheaper in the
future?

Indeed, his words were a
brutal reminder that in Canada
—- maybe B.C. in particular —
if Daddy has enough money,
off you go, sweetie, to study
whatever your little heart
desires.

If he don’t, well, tough, get a
job.

| The problem is, there aren’t
many jobs out there for people
without an education.

There aren’t that many for
people WITH education, but it
is worse, far worse, for semi-
illiterate youths who definitely
cannot afford further school-
ing, and whese parents can't
afford — or simply won't pay
— the outrageous bills.

The costs oi higher education
have risen so astoundingly in
the last couple of decades that
British Columbia is probably
more, not less, of a feudal
system based on inherited privi-
lege than it was back even in the
50s or *40s.

Additionally, there is the
mostly Pacific Rim pressure on
our educational institutions to
provide training for students
from the elite families in other
countries.

It is wonderful that foreign
students pay more than regular
college or university students
for this opportunity, permitting
empty local academic coffers a
few minutes of glory before the
cash flow goes back to low tide.

But it also means that our
own kids must compete more
fiercely than ever for that
precious seat in that precious
institute of higher learning.

More than a billion tax
dollars a year goes into B.C.'s
educational system. Out of a
population of 2.8 million, we
have some 600,000 people
enrolled in schools, colleges, in-
stitutes and universities.

To educate these individuals,
we employ 30,000 teachers, all
of whom have at least post-
secondary degrees.

If nothing else, our schools
give work to educated people
who otherwise might not be
able to find anything to do.

But that’s cynical. There are
a lot of good teachers out there.

I have seen kids who were
almost hopeless basket cases,
apparently because of domestic
factors, actually taken in tow
by the system — that is, by
dedicated leachers — and led

27th year o

® strictly personal ©

on, grumbling and screaming
all the way, to a useful and even
slightly productive existence.

Critics of the teaching pro-
fession insist that huge amounts
of money are squandered in
practises among teachers that
would be called feather-bedding
in any other industry, and that
students are mollycoddled.

No doubt. Yet the system is
so vast that virtually anything
you say about it is going to be
true. [t's a dirty business,
teaching.

The impressive fact to me is
that most teachers | know work
their buns off.

And I would say without hes-
itation that the treatment of the
educational system by the
Socreds has been nothing short
of criminal.

In particular, the chaos
created by one-time education
minister Bill Vander Zalm when
he decided to change the
goalposts a few years back is
not something to be easily
forgiven.

if my decision on how to vote
in this election was to be based
purely on the Social Credit
government's record in terms of
educating the next generation of
British Columbians, I| would
put the boot to the bums right
away.

Alas,to do that, | would have
to vote for a party that has
promised to give teachers the
right to strike.

When I think of such a thing
happening, | think of the Post
Office..1 think of the civil ser-
vice in general. It is a gut reac-
tion. I scream.

Not only would my cheques
be held hostage in the mail, my
kids’ education would be sub-
ject to the machinations of
union leaders bent on their own
self-agerandizement, and union
members seeking more of
everything for themselves.

Unionism is unionism.
Education should be something
else.

It is too bad the NDP decided
to add such a plank to their
platform. But what did you ex-
pect? Bob Skelly is a teacher.
The main occupation of his
candidates is teaching. They
would naturally took after their
own.

The school system desper-
ately needs help. But it does not
need strikes. And therefore it
does not need the New Demo-
crats.

The education issue should
have been a good one to go
after the Socreds about. By tak-
ing such an extreme alternative
approach, however, the NDP
has blown probably its best op-
portunity to at deast stick a
shaft into the Vander Zalm
windmill.

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SPIKE the missing cat has been
found.

One of North Vancouver's
favorile felines, who went missing
Oct. 2, was located at Capilano
Nurseries.

Employee Dave Vinns said Spite
spent about four days tcuering
around the store, and had become
quite popular with the customers.

“She's really friendly and
became our store mascot for a
while,’’ said Vinns.

The North Shore News publish-
ed an article Oct. 15 detailing
Spike's plight, after his owner and
concerned residents and workers in
the Lower Lonsdale area believed
Spike had been catnapped.

Owner Rick Tetz, of California
Streets, picked Spike up at
Capilano Nurseries the same day
the story on Spike's disappearance
was published in the News.

He said Spike will have to get
used to wearing an identification
collar whether she likes it or not.

CASE

Harry

British Columbia stands on the verge
of great opportunity, To take advantage
of our future. we need to put aside perti-
sin interests and adopt a new spirit of
cooperation, We need to
think positively. to work
towards @ common goal.

Ouly then can we success:

fully build the framework

that will allow us to pur-

suc those programs and

policies that are in the

yest IMerests of all the

aeople of British Colum-

nat. It’s vital that we L_®
maintain our forward momentum. That
we exploit our recent econoniic advance
hy continuing to be creative in seeking
out economic opportunity, Let's bring
together representatives fram lesour
and management to seta nes. tone for

Harry Martin

s be what makes the difference.

Counselling
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to Small

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United Way

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industrial relations. Let's work to resolve
our domestic differences in the interests of
our larger purpose. B.C.’s future growth de-
pends onan environment that supports our
peer) economic development
" and diversification, With
it, we can enjoy what every
! British Columbian has a
right to expect — steady
‘| work, first-rate schools
and health care and a fair
Y system of social justice.
Clearly, these are chal-
lenges that face every one
ofus. People rolling up
their sleeves and working together wil
1
}

slp rent OF

SY Bill Vander Zalm, Premier

ON OCTOBER 22. VOTE SOCIAL CREDIT

SOCIAL CREDIT

AFRESH Srart FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA