Dear Editor:

Having been criticised for
my. recent. letter

reply.

i was elected by people
who wanted educational
standards

schook. bureaucracy
questioned.: To the best of
my ability I will continue to
represent these people.

~-T do not apologize for
School .

questioning the-
District’s administration. I

‘don’t pretend that I am

_--—-- May--E-please*useyour

always right but I do contend

that my questioning and’
constructive suggestions are |

healthy for the system.

Advocating restraint in
spending is not as my critics
would suggest a_ ruthless
position. I consider restraint
to be a responsible direction
mandated by the facts. In
five years our expenditure
per pupil increased 137%
while inflation increased
56%.

Educational standards are
an important aspect of our
system. While I am not an
expert on educational
standards I am_ concerned
with making improvements.
My critics suggest I would
make children an en-
dangered species. I intend to
pursue a more challenging
education system for our
children despite this kind of
garrison-state intolerance
for different points of view.

Parents and their children
should have available the
best possible education to
meet their needs. A rigid
system of Gducation does not
serve us well. So, increasing
the educational op-
portunities available is my
top priority concern.

Those who require a less
en-

permissive learning

Correspondence column to
thank the alert angler who
pulled my son from the
water at Ambleside Beach a
week ago Saturday.
prompt action averted a very
dangerous situation.

Brian Hollington
North Vancouver

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and .
comnients I would like. to.

im proved,.
.. spending restrained, ‘and the

His -

vironment

' reporting

‘with - more
challenging educational
activities should have such
schools. Those who want a

“ more open environment with
‘more

experimental
education should have their
views respected.

Iam _ seeking better.
educational services for our
children with special ‘needs.
Greater opportunities need
to. be made available to our

bright and gifted children. .

Our science programs need
improving; I am interested in
improving our kin-
dergartens. A multi-cultural
approach to second
languages leaving the choice
optional is needed. I want to
see better testing and
standards. A
School District with around
only 17 students to’ each
teacher should be able to
improve the
opportunities it offers.

I wrote previously to say
we must not forget that the

majority of our education

taxes still go toward teaching
t Uren man neg. a

sciences, languages, music

_ and arts. I said that although |

North Vancouver coritinues
to enjoy comparatively good
education, improvements
can be made. I will continue
to seek improvments for

those who want more
educational opportunities
available.

Your recent correspon-
dent Ms Griffin doubts the
facts. The .B.C. School
Trustees Association

Analysis of School District
Budgets shows clearly that
our. expénditure per pupil
increased from $1991 in 1978
to $2181 in 1979 or 9.6%.
This is a rate faster than
inflation. Check with the
Vancouver Public Library
and you will find that the
average annual year over
year inflation rate provided
by Statistics Canada for 1978
was 7.7%. To date in 1979 it

educational

is running around.7:9% and:

is forecast to remain in this
‘range around 8%.
nualized monthly figures of

course are both higher and™

lower giving. a poor _§in-
dication of inflation. Many
people are not aware that
B.C. has outperformed most
of Canada in real economic
growth, creation of jobs: and
holding down inflation.

3 The B.C.S.T.A. analysis
also shows we spend more

per pupil than any other ©

district in the Lower

Mainland,

that our 9.6% increase was
the fourth lowest among
districts with more than
10,000 students. Many
districts were over 12%. The

School Board is justly proud -

of this restraint and the
associated effect on: Property
taxes.

. The facts presented by the

Concerned Citizens about
taxes decreasing are true as
Mr. Burbidge’s letter
confirms. The C.C.A. and
cause of the unusual
restraint evident in the 1979
budget. Mr. Burbidge claims
“judicious budgeting” while
the C.C.A. claims to have
had an influence. The truth
is both are right.

I was subsequently quoted
in the News as giving ad-
ditional credit to the ‘media
and citizens of North
Vancouver who have
become conscious of the
costs of education. I was not
quoted but did tell the News
that credit should also go to
administrative staff who are
also more aware of the need
for restraint.

I was critical of the Board,

budget
An-.

. Students

including West
Vancouver. It also shows.

_ decreased as.a percentage of

tivities. Enrollment has.
declined from close’ to
22,000 ‘students. to 18,000 ©
in 1979 and - is
expected to go to 13,000 in

the 1980's. The Board has —
spent thousands of dollars —

and considerable time
planning for administrative
needs but still does not have

the policies it needs. to
handle the enrollment
decline economically.

I also wrote that we
require continued restraint
to avoid substantial property
tax increases next year. J
said teachers salaries have

the budget from -74% to

69%. The spending priorities _

would appear to have moved
away from teaching. |

The chairman of the
School Board feels he and
others have exercised good
judgement in the past. He

claims to have cut .107

ers 8 rece e LS bas | a
proportion to " declining
enrollment”. What he does

‘not tell you is that since

declining enrollment started,
the Board has increased
other employees by 110
Only recently. have some of
these positions been found
not to be necessary. Since
last. year 22 non-teachers
have been released.

I suggest, Ms Griffin, that
teachers are important to
education. Of course, all
employees are important in|
their own right but priority
must go to teaching. If you
do not agree then I can only
assume your judgement is as
coloured as others who

Headline ‘irresponsible’

) BER tor:
rome Jaye .

_ _ .Lwish to. objectato. the nim Yrousee-irres
sensational headline: on: the

July 18th issue “KILLER
CANYONS TAKE NEW
TOLL”.

My family and I and our

friends, have enjoyed
walking through North
Vancouvers beautiful

canyons for twenty years

, wtT, oo
ond om, SOEs wi

as have been other trustees, Prefer to attack with

because we did not have a hyperbole rather than

finance committee. Now we discuss the facts.

have a Long-term Cost . ;

Reduction Committee and David Craig

trustees involved in other North Vancouver

-‘without a single-mishap, duc , lease t try td balance bad _

“TOMES USE OF COnifiohsense. sigh! ports with good!
iain

headline could frighten

impressionable people away Raymond Yates

from our local beauty spots.

North Vancouver

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room, library (1000 books). The tenant committee has organized daily teas, regular bingo games,

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examination ac- .

ene ae the:

Send refugees

‘BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVE IN CANADA » News reader
says they should go to China. (CP Air photo}

Dear Editor:

Re the refugees, Canada.’

cannot solve:
(a) Its alcohol problem;

(b) Its drug problem;

(c) Its suicide problem;

(d) Its unemployment
problem (reverse discrim-
ination).

°

Canada’s children are
suffering genocide through:

(a) Not being regarded as
our greatestasset; *

(b) Extremely ‘poor live

‘birth rate;

(c) A 10 per cent rate of

; emotionally disturbed;

(d) A lack of morale by
reiterated attacks on
teachers, which ultimately
means attacks on. parents
and thereby children;

(e) A public willingness to
pay for a large B.C.
university which only
educates a fraction of “our”
kids (15 per cent estimates a
large high school).

Canada is sentimental to
others — cruel to her own.
Let’s do something for our
own people. Send the
refugees to China.

AMother -
(Name withheld by request)
Vancouver, B.C.

Don't mention vandals

Dear Editor:

‘As ‘regards vandals on

“Yampage in’ Wést Van, I am

delighted with the account
of their vandalism in the
North Shore News. In my
humble opinion I would
consider it far better not to
mention their activities.

TAXPAYER
(Name supplied)
West Vancouver

: vandal sa fOr pe Leet eaenaneasarannn nee

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