school system Pati is self-serving Dear Editor: Parents have been moan- ing for decades about the unresponsive cducation sys- tem. In fact, they are often more cager to “graduate” than their kids! The fact that now a politi- cian is moaning (NSN July 16: Education system = is unresponsive, MLA says) ‘shows just how much of a closed shop it is. Students also) complain, but get nowhere (NSN June 30: . Teachers should know their subjects; NSN July 14: ‘Take more care with school funds). The school system seems to be run for the conve- nience of the operators, not the customers. Even consci- entious teachers, | am told, dare not rock the boat. My fifty years of invoive- tment shows the system uses these cagey responses to crit- icism: @ Freeze: Ignore, evade, or generally give the silent treatment. @ Pander: Isolate the com- ~plainez-and co-opt the new- ; found “darling” into the sys- . tem. @ Delay: This lasts for years as duc process, proper chan- iacls, chains of command are followed. Grandstand: The ultimate delaying tactic is to produce a. royal commission or ~ inquiry. ® Disempower and Mystity: Make parents feel inadequate and students feel juvenile. Stress that only professionats know what's Gest. ®% Hijack: State in no unce tain terms that democracy is at work. Trustees are elected trom the public to look after the general interest. Forget that trustees are too often the mouthpicces and apolo- gists for the system, too often just petty politicians using the systean as a step- ping stone for higher politi- cal aspirations. They cant hire or fire, but they are use- tul window-dressing. There are many theories about why the system is so defensive and impenetrable. It would take a book to try and sort out the excuses and the agendas at play. Whatever ... 1 do know that any system which is said to have a 40% failure rate and which spins off numerous side industries such as the math and phonics tutoring programs probably does have something to hide. T think this counter-pro- ductive, wasteful, anti-family, government monopoly ts tong aver-duc for radical change. Calling for more parent, politician, or student involvement is not going to do it. More alternatives and loosening the hoops for starting independent schools might give some relief. Tunya Audair Tunyasez@hotmail.com “ON SALE Now north shore news MAIL Box Dear Editor: Sometimes the hasic facts ofa case Gbseure the “Bigger Picture.” Your July 28 story about Dr. Dave Thomas being found partially responsible for leav- ing a piece of gauze in a patient: may report accurately the court proceedings, but it leaves your readers to judge Dr. Thomas’ whole career (and his competency) based on this one event. T have been a patent of Dr. Minister Dear Editor: Ud like to respond to Ted Nebbeling’s July 153 letter enti- ded Can’t be trusted. In his letter, Mr. Nebbeling suggests that BC Ferrics’ peak season rates constitute a tariff increase. This is incorrect and simply illustrates that Mr. Nebbeling is poorly informed when it comes to matters relat- ing to ferry travel. The tariff for the 1998/99 fiscal year — which includes Thomas tor 12 years and have had a chance to form an opin- ion over time. He has per- formed surgery on my mothec and wo other women of my acquaintance, all of whom were pleased with the high level of care they received from him. If { were to be operated on by an OBGyn tomorrow, despite the findings of Madam Justice Pamela Kirkpatrick, J would want and actively seck out Dr. Thomas to do the “surgery. t don’t know how the sur- gical team missed the roll of gauze (which was being used as a sponge). However, | do know trom personal experi- ence that Dr. Thomas is an excellent physician; thousands —- probably tens of thousands — of women have Dr. Thomas to thank for their own good health and that of their babies. Your readers should know this, and so should the College of Physicians and Surgeons. biasts Nebbeling low, shoulder arid peak season rates -- was announced in November of 1997. Every reg- ular ferry user knows that the rates vary, every year, depend- ing upon which season travel o