- than 2 ne AC IS SBE he BURNER eee OR Back school technology Dear Editor: Your editorial in the Feb. 28 News, Pentium Promises, attacks the North Vancouver school board’s decision to seck extra funds through referendum for new schoo! computers. But you don’t make sense. You admit that North Van’s board “is probably being asked to get by on less than what is needed,” and then say “enough is enough.” I assume that’s what you'd tell Oliver Twist if he asked for a little more el. You cry public poverty — “taxpayers are tapped out,” you complain. If they really were, your paper would be instant- ly bereft of advertising because no one could afford to buy cars or drapes or hair- dos. More to the point, you. then blame the provincial government “that demands technology but won't fund it.” As if Victoria had some source of money other “tapped-out” caxpayers. As if the government, and not the workplace, demands technological skills. A referendum is not a “new avenue for extea funding — the Socreds created it in the 1980s, and the few districts that tried it back then had an awful experi- ence. The Nerth Van board deserves ar least a pat on the back for raking such a des- Perate step to improve our schools’ tech- nology. And if nothing else, a referendum would bring a little local control back to the community. As a former school trustee and a veter- an in computer-based education, I’m not impressed with your worries that “today’s Pentium becomes tomorrow’s dinosaur.” Computer upgrades are no doubt an expense for the North Shore News as they are for every competitive business, so 1 don’t understand why you explicitly demand that our schools — and our kids — fail to stay competitive also. Pious prattle that “educators must learn to live within their means” is no argument at all; we learned to do so long ” before T started my own teaching career 30 years ago. if you are really concerned about tech- nology expenses, you might demand that the board earmark plenty of its desired $2 million for training teachers and staff to make the most of the equipment they get, so that the new computers aren’r just expensive typewnters. You might urge the North Van Teachers’ Association to Promote its members’ computer. skills. You might encourage local businesses to contribute money, hardware and expertise to help their next generation of workers and entrepreneurs to master the skills they will assuredly need. And you might even encourage your readers to support the referendum as an annoying byt necessary measure to tide us over until North Vancouver gets fair funding from Victoria. Crawford Kilian North Vancouver ckilian@hubcap.minet.co Friday, March 7, 1997 ~ North Shore News — ® 7AYLON MOTIVE ALIGNMENT SPECIALISTS J? B.C A.A-AR.A. APPROVED CENTRE | ALIGNMENT - BALANCING «TIRES CONSULTATION Wi209.9000 985-7455 izistgls. OUR 39TH YEAR 176 PEMBERTON AVE. N.VAN. CHARGED WITH IMPAIRED YOUR DEFENCE IS CRITICAL! Pleading guilty is not your only option. Expert legal advice can clarify these options We can. give you an informed choice. - You are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The onus is on the prose- cutorto | pfove your guilt. Your defence is critical and There are numerous defences to _ Cypress serves to provide affordable winter fun for family =Re:. - “>. ex-mayor . Hum sbreys* “Stop Cypress ~. Bowl!) proposal”... letter a ‘in. the - North’ ore News Feb. 16. * Our retired. ex-mayor Derrick: Humphreys, if my. memory .seryes me from his ; Fecent. try: at the council “ race,.is in his mid-80s.:I can. understand him not wanting: to use our glorious: Cypress * Bowl for skiing. Helis’ however, taking a. ae selfish approach in not want-.- ing the-rest of us who enjoy | “sthese: delightful winter days ‘onthe ski-slopes of Cypress- . ‘Bowl... -“Lhave a season’s pass on ~ Cypress for week-day skiing and also use of cross-country _ trails with weather dictating _ my, choice. I also enjoy a pass at Whistler for. weekends, I am | fortunate.” enough ‘to - enjoy. good health in my mid- 60s and.can also afford. the - luxury of both mountains. Of. the skiers I. meet on Cypress, most.’ are’ family x:members of modest means; ‘hourly wage earners or. part-.: time employees enjoying the great outdoors. Let’s face it, going to | Whistler is a four-hour return «drive, a full-tank of gas and $50 each for skiing. This +amounts to several hundred - dollars per day for a family to énjoy a day of family skiing. “Tam blessed with nine ~ grandchildren from my three siblings, all are skiing, board- zing or just sleighing down the slopes. They simply could not afford this winter activity “if it were not for the local ; mountains offering reason- _ able rates and close proximity to their neighborhoods. There will always be peo- ple against forward-thinking ideas, the Cambie Street Bridge and Expo come to mind. We can’t stop peaple from ‘moving to and residing in this gorgeous part of Canada. Why punish the old and new alike with a do- nothing attitude? = Our provincial parks, along with the many local amenities need constant u in E. L. Smith Perse _ West Vancouver “You are invited... ‘to meet the candidates nominated to represent the REFORM i? in the new constituency of West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast. REFO, This is your chance to find out why people are turning to the Reform Party for solutions to Canada's many problems. { Wenesday, March 12, '97 at 7:30 pm Masonic Hall 1763 Beilevue Avenue West Vancouver, BC ’ can succeed in stopping animal experiments where I and . these charges with we're here to help. new issues arising almost daily. ARDAGH HUNTER: TURNER _ Call for FREE initial'consult 300-1401 Lonsdale Ave. N.Van._ _ 986-4366 _ Dear Editor: T read Hilary Stirling’s piece: In the name of Science with tears in my eyes — tears of sadness at the way we humans treat animals but also tears of shame that my generation should have to have our cruelty held up to us by such a young person. My earnest wish and hope is that she and her generation mine have failed. ia Torvick North Vancouver “Jo oin 1 Now. Membership available | during March 1997 Internationally famous Canadian Cellist Monday March 10 1997 8pm Admission by membership only 1997-1998 Concert Series Join. Now! Membership available during March 1997 UPCOMING ARTISTS Oct 9 1997 Quink Dutch a capella Quintette Nov 12 1997 David Hickman Trumpeter ; Jan 30, 1998 Haydn Trio Vienna Piano, violin, cello Feb 21, 1998 Donna Roll Soprano-Pops to classics April 1 1998 Nettle and Markham British piano duo Memberships (intc. G.S.T) $75 Annual Membership For more information please call Dorothy Nash 985-1608 Herb Jenkin 988-7672 Cheques payableto: = North Shore Community Concerts - ; C/O: Herb Jenkin, 4090 St. Georges 7 Ave., North Vancouver. B. Co: , VIN 1W8 Membership cards are mailed prior to first concert. :