Newsstand Price 50¢ November 9, 1983 Newsroom 985-2131 Classified 986-6222 NEWS photo Stuart Davie PARENTS DRIVING students to Westcot Elementary in West Vancouver found the en- trance blocked with striking teachers but the school is still in operation. Kindergarten teacher Sheila Sexsmith was at work, even though she supports the teachers’ aims. WEDNESDAY cloudy with showers THURSDAY cloudy with showers Point Atkinson Wednesday To teach kindergarten CHAOS REIGNED at North and West Vancouver schools early Tuesday as the majority of teachers took to the picket lines to support the striking B.C. Government Employees Union. Students streamed in and out of schools while carloads of parents and children drove by picketers patrolling school premises. Only a handful of teachers at each location ac- tually crossed the lines, with striking North Vancouver teachers being joined by CUPE workers who voted to support the escalating job action. Support workers in West Vancouver voted Monday night not to support the strike Westcot Elementary school teacher Sheila Sexsmith found herself playing a con. troversial role Tuesday morn- ming after crossing her col leagues’ line in order to teach her kindergarten class “‘T happen to support the teachers’ aims, but not the way they're going about it,"’ Seasmith told Fhe North Shore News. ‘‘i have a pact with the children to teach them and my first Concern is for the children She admitted she had been approached by some parents on Saturday night to attend class should teachers decide to Chrow up pickets, but add ed that didi not unfluence her deuision to cross the fines ‘To dont want it though that | support any oof the Social © redat legislation wy sisted Scasmith | ee sistently voted against strike action and my coming in docs not mean | suppor the government's acthons West Vancouver Teachers Assoctation president Heather Walker was not available for comment at press time By JOANNE McDONALD At North Vancouver’s Carson Graham Secondary School, teachers’ picket cap- tain Wally Sosnowsky said teachers are basically unhap- py with the strike situation. “It’s not been taken light- ly. All of my colleagues have expressed misgivings about the effect this has had on students,’” he said. ‘‘It's one of the most agonizing pro- blems we'll ever have, burt how do you rationalhze basic nights and due process, in relation to your obligation to students?"’ Sosnowsky added the escalating strike was perhaps the only way to. get the government to back down on some of the legislation “' The government has. in so many ways, manipulated people and sought confrontation,” he said At Sutherland Secondary, preket captain lan de Groot sand parents have been sup- portive of the strike, with on yo LOO ot 1 POO students showing up tof classes Joho bvyam. paket cap tain oof the CUPE local at Sutherland said he feels the cxculating strike i the only way to get the government to lasten to publse sector workers “Everything clse has been toed. said Exvjgam (‘And 1 tecl uoowitlkh be a relatively short strike Added De Giaroot We have the right to strike over a pohtical issue We're pro- See Confusing ; Page A2! ony