8 — Sunday, April 20, 1997 - Teacher benefi Dear Editor: When I read that 93% of the school budget goes to wages and salaries it really sickens me to hear that teachers and other union- ized employees want pay increases while the schools themseives are under- funded with inadequate classroom equipment and buildings. There are obviously some very dedicated teachers out there but too many are ded- icated to lining their own pockets. Although teaching is a vital profession affecting the North Shore News future of our youth and this country and a hard job, the rewards io those who teach are enormous compared with almost any other job. The official hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and an hour for lunch. There is one “prufession- al” day off per month. Every holiday — average one per month. Spring break — one week. Holidavs — June 20 to Sept. 2 — or later, off. Then there are sick days, which many teachers use up whether sick or not. That’s another 12 days. That leaves abour 265 working days and a total of 1,723 official working hours per year. A $50,000 per year salary is not unusual for a teacher. Fringe benefit percentages are something the media never report when referring to “income.” Millions of Canadians work for a wage and few or no fringe benefits therefore benefits should be reported along with wages. Teachers’ fringe benefits are around 45% and on $50,000 that amounts to about $22,500. Toralled this ts are t comes to an annual salary of $72,500 that we the taxpay- ers pay our teachers. Now looking at all the people around us, how many make anywhere close to $72,500 for 265 days of work? Remembering that millions work for wages of $10 per hour and less, much less, and have no fringe ben- efits or benefits that amount to only $1.50 per hour. These people work for wages of $20,000 per year and Jess including fringe benefits and they work for perhaps 325 days per year. Taking umbrage over immigration Dear Editor: I am a longtime reader of your paper and especially of Doug Collins, so I was interested in the Feb. 26 letter from Arnaldo Rotenberg in which he disputed Doug’s facts and opinions on immigra- tion as stated in the column “Heritage and Hypocrisy.” Mr. Rotenberg denies Doug’s state- ment that English is now a minority lan- guage in Vancouver. J refer him toa front page headline of November last year in the Vancouver Sun that stated exactly that. Rotenberg also claims that thin great in Brazil racially. But I understand it is whites who rule the roost down there. Dear Editor: Please allow me to thenk your paper for presentins, the less-than-PC views of your Mr. Doug Collins. I iaugh with and/or some- times at his ideas, The important thing is that one can relieve tension with Mr. Collins’ gift and your paper presents his work to us. Tam a former teacher, peace officer, public servant and (Doug would like this) RH.R. of Canada, the Black Watch soldier and also a French Canadian who knows the games being played. igh believe I have earned the right to commend your paper. Jim Chartier mitsy@intergate.be.ca are just ~=Canada? Surrey And wasn’t it in Brazil that the police have been killing child beggars, mostly Indians, so as to get them off the streets? If things in Brazil are so peachy, why did Mr. Rotenberg leave it to come to Wilfred Blair 1 PERSONAL INJURY Free Initial Consultation Douglas W. Lahay CLARK, WILSON BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS 800-885 West Georgia Street, Van. 687-5700 24 HOUR MESSAGE 643-3161 ICBC's policies are not law. | will get you a fair serdlement or trial award. v I : Bur the hours worked ire 2,600 per year. Many of these jobs require very hard work both with mind and body. Any wonder the school system is short of money and we and our kids sacrifice health and education to sup- port this elite group (to count administrators and 0 rich unionized custodians). Isn’t it time that the employer (that’s you and I) took con- trol of the school system? After all it’s ours. Let’s also get the media to report the real costs, to include fringe benefits, so we can judge the worth of a job. B. Scett North Vancouver ‘District-of North Vancouver Council Meeting Agenda April 21, 1997 - 7:00 p.m. Council Matters . . Waterfront Task Force Report Phase 2 (deferral to May 12 Regular Council Meeting) . Development Permit 368.0 - construction of glass canopy over existing balcony (3151 Woodbine Drive) as . Development Variance Permit Application - addition to — an existing house (1617 Draycott Road) . Development Variance Permit 189.0 - construction of new single-family house (315 East St. James Street) . Development Variance Permit Application - addition to existing house (4088 Highland Place) . Development Variance Permits 193.0 & 194.0 - two new single-family houses (3890 Mountain Highway) . Development Variance Permit 196.0 - construction of addition to existing house (463! Cedarcrest Avenue) . Development Variance Permit 192.0 - construction of second storey addition (1931 Panorama Drive) 9. Bylaw 6936 - Rezoning Bylaw - for 2nd & 3rd Readings and Adoption - Width of Parking Stalls 10. Bylaw 6950 - Rezoning Bylaw - for introduction and referral to Public Hearing - Glaring Lights - Residential Properties 11. Noise Regulation Bylaw Amendment - Use of Power Lawn Mowers and Power Garden Tools 12. 1997 Tax Rates - authorization to prepare bylaw providing for 3.2% tax increase 13. GVRD Industrial Pricing Strategy for Sewerage Charges 14. Land Sales - Heritage Fund For more information on any of these agenda items, please refer to the District's Web page or call the Clerk’s Office at 990-2211. ooo wyardistrict north:yan-be fa. 1998 Volant Shape Skis ON SAL™ NOW Etter ARRIVING DAILY Sailboards and Accessories Wet Suits / Dry Suits Wake boards Water Skis Roller Blades Sunglasses Summer Clothing Casual Footwear from $59 QAlRWAL K init NORTHSHORE sw) 145 NSRANe posree PRICED TO CLEAR Ail Ski Clothing Sale ends tyr BLOT v * eo te window coverings for over 10 years t : anes