MAILBox User-pay column disturbs OPEN LETTER TO NOEL WRIGHT Your ‘‘user-pay'’ article in the Feb. 9 North Shore News is disturbing. I would like to make three points. First, you suggest that ‘the basic grant per student is pretty realistic.’” 1 would suggest that in the 1990-91 school year this grant is likely to be the lowest of any province. Moreover, in a district such as West Vancouver where more ot our teachers are bcth better quali- fied and more experienced than in other districts, provincial averages do not provide a realistic base. Secondly, you see referenda as a logical solution to ‘‘teachers’ ex- cessive salary demands.’’ I would suggest that when over 80 per cent of school budgets are salaries that a better solution would be for the provincial government to negotiate salaries with the teachers’ union. When Mr. Vander Zalm gave teachers full bargaining rights, in- cluding the right to strike, he es- tablished a perfect whipsawing sit- uation for the coordinated efforts of the BCTF in dealing with 75 separate school boards. The gov- ernment is reaping that which it sowed, and rather than scape- goating school boards through referenda it should address the imbalance in bargaining power by establishing provincial negotia- tions. My final point relates to your suggestion that only those with children in the system should pay for any costs over the provincial grant. Using your philosophy those who are in that younger bracket should not have to pay as much for the health care from which those of your age are the greatest and most costly beneficiaries. Surely you see the fallacy of your argument. The senior generation has lived in the greatest period of economic growth and prosperity known to man, and both federally and local- ly they receive the most subsidies, from health care to local recre- ational programs. The same citi- zens will depend upon a well- educated youth to continue to provide for their retirement and to retire the debt our generation has incurred. I believe the citizens of West Vancouver value a strong educa- tion system and see it as an in- vestment in all of our futures. As such I believe few share your opi- nion that public education should operate on a “‘user-pay’” basis. Rather, just as generations be- fore us provided their young peo- ple with the best possible public education, so should we accept this responsibility, for our children must have the tools they need to solve the world and local problems inherited from us. The most im- portant tool is an education designed to prepare them for the 21st century. Dougias G. 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