12 —-Wednesday, May 7, 1997 — North Shcve News

Apply some
common sense
to class fee cuts

Dear Editor:

Re: Recent ruling on charging school fees.

As a high school woodwork teacher, I must admit to a
vested interest in the probable outcomes of Justice
Montague Drakes’ decision regarding fees in the public
school system.

While I have not yet read his 10-page ruling, it would
appear that neither has Justice Drake had the opportunity to
read Harrison Bergeron, a short story by Kurt Vonuegut Jr.

In this story, in order to make everybody equal, all citi-
zens are handicapped by the government. People with
above-average intelligence must wear a head set which uses
loud noises to disrupt any coherent thought. The physically
gifted have to wear weights on their legs to make them
clumsy. And so it goes,

In our version of the story, if a student wants to build,
let’s say, a coffee table, he won’t be permitted to on the off
chance some other student may wish to but is unable to
afford it. Whether any other student wishes to build a rable
or not is utterly irrelevant. The school is unable to pay for it
and now the student is not permitted to pay for it, No table.

It should be remembered that courses like woodworking
and home ecunomics are electives. They are not mandatory
courses. Srudents who decide to take them, know up front
that they will have to pay for materials used.

There are occasions where it might be a reasonable thing

.to apply some common sense in the application of the law.
This could be one.
David Farris
West Vancouver
dfarris@direct.ca

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Dear Editor:

An important part of running for polit-
ical office — and achieving it — is respon-
sibility. That means accepting responsibility
for one’s mistakes, as well as the mistakes of
the people who work for you.

Before the federal election was called, I
was invited to speak to a number of stu-
dents 2t Carson Graham school. During
my exchange with students, | told them
about the importance of getting involved
in the public affairs of this country, because
it was their country, too.

At that time, students were told by their
teachers that they could participate in polit-
ical campaigns of their choice for creat

Shortly thereafter, my campaign learned
— as did the country — that the election
was called. We were also told that the
Prime Minister was planning to visit
Capilano College.

Letters were prepared by my cam-
paign’s youth coordinator, secking the per-
mission of teachers for Carson Graham stu-
dents to sce their Prime Minister at

Capilano College. The letters
were circulated to students I
had met with at Carson
Graham.

On the moming of the
Prime Minister's visit, students
were preparing to leave Carson
Graham secondary when a
member of the school’s
administration stated to my
youth coordinator that he had
a problem with the students

leaving the school, although Uberal candidate
he lacked the power to stop Warren Kingelila ...
takes “full responsi-

them if they did so.
Ac that point, my youth co-  Sifity.”
ordinator should have imme-
diately left the school premises. Instead,
students were taken away from the school.
When I learned about this situation
from a reporter at the North Shore News
seven hours later, my youth coordinator
was called in. After the above facts were
confirmed, this young man resigned, aid a
letter of apology was immediately sent to

logizes

the principal at Carson
Graham Secondary. _-
T have worked with young
people, in politics and other
fields, for many years, At the
4 moment, | have 150 youth
volunteers working on my
campaign effort — because I
betieve that Canada is also
their country, and that they
should have a say in who gov-
ers it, .
What took place here waz a
very serious mistake, and one
for which I take: full responsi-
bility. Ifit adversely affects m
candidacy as Nortl
Vancouver’s next Member of Parliament,
that is a consequence which [ am fully pre-
pared to accept. :

I apologize, unreservedly, to the stu-
dents, parents and administrators who were
affected by this incident.

Warren Kinsella :
Liberal candidate, North Vancouver

tarting in June, District of North Vancouver residents are
asked to put out a maximum of three bags, three cans, or
one municipal cart of garbage for collection each week.

Puta sticker On extra garbage. ~

atch the mail for your “Think

Three’ package. Inside you'll
find information on the three bag or
can maximum, as well as free stickers
to use when you have extra garbage.

Just place a sticker on each extra bag
or can of garbage at collection time.
* Green tags are for yard trimmings,
grass and leaves.
* Yellow tags are for other waste.

Please call 990-3830 with questions
or comments about “Thinking Three’.

Less garbage means a healthier
environment for us ail.

30 Riverside Drive, 981-3124.

it's easy with recycling 77.

veryone can be successful at
“Thinking Three’. Reducing
garbage is as easy as 1, 2, 3...

iy Recycle with your Blue Box and
Blue Bag;

Compost yard trimmings in a
backyard composter;

2 “Grasscycie” by leaving grass
3 clippings on the lawn;

a Drop off yard trimmings to be
composted at the North Shore
Transfer Station, 30 Riverside Drive;

Recycle junk mail, cardboard,

a magazines, additional rigid plastics
and more at the NEW North Shore
Recycling Drop-off Depot, _