we 6 - Sunday, January 15, 1989 - North Shore News INSIGHTS What does this trendy education ‘frill’ cost? I HATE TO RAIN ON ANYONE’S PARADE but isn’t it time for a few questions about our French immersion schools? Do we still need them in our cash-strapped educa- tion system? ‘*Immersion’’ was a child of the 1970s when bilingualism was tren- dy, the idea being to show Quebecers we all loved them. The record indicates it doesn’t (as some feared) stunt learning progress in later English-speaking grades. And agreed, command of a second Ian- guage is intellectually valuable in itself. Always provided, of course, that you retain it — through regular use. But just where do fluent Grade 6 French speakers in B.C. ever get to use it regularly once they’re into high school? How many will make their careers in Quebec or France? And anyway, how come so many millions around the globe learn to speak fluent English by conventional language teaching methods alone? Today, bilingualism in Canada is dead — killed by Premier Bourassa’s Bill 101 and his blackmailing radicals, arsonists and flag-burners. Bilingualism has to be either coast to coast or not at all. As a political gesture to help woo Quebec into the Canadian fold, French immersion in English Canada has failed miserably. So whatever its other merits, shouldn't they now be weighed against its cost as a mere trendy “*frill'’? How much money does it divert from other urgent education needs, including aid for students with learning disabilities? Should B.C. taxpayers — Sooking eastward towards Montreal — be required to spend a single further buck on it? UPWARD MOBILITY at Vancouver Shipyards...Michael West (left), Marcus Davidson. /POIN RE Housing crisis SCARCITY of rental housing on the North Shore, aggravated by municipal crack-downs on Hiegal suites and the closure of apartment Just asking ... ! eee BEAUTIFYING our ‘‘front door’’ is the topic at a public meeting this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Norgate Community School, 1259 Sowden, where architect Joseph Cantafio will present the latest details about the Lions Gate North Enhancement Project. Joe and his group from the North and West Van Community Arts Councils have been working for two years on a plan to give the drab, unin- viting north end of the bridge be- tween Taylor Way and Capilano Road a major facelift — transforming it into a visually at- tractive stretch of highway, with added safety for pedestrians, which says ‘‘welcome”’ to every visitor here. They've made a fot of progress on the drawing board in the past six months. Now, they want OUR ideas and reactions to the design sketches and proposals to date. Sounds like a very worthwhile get-together for a very worthwhile goal. eter POSTSCRIPTS: Named last month to key management posts at Vanceuver Shipyards in North Van were Michael West, promoted to General Superintendent, and Mar- cus Davidson, appointed Barge Repair Superintendent. Mike has been with the Seaspan/Vancouver Shipyards group of companies for almost 40 years. Marcus, with an extensive marine background in- cluding experience in the Beaufort Sea, joined the firm in 1987 ... Their promotions follow the recent ii Vive acGes. retirement of Bill Barnes, former General Superintendent and a VS veteran of 35 years ... Reunion Diary — today for Victoria’s Oak Bay High School Class of ’59 which holds its 30th reunion festivities on Swiftsure weekend, May 26-27. If you’re one of them, write Irene Margetts (nee Burnett), 3925 Woodhaven Terrace, Victoria V8N 157 to get with the fun ... Congrats to longtime North Van residents Frank and Margaret Peverelle, latest North Shore membcrs of the ‘‘Golden Club,”’ who celebrated their 50th anniver- sary Thursday, Jan. 12. Frank will be remembered by many former students of North Van High, where he was custodian until his retirement ... And one year farther along the road, happy 5st an- niversary wishes today, Jan. 15, to West Van’s Ed and Esther Fielder. wae WRIGHT OR WRONG: If you think aiming for perfection can be overdone, remember that half right is always half wrong. TICKETS FOR THE MOVIE...RCMP Cst. J.C.W. Grage rewards au- dience for turniag up to watch “Room to Live,"’ a 25-minute film on the dangers of not wearing seatbelts. Their seatbelt-offence tickets were col- lected and they were let off the fine. buildiags for tuxury redevelopment, is leaving few op- tions for lower-income tenants suddenly finding themselves homeless. The District of North Vancouver has already in- stituted an illegal suite policy, outlawing about 2,000 secondary suites by June 30, 1995, and the City of North Vancouver now has several illegal-suite cases before the courts. While Aid. Bill Beli has stated the city is putting the squeeze on illegal suite owners not meeting suite stan- dards, he has also admitted that council could face housing problems if it shuts down all reported second- ary suites. Meanwhile, tenant evictions have resulted from redevelopment projects that have necessitated the demolition of apartments such as the Lonsdale Manor, Hofybarn Manor; and will soon see the demolition of the St. Alice and Olympic hotels and possibly Fromme Block. All of this paints a bleak picture for single mothers, pensioners, the unemployed and those on limited in- comes — unless municipalities take a stand. Local peliticians must make a serious commitment to alleviate the housing crisis by designating areas for social housing, and recognizing them through the of- ficial community plan; they should make sure alter- native housing is available before attempting an across-the-board illegal suite ban; and until then, they should regulate secondary suites and require operators to bring them up to standards, rather than arbitrarily closing one over another. Peter Speck Managing Editor — Barrett Fisher Associate Editor Noe! Wright Advertising Director Linda Stewart North Shore News, loundea in 1969 as an independent eee tel the Ese Quaiitieg unde! Schedule it 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, at agral Of the Excise Tax Act, 1s published eac! Wednesday, Faeay and Sunaay by North Shore Free North Vancouver, B.C. Press Ud ang distbuted 19 every doot on tne Nortn V7M 2H4 Shore ond Ciass Mati tSitation Number 1 Supscriptions North and West vancouver, $25 per year §9,170 (average, Wednesday Maing tates available on request Submussions are Friday & Sunday) welcome bul we cannot accept responsibiiity for unsolicited maternal including manuscripts and pictures e which should be accompanied by a stamped, addressed SDA DIVISION Publisher TIE VOACTE OF MONTH ANG WEST MANTOUVER north : SUNDAY - WEOMEBDAY - FRIDAY Dispiay Advertising 980-0511 Classified Advertising 986-6222 Newsroom 985-2131 Distribution 986-1337 Subscriptions 986-1337 Fax 985-3227 MEMBER envelope Entire contents © 1989 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved. a North Shore owned and managed — acre a a ae