By Catherine Barr Contributing Writer WEST Vancouver students might soon need a driver’s licence to travel on the information highway. School board trustee Ken Haycock suggest- ed the idea at this week’s school board meet- ing. The notion came in response to a recent debate over the appropriate use of the Internet in West Vancouver schools. The topic has prompted the board to ask for more input and more information on the sub- ject. The board plans to adopt an official poli- -cy in December. . Currently, a commercial “filter” is in use on all Internet stations within district schools. It was purchased by the administration and installed as a control measure without the con- sent of the school board. The situation docs not satisfy Haycock. The former school board chairman says he feels “cuite passionate” about the issue. Haycock is a well-informed and knowledge- able Internet user. He publishes two educational magazines that contain sections that review Internet sites and computer software on a regular basis. He does not support the use of Internet fil- ters and said that student education, and not censorship, is what is required. ; Haycock advocates a “proactive” instead of “reactive” approach. “Education teaches about responsibility and making responsible choices,” he said. Haycock used the example of issuing an Wednesday, October 22; 1997 -- North Shore News — 79 #2 WV schools want input on Net access enforceable Internet driver's licence as a way of teaching “Internet ethics.” He also said the board must “recognize that (age) six is differ- ent from (age) 18.” He explained that 2 commercial Internet fil- ter can limit access to certain Internet sites based on different control criteria, such as key words and phrases. Haycock added that even though the con- trols can be customized, the software is far from perfect. Haycock gave examples of how a filter can prevent students from accessing useful educa- tional material while still not competently con- trolling access to undesirable, and even illegal, content. “A site on bears in Australia now contains pictures of big, hairy, gay men,” he said. He read a long list of sites that have been blocked by Internet filters in the past. It includ- ed antique ship sextants, wall studs, car mufts, beaver dams, storm fronts, recipes for chicken breasts, Ken Haycack, the literary work Playboy of the Western World, the Second World War bomber Enola Gay, and information about breast cancer. He finished by saying that he itas “serious concerns about using our own (school board) funds to block these kind of sites.” All board members agreed that parents must be part of the equation. They said they are aware of the fact that the kids often know more about the topic than the adults. Board members are urging people to voice their concerns on the issue. Written submissions and suggestions are being encouraged and will be addressed at the December meeting. s ©Montessori school searches for home A message to the employees of Safeway in THE board of direc- tors,of West -Vanconver’s Gatehouse Montessori Preschool tis launching a fundrais- ing effort to find a _ ‘home for the munici- _ Montessori elementary -. school. "The Montessori method was established in the carly “1900s.. by Dr. . Maria . Montessori. The. system of education is based on a belief -. ina child’s ‘creative potential, drive to learn and right to be treated as a individual. Montessori schools use cific concrete - materials . ‘that-allow children as young - as three. to. learn things such as“ addition .and ‘subtraction before. they even begin to ‘comprehend the abstract con- o> “pality’s first . ed:the Montessori. method to. help ‘hundreds of preschoolers echieve their full developmental potential and . have fun doing it. “When children come out of Gatehouse Montessori, they like fearning,” said board chairman Chris Nemeth. “They're self-motivated, they cooperate and they’re confi- ~ dent, because they’ve learned they can solve problems with- out realizing how difficult they might be.” For years, parents of Gatehouse graduates who wanted their children to con- nue in- the Montessori method have driven long dis- tances each day because there is not an elementary school in the neighborhood. Gatehouse is holding a cocktail party and open house on Wednesday Oct. 29 from 8 o.m. to 10 p.m. to raise public interest in the project. Teachers, parents and graduates will be on hand to talk about the Montessori method. . Gatehouse is located at 4355 Marine Dr. in West Vancouver. ; Blood deposited © - NORTH Vancouver bank: employees -are ‘giving blood Wednesday at.the Lions Gate Blood Donor Clinic. *Toronto Dominion Bank . the donations. -.Employers at Toronto °. Dominion, Royal Bank, Bank ’ of Montreal, CIBC and Bank of Nova Scotia are giving employees time off from work to donate to the Canadian Red Cross. A shuttle bus will pick up and drop off donors from their respective banks on Lonsdale Avenue. Blood may be donated at the hospital every second Wednesday from Sept. 10 on and every fourth Friday, starting Oct. 3. British Columbia: Over $195,000 was raised during the 1st Annual — B.C. Safeway Charity Olympics. | Some of the charities benefitting are: Avril Chevigny Fund B.C. Children’s Hospital 38.C. Childran’s Hospital Burn Unit B.C. Disabie Games 8.C. Kidney Foundation B.C. Special Olympics Breast Cancer Research Camp Care & Share - Cancer Society Camp Good Times Campbell River Hospital Association Canadian Cancer Society Canuck Place Children’s Health Centre - Surrey Hospital Coquitlam S.PC.A, Coquitlam Transition House Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association Cystic Fibrosis Diabetes Association Emily Murphy House Fleetwood Community Centre Food for Thought Fraser Valiey Child Development Centre Ladner Food Bank Leukemia Foundation Lions Club Lion's Gate Hospital Lion's Gate Hospital - Pediatric Wing Renovation Lion's Review Food Bank Loving Spoonful M.S. Clinic at U.B.C. Hospital Make A Wish Foundation Maple Ridge Child Development oe Centre " Mission Women’s Shelter Multiple Sclerosis Society Peace Arch Food Bank Powell River Food Bank Prince Rupert S.P-C.A. Rainbow's Children’s Transition Program Richmond Caring Place Richmond Therapeutic Equestrian Society Salmon Arm Safe House Salvaiion Army Food Bank Sisters of Atonement Souther Interior Cancer Lodge Special Olympics in Richmond Sunny Hill Hospital Surrey R.C.M.P. Victim Services Terry Fox Foundation Caie of Children at Royai Colombian Hospital U.8.C. Hospital - Parkinson’s Research Vernon Jubilee Hospital Adopt a Room You Are Not Alone {United Way) Brandon Weary Fund Local Accident Victim's Assistance - Nelson < On behalf of Canada Safeway, thank you! | y Mee Kiclyohe Vice President Retail Operations