page 8 - February 2, 1977 - North Shore News . _ change.’’ When the voters agreed, but didn’t sive him a sufficiently comfortable | margin, he went back nine “months i later and asked them ¥s ana. we pundits of ts , *‘Return | a strong Dief- ‘the press can have endless — -enbaker government.”’ nd , . So, if ever we want to see a - change of servants in Ottawa again, my colleagues and I will simply have to bear with Mr. Ciark’s reticence this — from the year. Judging | he took his lumps from the ‘media last week, we may well have met. our match. Don’t forget that Macken- _ zie King lasted 22 years on fun with them. The kind of fun dogs get from worrying a favorite old bone over and over again. Only when pre-packaged programs and policies prove to be a flop (as in 90 per cent of cases)-does the public get really worked up about them. Hence, I’m a firm believer in the theory that people never vote for governments, only - agaimst governments, and _VPve a feeling that Mir. Clark shares the theory. I've an idea that John Diefenbaker—who gave the Tories their only six years of office during the past half century—shared it too. His simple campaign slogan in 1957 was “It’s time for a Canadians being a _ fair- minded people, we returned him with the biggest majority in our parliamentary history. Not particularly for any high-flown promises. Just to see what he could do with 208. commons seats. And because we liked the man (which also helps). WHITES OF EYES Mr. Cla decided that he is not going to attempt finally to scatter - the enemy until he can see the whites of their eyes. As a strategist, 1 think he’s wise, | because the whites of their eyes are obviously difficult to. pick out 15 months or more — down the road. Did you know that an idling automobile engine can . consume gas at the rate of a half gallon per hour? The BCAA suggests cutting off the engine if your car is— stopped for more than a few moments. Decreasing engine warm-up periods also is“ advisable. The BCAA tre- minds drivers that, besides wasting gas, an idling engine increasés - the chance of deadly carbon monoxide | poisoning. Hall °_ Ww woodti. “wurigs F urniture & Cabinet Making ene! “I build and design furniture, a bookcases, cabinets and eriter .| tainment sections. My name is Ted McMahon and I_ would 921-8402 scarf silk 36” wide medium habotesi 45" wide satin silk — 45" wide be pleased to build something special for you.”’ $482 yard $8”... $] Pr yard your natural fibre fabric shop MOODYVILLE CANV AS & COTTON 99 LONSDALE NORTH VAN ‘988-9911 unruffled ‘manner in which tk has evidently . - such_ famous bromides as ‘‘conscription if necessary, but: not. necessarily conscrip: 1 tion.” : You can't tell by looking at him, but Roger has reading disabilities that require special reading methods. Other children in Grade 4 at his school have special needs too. . Joanne is partially deaf. Bob is slow to grasp math. Tony.is a new Canadian who is just learning to speak English. May has emotional problems caused by a troubled home environment. Barbara reads at a Grade 9 level, although she is in Grade 4. Her classmates show the usual range from _ Grade 2 to Grade 8 reading ability. Dan comes to school hungry every morning from a poverty-stricken home. Faye has an eye co-ordination problem. John has a mathematical mind. Garry learns very slowly. Roger and Joanne and Bob and Tony and May and Barbara and Dan and © Faye and John and Garry are not peculiar. They are just examples of the differences normally found among | children. It’s normal for children (like fingerprints) to be different. Does it make sense to use the same curriculum and the same test for educating all these children? | C2_€) ©) €) () Is this what the Ministry of Education is planning? No. matter | how loud - we - similar. refusal. to ‘solve our problems: off the top-of his. . head may be. a. refreshing __ sign that those problems are _ at long: last. receiving some news hounds: holler ‘‘give _ careful. and ‘responsible ‘em hell, » Joe,’ Mr. Clark's : “thought. oe be This is Roger. He is in Grade 4 .. - at school. No ‘class is the same. No other child canywhere is». exactly the same. The B.C. Teachers’ Federation favors an education system that challenges children to learn reading and writing and other | skills to the best of each child's ability. . but it rejects the idea of a single core curticulur that ignores differences in WA AD Ae CAE ONAN wy NH we We ews children. A single core curriculum also | neglects many important life skills. Because such a curriculum is designed to fit the mythical average child, it fits almost no one. Reading courses are as basic a need as shoes but no one would insist on the same iil-fitting average-sized shoe for every child in B.C. The B.C. Teachers’ Federation supports testing that helps to diagnose children's needs and to find ways of helping them learn, but it rejects province-wide tests that ignore differences and make a mockery of _ individualized learning. To prescribe that every child must reach a set standard regardless of mental and. physical gifts or impairments, is a gross violation of children’s rights. | Such a strategy is comparable to setting the high jump bar at four feet and insisting that all children jump it, knowing full well that some will never make it while others will surpass five or even six feet. Curriculum should be developed locally. Tests should be made locally. To ensure that children’s individ- uality continues to be respected: Attend local curriculum meetings. (Contact your local school for times.) @ Write to the Ministry of Education, Parliament Buildings, Victoria. 9 Write to the B.C. Teachers” Federation. w@ Call or write your MLA and school trustees, Published by The British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, 105-2235 Burrard Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6J 3H9 other child in his — |