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ARE YOU worried about the future, unsure of what you are going to do after high school? Are your parents pressuring you to go to col- lege or university?

ell, you're not the only one,

Recently the Narth Vancouver School District was involved in the first of two School Community Interaction Days set aside by the Ministry of Education to give par- ents, businesses and school staff an opportunity to meet and share their ideas about improving education,

Throughout North Vancouver, schools tackled problems such as youth violence, teenage aggression, and the future of work with its implications for students in the edu- cation system,

That evening at the Lucas Centre for Continuing Education, Dr. John Walsh, a professor from the University of Guelph in Ontario, talked about the future of

. the job market and the restructuring of our school system. ;

With witty anecdotes and inter- esting facts, Dr. Walsh certainly got his point across, Something needs

to be done about the school sysiem in B.C.

“Due to the invention of the microchip, jobs by the thousands

are becoming obsolete, and schools *

must start changing their styles of teaching to accommodate the change,” pointed out Walsh, who is the special advisor to B.C.'s Ministry of Skills, Training and Labor.

Walsh holds a B.A. in political economics and a Ph.D. in Business Administration.

He opened his lecture with a definition of a university professor as, “someone who talks in some- body else’s sleep.”

The lecture that followed was anything but monotonous. He fol- lowed his humorous opening with a historical perspective of the changes that have occurred in the last 60 years.

It started in the 1940s when men and women looked at themselves and their sons and daughters, and the prospects for the future in terms of the economy, and decided that they needed a hange in post-sec- ondary education.

Further changes took place in

NEWS photo

DR. JOHN Waish provided inspiration to students in West and North Vancouver during the career week events in March.

Jezz class for teens set

THE WEST Vancouver Recreation Centre is offering three levels of

Funky Jazz this spring, all designed for youths.

Instructor Tristan Kalinin has over {7 years of profes‘ ional training in

jazz, modern and character dance.

__ With het instruction, teens can expect to learn funky new moves, devel- op coordination, exercise and, most of all, have fun.

All three levels of this program are offered on Fridays for an cight-

week period, starting April 8. The cost is $35 per person. Level I runs from

3:30 to 4:30 p.m. (for 12- to 15-year-alds); Level I runs from 4:30 to 5:30

p.m. (for 12- to 15-year-olds}, and Level /Mf runs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

(for 15- to 18-year-olds).

Pre-register by phone or in person at the West Vancouver Recreation Centre at 780-22nd St. in West Vancouver, or call 926-3266 for more

information.

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the ’60s and °70s. Once again change is needed. As Walsh point- ed out, “the extent of technological change has been very, very signifi- cant in the workplace and we must adjust to these changes.”

He specifically addressed the question: “What are you going to do once you leave school?" — a question many teenagers are asked throughout their school life.

Mast of us think that we will go

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THIS WEER’'S ZAP! article poses interesting questions about the future and suggests some solutions, Are you worried of unsure about what you will do after high school? Do you feel pressured to go to college or university?

on to college or university, In fact,

70% of the B.C, student population think that they will go lo some kind of post-secondary institution.

In reality, only 24% of us will actually make it. As Walsh said, “It’s like going to a movie. It doesn’t matter how much you want to see the movie. If there is a lineup of 2,000 and the theatre only fits 500, then you better think of anoth- er mavie to see.”

Walsh is saying that considering an alternative to college or universi- ty is a wise idea.

An alternative to post-secondary education might consist of an industry apprenticeship program. Statistics show industrial jobs are in high demand. Employers are con- stantly telling us, “If you have an industrial skill, then there is a job waiting for you.”

This type of security is almost obsolete in the business world. Management and administrative positions are the fastest declining jobs in the work force.

if your future plans are to become a manager in a large corpo-

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ration, you might be heading towards a dead end.

I know, your parents and proba- bly your school counsellors and . teachers are telling you that college. or university is the only way to go, but in fact only one fourth of us will actually make it.

This is why Walsh thinks, “It would be a good idea when rework- ing our school system, to give con- siderable attention towards those |” who don’t go to college or universi- ty.” { must agree with him.

Tam currently taking the Video Production 12 career development |. course, which is helping me to -, ° decide what | want to do in the future. ;

These types of courses are very useful for students who are unable to decide on a future job.

J would Jike to thank Dr. Walsh: for his eye-opening lecture. ©."

Sara Irvine, 16, is a Grade 17... student at Windsor secondary. - - school. Her hobbies include acting | and skiing, and she is also inio music and good movies. She hopes to become a director.

... Another kodiak moment.