To the Editor,

On behalf of the
Terrace District Teach-
ers’ Association (TD
TA), I would like to
express our concern
with the statements of
S.D. No. 88 regarding
the cost of implement-
ing the class size and
support staff standards
being sought by the
association, ,

The TDTA is pre-
sently involved in ne-
gotiations with. the
board on the issues of
over-sized classes and
inadequate support
staff. We met with the
board on Tuesday af-
ternoon, Jan. 14, prior
to the regular board
meeting. At the board
meeting, Frank Hamil-
ton, superintendent of
schools, stated that the
teachers’ proposals
would cost 1.2 million
to implement. Danny
Sheridan, School Board
chairman, later stated
that such proposals
would require an in-
crease in taxes of 89 per
cent.

We are shocked by
the board’s figures. We
see no basis for such

TDTA president writes

Terrace Review — Wednesday, Jan. 22, 1986 3

Teachers express concern

figures and feel that
they could be very mis-
leading to the public.
We agreed with the
board on Tuesday that
solutions to all the
TDTA’s learning condi-
tions concerns may not

be’ possible immediate- .

ly. We are looking for
an agreement with the
board on class size and
support staff standards
which provide an at-
mosphere for successful
learning by students at
all ability levels. We
feel very strongly about
the educational benefits
of such standards and
want a definite date for
applying these stand-
ards in School District
No. 88. We recognize
that this takes time and
planning to implement,
but first we want a
commitment from the
board. Even if changes
were implemented this
month, the estimated
cost would be $215,000
for the rest of this year.

The current trend of
declining enrolment in
the district would fur-
ther reduce the need for
hiring additional staff
by the end of the cur-
rent school year. We
don’t know where the
board got its figures.
We suspect that they
used exaggerated staff-
ing requirements based
on September 1985 fig-
ures and costed for the
entire year. The board’s
figures do not accurate-
ly describe the situation
which exists now.

The teachers and the
Board appear to be very
far apart on the issues
and we would suggest
that until the board is
willing to realistically
and constructively work
towards a solution, the
teachers will be forced
to continue their restric-
tion of non-instruc-
tional hours of work.

This has been a most
difficult step for the
teachers to take, but

School District 88
proceeds with donations

At their Jan. 14
meeting, the trustees of
School District 88 voted
four to three to proceed
with a donation two pro-
vincial ministries had
already advised against.

At the December ses-
sion, the trustees tabled a
motion to donate $1,000
to the Simon Muldoe
Memorial Bursary Fund,
for native students, to be
established at the
University of British
Columbia.

On the last day of
1985, the board received
a letter from L.A.
Rudosky, Director of
School Operations for
the Ministry of Educa-
tion, addressed to the
board’s previous secre-
tary-treasurer, stating,
“About a week ago I ad-
vised against making a
donation to a native
band council’s scholar-
ship fund, on the
grounds that the expense

was not one a board is
authorized to make
under the School Act. I
have since received con-
firmation from the
Ministry of the Attorney
General that an expen-
diture of that nature is
not authorized.’’

Trustee Ray Jones was
the first to take expec-
tion to Rudosky’s
response.

He said it contained
‘‘no real answer’? why
the donation should not
be given and charged it
was “akin to the overall
government policy, espe-
cially as to native
people.’’

Jones said natives can-
not get access to lottery
funds either,

Jones then moved the
$1,000 donation be made
specifically from funds
received via the
Master Tuition Agree-
ment.

He added more stu-

Offer extended
to senior citizens

by Dave Simons
Retiring first vice-

president, BCOAPO
Branch 73
Terrace— First and

foremost, let me point
out that in my report of
the monthly meeting of
the B.C. Old Age Pen-
sioners organizations
{(BCOAPO), Branch 73,
on Jan. 9, 1986, | failed
to point out that the

‘refreshments after the

meeting were provided,
as they always are, by
the Terrace Kinettes.
My sincerest apologies

to a grand group.

Secondly, all your
new applicaton forms
for Guaranteed Income
Supplement, etc., are
now arriving. Maybe
your 1986 income tax
forms have also arriv-
ed. If you need any help
with either of these,
please give me a call at
635-7983 any evening
between 6 and 10 p.m.,
or at 635-9090 between
11:30 and noon from
Monday to Friday. |
will be only too pleased
to help.

dents from the Hazel-
tons, Muldoe’s area, are
now attending universi-
ty, especially UBC where
the bursary is to be
available.

Chairman Danny Sher-
idan said he didn’t mind
the motion, but said it
might be putting the
board in an_ illegal
positon.

Trustee Jan Anderson

_ Said it was not a band

council asking for the
funds, but the federal
government through the
Department of Indian
and Northern Affairs,

Secretary-treasurer
Vern Rozee said in the
past the board had at-
tempted to donate to
scholarships from oper-
ating funds and that was
not permitted.

Rozee said the board’s
money was public funds
given in trust and the
government would not
permit such a gift for
someone else to spend.

Trustees Stu Chris-
tensen, Parker and
Sheridan voted against
the motion, but were
outnumbered by Lavern
Hislop, Jim Angus, Ian
Anderson and Ray
Jones. Nancy Orr and
Kirsten Chapman were
absent.

Sheridan said it was
“‘very likely the board
would have to seek legal
advice on how to take
funds from the Master
Tuition Agreement’’ to
make the payment, but
confirmed the cheque
would be written shortly.

Something to Sell?
Try Classifieds

given the circumstances
it was the only alterna-
tive available. There is
no gain here for teach-
ers personally, other
than the fact that they
will be better able to use
the professional skills
they were trained to
use. The real benefit is
for the children of this
district, not just the
academically successful
students who seem to
do well in any class-
room, but those aver-

age students, slower
learners, and non-Eng-
lish speaking students
who require so much
more individual atten-
tion. The board always
speaks proudly of the
academic success of this
district’s gifted students
and well they should.
The teachers are equally
proud of having the
opportunity to guide
those students and help
shape their success. But
teachers also recognize

that a large number of
- students in classrooms
are not academically
gifted. They require
teaching methods which
recognize the individual
abilities and disabilities
of these children, Large
classes deny to those
children, access to
many educational op-
portunities which they
have a right to have.
Smaller classes are
more able to meet the
needs of all children.
John Eades,
president, TDTA.

Classifieds make
quick sales

Earl Wallington

| feel teachers
should concentrate
on teaching. That’s
what school is all
about — learning.
I’m 15 and still going
to school. I'm getting
pretty good marks
too.

Carol Wallington |
If they are getting

paid, | imagine
teachers should par-
ticipate in extra cur-
ricular functions. |
think sport and club
activities are impor-
tant aspects of the
school curriculum.
Students who have
an opportunity to
travel to other com-
munities to par-
ticipate in thelr
chosen recreational
pursuits, also learn
about other districts
and can compare
various facititles
with those in their
own community.

The Yerrace Review asked:

Should teachers refuse to participate
in extra-curricular school functions?

ART tk) ae

Karyn Kirk
No. I think it is impor-
tant that students be
given a chance to
participate In extra
curriular activities.
Besides the sports
programs are physi-
cally beneficial to
the teachers as well
as the students.

Dennis Lissimore
We work with a lot of
school groups and
teachers who take
part in ski programs
on Kitsumkalum
Mountaln. For the
most part teachers
put in a lot of
volunteer time on ex-
tra curricular pro-
grams for the benefit
of students. Al-
though teachers may
have legitimate con-
cerns, holding
students at ransom
isn’t exactly falr.

Lucy Wilson
Yes, | do think
teachers should con-
tinue to be involved
in extra curricular ac-
tivities. If students
don’t have sports op-
tions, how are they
going to learn what
sportsmanship is all
about? Physical ac-
tivity associated
with competitive
team sports is thera-
putic as it helps
students get thelr
frustrations out.

Wes Sharyk

| think teachers
should make an eaf-
fort to put in Instruc-
tional time for extra
curricular sports as
such events are of
value to young peo-
ple. It's better to
have the kids Involv-
ed in sports and club
activities than out on
the streets causing
trouble.