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Private schools

column by. Don Schaffer

. Bill Homburg’s ietter, published in the Feb. 8 edition of
the Daily Herald, contains some easy assumptions that
_ bear closer consideration.
Mr. Homburg’s letter dealt with the fact that private:
schools are not fundéd on an equal basis with public schools,
* His letter implied that private schools do the samé job as
. public schools; do it better, and weed out. the unsavory
elements public schools contain, especially within the: ranks:
of teachers.: ©
_. My first. point is that it's becoming very easy to criticize
the public school system in B.C., but considerably ‘more
difficult to offer constructive alternative structures for it.
A prime example of this “kick ‘em while they're down"
atmosphere Is the minister of education, Bill Vander Zalm,

- Mr. Vander Zalm’s' major contribution: ‘to education in’
’ B.C. since he took office have been: to- -massacre budgets |
~ beyond minimum effective limits, publicly humiliate school
teachers, emasculate local:-achool boards and generally
make school. a:much less enjoyable place to be, for ad-

: ministrators, teachers and students alike.
1 don’t happen to think that that’s his Job, nor dot think
.he’s doing his job very well. Creative, constructive thinking .

is sadly lacking in this ‘ministry. *

: Secondary, the point was raised that private ‘schools do a a.

lot better job o opts students than public schools.
}! I think that’: ose debaie: but" given ‘that it ad ‘true, ©

what might the:feasdns, be?

" A better learnirig: environment ?.. Surely, it public schools
could sereénthelt students the way private schools can, and:
‘get rid of “bad” students as.easily as private schools can,
they’d be ‘able to do 2 ; much better job. .Unfortunately for’
‘many teachers and for the system as a whole, everyone is

, -weleome inte the. public school. system, not merely the

children of patrons, or children’ of people who share a
“religious or- political view with the school, or: children of -
gifted educational capabilities. ee

. No, every person's child is welcome i in the public sctiool
- system; and that system must by law offer every child an
: education, whether or not the child is interested in receiving .
jit, Even if the child is only interested In disrupting the
i learning environment and making it impossible for others.
{ tolearn. Even if the. ehild, cannot speak the language of the
! majority (this is what the English as a Second Language |
program is for). Even if the child-has a serious physical
: handicap. (this. is the group that Kili K-san schoo) | program

- is for}. “ina? oe Py
These programs cost money, ots of it, but still no-one can
ibe turned away. from a. public school, regardless’ of
disadvantages the child is born with or creates for himself. .

ft That's part ‘of. the: ‘problem’ with ‘the public schoo} en-
vironment, but- It's also the beauty of the public. school .
{ system, and that’s the third point I'd like to make:
i Mr. Homburg seems to feel that private schools-have the
God-given right to the. taxpayer's money, ever if they make
no pretention of offering a wilversal education’ to.every “
! child that: ‘knocks. onthe door. He seems. to feel: ‘that, Af
private sctiools dori’t. get ‘equal funding,” people ‘whit
(children attend private schools should be able to channel _
: their school taxes into a private. school fund,
:” J disagree,
T think that it’s every wage-earner *s duty in this society t to
| pay school tax, and that schoal tax money should go to the
i public school system. All of it: Every cent.

; Towsay that because your ‘kids don’t go té public school .
-. you shouldn't have to pay tax ig like ‘saying that because
you're.old and your kids no longer use the. syatem you
; should no Jonger have to pay. :
Or thal if you have a job, you shouldn't have. to pay vIC
preiniums because hey, you re not t gelting anything out of
MR fo 5.
Or like saying that because you're young and dont draw
from the old age pension fund; you shouldn't have to Pay
_CPP premiums. Mie

That’s just shortsightedness, :

These Institutions have been created to benefit the entire
society hy benefitting the few that use them, and because -
you are & member of this society, you have a responsibility

: to support, these institulions...

“The edicational system of a free and democratic soviety.
has been structured s6 that every person's child, regardless
of religton; ski color or ability to pay, will have the same
‘ erack at a good education as the next person’s child. - By
Y slashing at‘the public: school’s funding, while at'the same
time increasing funding to privaté schools, the ahortaighted —
Mr. Vander Zalm and, bis ministry fly in the facé of every”
Single advaricement in education singe * the. 17h. pen ury,.
and inkult the free society in which they’ live.

We have ai sibility tothe less advantaged améng us to

! ensure, that: their children will haye a worthivhile public’

{school ysl em to attend. Private schools may be wenderful -
: and i Bone, thd doubt, do.4 better job. than public schools;. but”
| the publi¢'schools should come first. No doubt about it.

- elvilizedt Western soclety, despite all tts flaws, and-the only -

* way. We can | improve our society Is tat to to improve the education

‘of its chitérert.” onan

Des Board Met ber ¢
; i: ‘changes
: ‘to ratify a
: ‘through’ the implications tor. wome. in‘ou ‘ seglon,: we, “are

1“. eompelled lon make the following observations and resid
. for-netlan: * fe :

: for the Aluminum Company of Canada in Kitimat:-

- throughout the: western world.

In tough fines like today's, private schools aré luxury: ;

Northwest Coirimunity College fi
its Statement of Phildsop! lth
at lls Feb. 19 board meeting-in' Terrace.’ ‘Thinking,

‘vanlaged People i ig to be dropped irom tlie copii
college says. it no longer- plans to ave a speck aie

he: college is:éven maintaining, that it ine

on ‘speclél consideration ‘to’ such groups, as: if- ‘the: speciat .
"S programs-of Employment Opportunities for Women} the :..
>’ Women’s: Studies. Program; ;

the Aboriginal:
Program and the Labpur ‘Studies Program’ ‘
éxlsted! a Lek ae

We uigitat that the college cannot deal with slider

people it will-be educating will be middle-o: rppe ‘lise
white people, moatly- males! :

Women are,’ collectively, in one ‘of these disndvasitaged
groups. There are, doubtless, mény. reasons. ‘In'tha:Nor-
thwest, part.of ‘the: problem. -is our. ‘knowledge?

our communities are low-paying and those that offer: thle
advaticement. (For more information; see the report of. the.
Northern B.C. Women’s Task. Force: on: “Single » ncstty
Resource Communities, 1977.) If a woman’ wants'to feed

career and head straight: for that:joh-int thest
couple has to decide which: partner should: -plirsi

who will eventually: earn most money— inmost cases, the
man. ;

These situations have’ been documented. “for
Women do face special barriers. when it: comes
education and thereafter when we enter. the job: market.’
. The most recent proof of this is found in the report ‘prepared
Wome
& Youth in’. Northwest B.C. Labour Markets; .:(Prince
, George to Prince’ Rupert), which was released: Déceti ber
1982, Factors: that impede us.are; our own view a
selves and our. capabilities, our dual role working ‘boih

_inside and outside the home, Jack of adequate child care,
lack of- mobility, the attitudes of. potential. employers, and

-the-restricted range of job opportunities... :
_ The Canadian, Association for Adult Education hag fod.

that in fact more women are ooking for: post-secondary:

- education but that we “continue to train: in: traditional

fetnale occupations which ‘offer. low ‘wages: and face the
threat of disappearing as a result of technological change: ”
(Globe & Mail, Oct. 20, 1982), :

While we recognize that problems: for women ‘start nintich :

earlier than at-college level, we maintain that Notthwest,

Community College should: ‘do-far-more than, it has:to en+

_ courage’ ‘women to. pursue their education; [It must actively: °

counsel us to seek other, than traditional training. It. must.

- algo stop: encouraging | us to enter, fields that hate no future.t 6
At present it could be argued that the College is, in fact} ;

creating problems for women whe are still taking clerica
courses... Nawadays- that. means their jobs -are prone to’
sudden obsdléscence. - ‘

This: “technology”: phenomenon: is: being ecognized

electronics firm, Slemens, has predicted that 40: ‘per cent of

“the'work done in today’ 's offices could be automated by:1990,

in France,. the 1978 government - ‘Nora-Mine Report
estimated that French ‘banks and’ insurance : ‘ompanies

-could reduce their, staff by as much: ag 30 per cent over the |
next 10 years.- And in Canada,, Heather Menzies (author of

. Women & the Chip) predicts that new office technology will

- be responsible for nearly a_milllon women’ being without -.
Jobs’ by 1990, unless appropriate yhéasures are taken.

olt's: interesting: to note that this threat of : becoming

redundant overnight - - which is already- -happening, to‘some. |
degree: in, offices ‘in our ,region — isnot sémething that —

women have any control over, because we.have no say in
management decisions which bring technological. change. ©
Yet it‘is we who must. live withthe consequences, u

As low-income. earners: (we earn about'60 cents for each :*
dollar’ a man earns, ‘according to the’ Canadian Advisory .
‘Council on the Status.of Women}, we are also unlikely to
seek other job training. The Canadian Association for Adult

., -fhe room. with you: it will be leas lik is
“Adults from families: earning more | th with y hee i ely’ to gel attention.

-Education states:
than $30,000 are five times: ‘as likely to’ take adult education
_ courses as those from: families earning under. $10,000.""

. ey

‘What effort is being made by NCC to’ encourage women to
break through their traditional, job- molds? The Canadian
Association for Adult Education again:, '! !eothe female.

~ share of training in construction trades. ini 1980 was 13 per

:, Pent, whilein clerical occupations it: reached 83, 1 per cent.”

But Violet Gives Willingly.” " How does a female student feel

in such a class? Is it any. wonder that women get eynical J
. ‘Sometimes? \. :
, Unless the college is actively Seeking to aradicate such: te

anachronisms from the teaching material and: attitudes of},

. “opportunities for women and men.,

-We applaud the Cillzenship « clause. in the Statement of:
Philosophy, which reads:, PhS: Northwest : ‘Community:
‘College: recognizes ‘ its ‘responsibility.’ ‘to -aid in - the
development of citizens who can, participate fully and ef-l:
fectively in society in general: and in their: individual ‘
‘communities. " :

‘Good! We take that to mean that the college wil not shy wy Aga |
: of & Victoria group’ doing related work. - whietel
_ : belive in basic buman rights for all people, not, ig toy |
political and economic stracture works — taking full ac... thoge with.the most maney, power et. cetera:: janes

count of its blessings, but acknowledging that ‘it ean and|” that 1 ‘believe in équal human rights for!

- does work agalnstus — and what we can do about tt Suchl:.

. away from providing course content. which. will dericn- “

strate’ for minority groups, inchiding women, how our

an approach is vital if men and women are to be equals in
Canadian society. ee
Wé-. are. not « convinced - ‘that. ‘relying. ‘on modern!

‘ technological , advances (aa, inentioned’ ih the . Deceni,
*. trallzation section) Is necessarily the, best way to-go: We .
att exploitation ¢ of women and children, or to act out on. women

‘fear. that no. \charices for interaction wilh ‘other sludénta in

offs atnong the teaching staff int ‘our région in favor of
" ssouthern-based resource ‘people. : :

Z he College actively seeks. input ftom all’ ‘segments ‘of.
the’ éorriqunity ;: i€ Ia especially responsive to. recom::
_ mendations made by advisory. committees, established by.
“The College. tr *

visory
: hein

-a8 individuals but thatit: must take ittto accoiint the: tat .
* that certain groups-of people are. disadvantaged; ‘and. co
tively seek to remedy the situation. If it doesn’t; the! ‘only:

on Germany, : the large ~

dntereste
{Ate coniments“Were directed sto Northwest Wome i:

result | in’ a mord passive sort ‘of. learning ‘and. reinforce. .

-‘wornen’s isolation, We suspect too that it could lead to ay 40 he'sextally stimulated through inflicting: violence:‘paln,
- find hurhitiation. Rape is terroriain ‘againal Women,

. apie’ human right. -

Wepre quite puzzled by the Assessment of of Nets section? 5 '
t ! -Publid schools and a free education ara the cornerstones of " os

gc
‘advisory. committees: for the special ‘prograiis, foreseelng :
‘that there: séeiried. tobe move. te ‘phase them; ‘qut,. felt’ it.
" imeeti

im ‘vepreaentative. ”:

rate. for course completion’ was'8 per cent.)

* One'of. the ‘ongoing problems for the Women’s. ‘Studies:
advinnty committee has, been that its members. from this.
"vast ‘college region’ have no travel funds. This committee is «
unlike bome: of-its fellows’ (Human ’ Service Worker, and:

Health: ‘Advisory Committees) ‘whose: ‘travel exipenses | are

; usually : ‘paid’ through’ their members’: ‘workplace. ° “This:
>” advisory committee cannot opsrale effectively iit cannot
matter what training we take, theonly jobs. waiting f for'usin:. —

-meet,‘and we: therefore: ak the college. to: ‘provide travel
funds for it.’ ; a :

operations are “open te public scrutiny”": We suggest. le a.
. Tegular ‘Open House’* would be a good idea. We feel thidt
her family and is aware that most. “openings | seem. to:be,in. ~ :
the retail sector, then she'll ekip training for a: ‘different os

,communications ‘with: the public: could’ b
would: nice, for instance; if members

write’ to the board culd receivea reply or,a
Fuller: Thinutes of “public: board, meetings" ‘Woilld7Aalso' be

blandly::
questions ‘posed by.ihe board and the public:

program co-ordinator’ 8 ‘position had: been. doie away ‘with.

(We request. that. it. be: retained:)” But from reading the «
‘minuites you'd. never ‘know: that: the advisory. committee, WAS,
even: present!‘ Thus’ ‘does the college obfuscate the issues, .
implying by. omission that all-is well: And. then it wonders - ;
why: we. ‘sometimes feel we -have:; ito: debate: the tives .
through the: ‘newsmedia! Be,

If the college | is fighting. for: ita life on’ very aide on a
count of- seemingly: ‘endless’ government cutbacks, 1 it should

make allies of tie’ gpectal- interest  BrqUups affected, instéad “7 8B

of merely alienating us: .
Yours sincerely,

Bm ae ~ Laurel Gibney; Secretary,

_ Terrave Wome’ 8 Resource, Centre Soclety

To the Editor, ra
The committee system is based 0 on trust, ‘There is for too

gathering all the information and background necessary to

Peed Aine Se eRe, gun peer |
Saaremaa ‘moré productive. ie aac there Is

-an ‘element of trust involved. You have lo trust that each
. alderman will pull his or her own share of the load. You

have to. trust’ that committee ‘members will take a keen
interest in the area of responsibility delegated to them, You’

“also have to trust that a committee will initiate new ideas to -
dolvethe community’ Ss problems. You have to trust that the .

committees you do not'ser've on-are just as competent as

“you to’ come: up with recommendations in the best Interests

> of the community. _
One: of the significant aspects of ihe committee system is -

that thé! public can hold: committee members responaible ot

fora failure to complete their tasks. For éxample, the: ‘in-

"dustrial: development committee can be held responsible.

for a lack of industrial ‘development initiatives. Just asthe:
reéreation committee « can be held accountable for ‘problenis-

- in’ recreation. “This is. ideal. for holding ‘elected officials
: accountable, and the public should be: able ‘to focus this
. accountability. On the other hand, if you do not: wish to be
held’ accountable; if you would like to blame: someone alse, .
what better method than.to avoid being placed: ing specific: ,
area of responsibility. One of Murphy's Laws States: when
: something | hits the fan make sure there are a lot of people in *

”. It should, be interesting to see’ what the next- power play,

_ will be.‘Alderman Down, who has had two months in office,
’ Is now proposing changes. lo our procedural bylaw: which .
has stood the test’ of time, Our bylaw was passed in 1969.”
‘under the: then: Mayor Fred Weber with expetienced
: politicians providing input, Alderman. Down, ‘row! in: ‘the:
‘heat of what he perceives as a major’ power, struggle, is: ;
- 2 proposing ‘changes which’ are designed: to ‘destroy. the:
At Northwest Community College, ‘a -thorough’ “committee system. All this precipitated by rity reluctaltee.
examination of attitudes, particularly among its vocational
teaching staff, might be a good place to'start. Why are there”
Bo few women in’ welding, carpentry, ’. ‘electronics?, The: a
- following catehy phrase was handed out last fall.to students ,
“in the electronics ‘course, t0: help’ thera remember the-»
"Resistor Colour Code: "Bad: Boys Rape Our Young Girls:

-pointments. Itis an interesting chapter Ina kind of Fantasy .

Islarid, perhaps another of his “compromises. the

"Next November will 5 Boon be here: The issue of leadership’

will bea. mute one. If you don’t follow, no one can lead orif'

“you. don’t know where you're going, no“one can lead. The
“question: of. accountability ‘willbe difficult.to deal with +”.
““but“It; wasn't “my - specific, esponsibility”, someone will” ~
"3! gay, “ond besides T tried but it was the other guy. "All in alll,

. the universe ts unfoldirig as it should. The, irony is is, that with
political Power’ comes aecountability.” “
its entire system, it is not doing its job of providing equal :

To th Balter... Peas os ye
As a6 itizen: who belleves ‘in: basic. human rights: Twa
toread Roy Atrill’s. leiter of Feb. 1, Tbelieve Mr.

inst Rape; “Womert ‘Against Pornography” ty tt

women. ‘Edd ‘not, expect to be the topic of hate'liter

that ‘the hate Ilte‘ature should be publicly. hehe
fot accept the.libel of pornography, that women like’ ta be.
taped, tortured, and subjugated. I: ani not ‘prepared | to.
-aecept that any men, influenced by such libel; have a basi¢:

furan: right to either profit financially from the’ ‘sextal

around them the idea that it is normal and natural for them:

‘not a.

T aiili. -have.some faith in our: > judicial Byat

And: lis
ibility. to enforce. laws, although: ‘this. faith inoften. haga | to “
 suatulit. “Use of the judicial and parllaineritary. systema
Protection's far
Bgainit: Physical ‘and ‘epghohgical: violence,’ although

hasn't afforded women and children much

1

tv - .
commilteds: were ‘accused during those years’ of ‘not
Recommendations ‘from i
‘Abot iginal: Studies were ‘further disregarded because they”
d idk puaranted that the same member representatives i
‘Htfend seyeral meetings: Consecullvely, thus losing
* “continilty.” (Aboriginal Studies was in fact phased out in’
. the’ 1670-80; ‘a¢ademic year, although its students: success ,

"<)> until alter the fireboribings of Red Hat ‘Video vitleta in the
Lower Mainland on Nov

“ment ‘officials at municipal, province cle
~ Leaflets, petitions and Seb n

"Section 159, some. time before. °

© the Faltor, ;

7 often: “the: selentific, facts, ‘underlying ‘the: lage are

i ‘some. notification that their correspondece Was receive? a inadequately ‘understood ot deliberately distorted,. For. the

‘education, they'll generally decide. in favour of ihe partner.

helpful. ‘The latest minutes, ‘of ihe Jan: 8 meeting, atated .

-. the: administration answered a’ number of

a Who posed :
. those questions?: What was their general ‘content? It" wat at

* that January, meeting. that the Women’ § ‘Studies, Advisory

- fate remalis that abortion is. an act.of violence: against. fn

os Further. to the abortion controversy, the:

also: at 8 p.m:;
: Yours ‘sincetely, 7

e Society ‘and the’ participants | inthe Games,’ Y extend’ our -
. thanks and congratulations to’ all ‘thase tnvolved : 2

much Work required for every alderman to. be. involved.in —

‘Democracy: is in ‘serous trouble because ‘of: monéy,

‘interests.

- use television’ to get the. political message, ACTOSE. | Just
- looking t at costs locally we will be faced with television’ costs
Of $2, 50 persecond (the latest rate card I have shows $75 for

- estimate our costs to-be in the neighborhood of $33,000: - In

‘".“Wheb- campaign finances’ are gathered at: ‘the:

‘subservient to: provincial party. headquarters : and: Jess

. involved: Everyone denies knowledge of the source of those

_ CHBut, as Seats: go‘ bp and local ‘anarees Of funds sed
throvighdbcial events like dances (as thé NDP does)

/ vioug and { first stepis for you toget into the polities! party of
° your choice and work 1o prevent it from n happening, :

7 ete
exploitation. of ‘Sex, or of : Bex. wand any °
t ‘srulty and violen

‘and will;continue tobe ‘by m

‘against pornography. : - 8p
police or government: ‘action was taken aga
Video”, a franchise dealing in pornogra

Sodn after the bo ibings, ‘(and
the resulting publicity) same video tapes were impotinded,
although Attorney General Allan Williama had -been made
aware of their. existence of thelr clear ‘contravention of

After thefirebombings, the police offered ‘iprotection” to
Red Hot Video.. Perhaps some day’ they'll be able to offer
protection to the women and ehildre, of the: rovinge-
Alicen Keamarden . . ,
for Northwest’ Waren Against tare

Abortion is indeed a highly sil aubject, but all too

innocent human life and. is therefore a: inoral’ jamie; the |
blological fact that human life begins at. coriception ia a
scientific matter, and has-been beautifully. documented in
the Nova TV program “Miracle of Life". which't can: be #een
tonight at 6 p.m. on Cable 9, as well as Wee
on the same channel.

“The Fifth Estate” will be dealing with the subject tonight,

Terrace. Pro-Life mo
Education Association

‘Games Feb 4, "sand 6. cee .
‘VAn’ event the’ size of. the ‘Games Anvolving 2,500° ‘har.

ticipants plus tora. requires a. large * amotnit “of

organization. On behalf of the Northeri’ B.C: Winter Games

A eb well’ dorie Terrace, thank you.. ~*~ *
a doh MeMurehy :
oe oT ss “President
Northern BC, Winter Games

rebels ih gu

‘VICTORIA
REPORT

by FRANK -
HOWARD |
Skeeno MLA

because of the need for find ‘campaign funds for. political
parties and political’ candidates.

. Weare quickly. moving into a period where there will be
an almost ‘obscene scramble for campaign’ furids, "Some
parties: will be: able to fil into. this. scramble very easily
because they, have a trakiitlonal connection, with moneyed

Part of the Technique doring.a an election campaign is to

‘a30second ad). In addition there are studio and production :
costs. A ge

~ Lest there be. any. ‘laumderaianding 1] am 1 not’ aitdinpting -
to identify television as a-costly ogre that is working against.
the interests of dbmocracy. Iam. simply using one example
to, bry tosh show: what. the cost off a locally developed caripalgn
will: bens: “

« The. NDP. jin Skeena has developed: a teniative campaign
budget covering, printing -costs, advertising ' ‘goats; cam-

paign headquarters costs, telephone costs'and the Tike, We

1971-it cost’ us: ‘something: in the, neighborhood of $15,000.

vIn the NDP we. finance our. electoral ‘campaigne: front the
grass roofs | upwards... Other: poltical Parties finance {thelr
activities, fromthe top ‘down. °

rand
funneled down to the constituency, ‘the candidate becomes

responsible: to his constituents: ~~: : .
“When finances are gathered at tite top i a lot. of seorboy Is

funds, yet the people iat the top know who put ip
and who expects . something in return,
en findinces are gathered -at the ‘top ’
where cash is used aiid records not kept: (R
a: if Ae 81,000 bills),

ed politic jane can pay
Hate-it like a political 5 patt
rethat the Premier's |
DUNTIS “aE, HL campalatt ‘funds: -
ming. “cay vipbign’ funds’ at- ihe of
otrad lefing finances locallydltpu
“ormaniéation ‘fs a Much helter ‘system,
source’of cam

thet those: cost, liens will. be thie demand

erisia proportions. a
+f ‘we Jet the. sarie- “thing happen here in B.C;
‘generalions will curse i¥/and rightly ‘wo, -835 >
The solutton may. be obscure at this: — tbat ther
=. are a ‘number of abtiona ‘itrat. can be taken,; "The met, bb-