B2 Terrace Review — Wednesday, January 10, 1990 .

Books for
Adult |
Readers ,

by Andrea Deakin;

é

L | _J
“What am | Doing Here”

For those who mourned the death of Bruce Chatwin, so young
and with still such promise of excellence yet to come, the publica-
tions of a collection of pieces, ‘“What'Am I Doing Here’’, is
some small consolation. Chatwin could never be placed into a
convenient hole, he constantly surprised and delighted with the
ease and excellence with which he tackled so wide a range of =~
topics. He was sensitive to other modes, other languages, other -
Philosophies; and this miscellany gives us some idea of his range.

It is a hotch-potch ranging from Chatwin’s conversations with
his cleaning lady in hospital, a poignant memoir of his father, an
account of being caught up in a military coup and an impression

of Indira Ghandi on the political trail, Chatwin has always shown

an interest in wanderers — he was one himself — and he was -
aware of the nomad’s concern with the spirit of the place in
which he stopped on his journey. He describes a geomancer in —
Hond Kong deciding the position of a new building not only by
the lie of the land, but by the ‘‘spirits’’ of the place.

Overall it is as a storyteller, a describer of different ways, that
Chatwin will be remembered. The collections of pieces in “What.
Am I Doing Here” gives us one last taste of his clear alert vision, .
his freshness, his intellectual integrity and his ironic wit. ‘‘What
Am I Doing Here” is published by Penguin at $25.95

“Carmanah’”’

‘Carmanah Creek flows through Pacific Rim National Park’s
West Coast Trail section and empties into the Pacific Ocean on
the west coast of Vancotiver Island. The valley is home to the
tallest trees in Canada: and the tallest Sitka spruce in the world.

- All but-eight percent of the valley is destined to be logged, put-
ting these magnificent trees at risk. The Western Canadian
Wilderness Committee is spearheading a movement for the
preservation of the Carmanah Valley.

‘To raise the public consciousness about the valley, and to help
raise funds for the struggle to preserve it, the WCWC enlisted the
aid of. 70 of British Columbia’s best-known artists. During May
and June 1989 they visited the valley to see its beauty and to
record their impressions on canvas. Among those who par-
ticipated in this effort were Toni Onley, Roy Vickers, Robert
Bateman and Mark Hobson. These interpretations have been put
together and published in an handsome volume, ‘“‘Carmanah: Ar-
tistic Visions of an Ancient Rainforest’’ published by the Western
Canada Wilderness Committee.

Each artist is represented by a photograph, a brief biography,
and a statement from them of their reaction to the experience of
the valley. On the opposite page the painting which expresses the
physical or spiritual beauty of the area is reproduced in full col-
or. Jack Shadbolt’s vigorous graphite drawing; Roy Vickers’
cool-toned seriograph; Nola Johnston’s glowing forest; Robert
Bateman’s ‘“‘Carmanah Contrasts’? — a powerful message from
lush rainforest to bleached and broken wood — all carry a strong
warning about what we may well lose. {,

‘‘Carmanah”’ is distributed by Raincoast at $60. 00.

“Just Looking”

‘“‘Just Looking’’ is often a casual disclaimer of any serious in-
terest or intent. When John Updike titles his essays on art ‘‘Just
Looking” he implies far more. Some of these essays are perfected
critical appraisals, as of the ‘‘Helga’’ paintings by Andrew
Wyeth; a case where “‘just’”? may mean ‘‘exact’’. Other essays are
more subjective, dealing with his personal response:to the works
he considers. In rendering their impact on him with clarity and
insight, he leads us to look again at their impact on us. Works

we may have casually Just looked at take on a deeper significance —

for us.

_ John Updike has an intense interest in art and a background in
it — he attended the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art at
‘Oxford. His critical accounts are based on firm ground. He is,

_ however, above all a writer and cannot resist some self-

. indulgence in the subjects he covers and how he covers them. Do
‘not look for any in-depth consideration. of modern art; as. he
‘remarks, ‘‘Op was the last art movement Penjoyed, and

".. Minimalism the last one | was aware of; [ could not adjust to art.

. “works that lay on the floor, bricks and tiles and coils of rope that
‘could be accidentally kicked’? Do, however, expect to be
‘stimulated ; enteriained and sometimes amused by his survey of

The Classroom Revolution -

re

Funding and standards s for an
independent schools set out

This is the final installment in a series by Terrace Review
Jreelance writer Nancy Orr analyzing B.C.’s.new School Act.

A discussion of Bill 67, the |

new British Columbia School
Act, would not be complete
without reference to its com-
panion piece, Bill 68, the In-
dependent School Act.

'. Approximately 34,000 stu-

dents, nearly six percent of the

’ ‘provincial pupils, are enrolled in
‘. schools other than public and

they have now all come under
Ministerial legislation. and must
be registered.

Funding has been controver-
sial in the past, partly because
statistical information on which
the funding is based is always
from the previous year, and may
be out of tune with the current
year’s costs.

An interesting feature'in the

new Act will give extra funding

to those independent schools

that keep their costs lower than.

the public schools in the same
district.

Most independent schools are

affiliated with a church, some

are established for foreign

students, and a few have no ap-

parent affiliation. The break-

down is as follows:

@ Catholics — 50 percent.

® Society of Christian Schools

— 17 percent.

@. Independent School. Associa-

tion — 14 percent. .

@ Others (approximately) — 20

percent, ;
- The funding i is categorized in-

to Groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5:

@ Category 1, 50 percent fund-
ing — Teachers must be cer-

‘tified, external evaluation and

inspection required, costs are the

same or less than public schools

regarding bonding,
‘achievement goals: and assess-

in their district.

@ Category 2, 35° percent —
Certified: teachers, external
evaluation and inspection re-
quired, costs not controlled.

@ Category 3, 10 percent —
Must agree to external. inspec-
tion.

Of the 100 or more schools
that fall into categories 4 and 5,
the majority are created to cater
to foreign-students. They have
additional legislated safeguards
advertising,

ment and other regulations, - -
In addition, all schools’ ‘in
whatever. category must comply

with certain regulations ‘which
-include inspection of facilities,

evaluation, and the non-.

promotion of intolerance in.
racial,
. matters.

religious. and social

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ithe paintings, sculptures and illustrations which have made him. -

(Stop, regard, ‘‘Just Looking”.
* | ‘Hust. Looking” i is published by Random. house’ al $48. 50.