A6 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 8, 1999 Let’s not lose sight of goal with Teen Learning Centre Dear Sir: While reading the Dec.1, 1999 article on the Teen Learning Centre, one can quickly become lost in all the -political rhetoric and miss the important is- sue-the. reason the centre exists. The number of young people struggling, for whatever. reason, is--too great in Terrace. They de- Sperately need a- safe place to go during the day where they can be shown the importance of continu- ing their education by tealizing- their strengths. They- need: to be shown they are of great value to CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The Mail Bag Anyone who enters this - small centre feels this un- conditional loving atmo- sphere, and it comes from the staff. Although smal! in num- hers, only four, they are the most caring profession- als one could met. ‘Their patience, support, and car- ing are genuine and. end- less. They cannot continue to solve this problem alone, political paperwork and :audits are not the so- lition — we are. Dawn Martin was right when she said, “The whole community will have ‘to themselves and society. task is immense but their Appalled at PR hiring Dear Sir: I] was appalled to read in the Dec. 1 issue that the Terrace Area Community Health Council has hired a public rela- tions person lo improve its tarnished image, and that the council has a $10, 000 budget for public relations. With the hospital situation continuing to worsen due to inadequate staffing le- vels, it is unbelievable’ to me that’ the council would be more concerned: with oplics than with the substantive issue of hiring more medical staff. Tam equally astounded that Mr. Novak . criticises the doctors’ decision to limit admissions from outside the community due to lack of adequate staff, because it may cause confrontation, -_ Do any of these administrators under- stand the seriousness of what is happen- ing? The care of peaple is being jeopar- dised, and their families are being sub- jected to unwarranted pain and concern. The staffing is not here to deliver the level of service that Terrace and sur- rounding communities have historically received from Mills Memorial. Thé doctors have been warning of this problem for a long time, but have not been listened to by administrators or gov- emment. People who are. sick or injured do not care about either.the.politics. or the optics . of the current situation: Nor’ do their fami- ~ lies. They care only: about getting medi- cal attention. The doctors' and nurses responsibilities are quite clear: to exercise their medical training and skills to help those in need. The responsibility of government, ad- ministrators, and the health: council *is equally clear: to provide the physical, fi- nancial, and administrative framework in which doctors and nurses.can work. In the Mills Memorial situation, gov- ernment. and: administrators have failed | abysmally. - The doctor's have stated the problem quite clearly: there. is ‘inadequate staffing to consistently and properly deliver medi- cal ‘services on a regional basis. Victoria says the money is in the re- gion so it isn't their problem, . The community health councils of the northwest do not consider Mill's Memor- ial a regional hospital, but wish to use it as one. They also say it isn't their fault- pointing the ‘finger. back at Victoria and lack of funding. ~ It appears to me that the medical staff are the only people who have their priori- ties right - start with the care of people first, and: follow with the money to make it happen. It is a profound shame that neither government nor the administrators under- stand this. Our services are deteriorating, and Mr. Novak wants ta continue playing a political game that has produced no so- lution over. the, past. several years, While the health council wants to improve the © oplics.of the situation. Rev. Wm. Anderson, Terrace, B.C. work together to help stu- dents succeed, to. support them and give them tools to live successful lives.” And think about it. This in turn will also help them raise their families to be happy, successful and va- Jued in our community. This is our future, If we, as'a community, put-as much time and ef- fort into helping our young people as we did towards a multiplex, at no cost, just think. All we have to do is start caring, start listening, let Andrew Scruton, Dawn Martin,. the staff at the Teen Learning Centre know you want to help ther make a difference, ‘Listen’ to our young people, fet them.know you care and Jet them make a difference! J. 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Terrace Builders Ue Dott center.“ ann 635- 6273 1-800-470-DO-IT 3207 Munroe st. Terrace Teen centre needed Dear Sir: The teachers here at the Teen Learning Centre (TLC) are teaching troubled students how to bond with other people. They teach us the value of things and just because they are helping us get better does not mean that Sludents will still have their disorders. I do not appreciate you trying to say all these nasty things about my school. If you went to school here you would un- derstand that the teachers are doing everything in their power to help each student here at TLC. It is not the teachers’ fault some students don’t want to be helped, but still the teachers try to help them. To my understanding you are trying to give my school a bad name be- cause of the students who attend here. This school gives me a reason to Wake up in the morming and want to go lo school. The teachers have a specific relationship wilh each student, and [ person- ally think all schools should have this system, Gina Erickson, Terrace, B.C. Medical Equipment Loan Service In Your Community, In Your Home. wa Canadian Red Cross Keith Ave. Mall © 635-7767 - Purchase any of these me UX, & EX Series Projection T.V’s MasterCard