Average: class ‘size figures in Terrace and Thornhill schools recent- ly released by the School District 88 board are be- ing called into question by the Terrace and ke De Jong, sales manager at Terrace Totem Ford, District Teachers’ Asso- ciation. The TDTA has com- pleted its own study bas- spat hands over the keys of a new Lincoln to BCWG hostess _ driver Sharon Lynch. Totem Ford Is supplying a 15-vehicle fleat for use as VIP courtesy cars during the Winter Games. College, un ion reach tentative agreement A strike which would have shut down North- west Community College may have been averted through the latest round of negotiations. George Stanley, presi- dent of the Academic Workers Union, an- nounced that a tentative agreement between the union and college ad- minstration has been achieved following a negotiating session on Sunday Feb, 23. Stanley declined to disclose the terms of the agreement pending ratification by union members. The ratification vote is scheduled to take place Friday, Feb. 28. The Academic Work- ers Union last week re- jected a proposal from the college to resolve the labor dispute through binding arbitration. continued on page 16 Where it’s at... ar to A.guide to Terrace’s night Crive him here!” night Ilfe — the “who where and when” for entertalnment. Northern at George’s Pub Motor Lost Highway ith f Inn designed to please & crowd. This week’s Saturday Jam feature: Bring an instrument! a Relax at the Thornhill _ Neighborhood Pub Cosy fireplace and Atmosphere Entertainment Thursday, Friday and Saturday — 8 p.m. to 12 mid- “if you drive your husband to drink... ed on enrolment figures taken from the prin- cipals’ month end report of Jan. 31, 1986. TDTA president John Eades said that the asso- ciation’s figures show a higher average than those indicated by the board, Eades stated that the study was based on a count of students at each individual school divided by the number of full- time equivalent (FTE) teachers working in the school. The average class size in English elementary schools reported by the board on Sept.30, 1985, was 22.5 students. Eades said that the formula used is specified in Ministry of Education Form 2040, The average determined by the TDTA from the same set of enrolment figures came to 25.39 students. T TDTA conmaels Cake Bob figures Eades noted that the TDTA figures do not in- clude French schools or special classes and per- tain only to schools in Terrace and Thornhill. He added, however, that class sizes in rural schools do not differ greatly from those within the municipalities. With regard to secon- dary schools, Eades in- dicated that averages can be misleading. The BCTF Working and Learning Conditions survey of Sept. 30, 1985, indicated class sizes of 25.4 at Caledonia and 27.6 at Skeena Jr. Secon- dary. When the class sizes of 20.9 at Hazelton Seconday and 16.3 at Kitwanga Secondary are added in, however, the resulting average comes in below the provincial average. Terrace Review — Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1986 3 ‘* Averages,’ Eades said,“‘don’t begin to describe the learning situation for the 50 per- cent of all children who are in classes above those averages.” . In assessing the total number of oversized classes, the TDTA used its contract maxima as a guideline and board figures from Jan. 1986 to determine numbers of FTE students and teach- ers. It concluded that 44 of 119 classes in the district are larger than the guidelines allow, and that 32 of the 82 classes in the Terrace-Thornhill system, or 39 percent, exceed the same guide- lines, Eades said study showed a gradual in- crease in the pupil- teacher ratios in spite of ‘steadily declining enrol- ment during the same period. ‘We can clearly see the trend of rapidly increasing class sizes in the Terrace area,’? Eades said in conclusion. ‘‘We are seeing the impact of restraint on education throughout the province. Class sizes are excessive and learning conditions are deteriorating.” Ain’t Misbehavin’ 8:00 PM, Thursday, March 6th REM Lee Theatre Tickets: Carter's Jewellers in the Skeena Mall END FAST, WORRY-FREE COURIER SERVICE. If WITH US, THE BUS. Greyhound Courier Express Service goes to more places for less, 7 duys a week. Through a combination of Greyhound and Air Canada, we go to more places, more often. We'll get your envelopes and packages there — on time and on the money. Service you can count on... for as tittle as $3.50 within a province or across one provincial border and as little as $5.50 across three or more provincial borders (envelopes up to 1 kg/2.2 Ibs). 50¢ surcharge on collect shipments. Call Greyhound today for more information! . Charge account convenience Greyhound Courier Express charge accounts available. Pickup and delivery service available in most cities. Greyh ound Canada + COURIER EXPRESS SERVICE er SEND IT GREYHOUND COURIER EXPRESS FOR LESS, FOR SURE. Call Ted Garner — 635-3680 Seen ee f.