NEWLY BUILT Mountainview Elementary School was never
opened last year as one of the school board's first major mea-

sures to cut costs. Now trustees are poised to close all local
schools on Fridays as part of 2 move to a four-day school week.

Four-day folly

Readers tell trustees to change course and keep a five-day school week

Dear Sir:

The Coast Mountains School
District is about to make all Fri-
days a staff and teacher holiday.

Some educators blindly claim
this will actually benefit the stu-
dents. It seems that we have the
proverbial fox in the henhouse.

It is common knowledge that
learning is best in the morning
hours. Adding one hour at the end
of the day will do little except sa-
tisfy legal teaching minutes.

The acting superintendent ad-
vises me there are 54,150, less

oo
- eerreee

to seek and pay for Friday day-
care. Those who are financially
strapped will leave young child-
ren, unsafely, home alone.

Could it be that public educa-
tors are more concerned with their
own welfare than their charges?

Parents and students seeking
an average or better education
will be forced into the private sys-
tem. This will further erode the
district’s funding. Unfortunate
children in the public system will
fall further and further behind the
education standards of our south-
ern cousins.

Are educators in Victoria, the
lower mainland or heaven forbid,
West Vancouver espousing the
brilliance of the four-day school
week? Let the north experiment
with these fast-ferry theories. No
one will notice anyway.

A recent peer review of the
district's accountability contract
indicates the district is failing in
all ten categories. The review
team's first priority for the district
is to “take steps to move student
achievement to the forefront of
the district’s priorities.”

How does a Friday holiday
support this basic priority? Daily
repetition is a critical tool in the
learning process. Three-day week-
ends will erade Thursday lessons.

It is disappointing but not sur-
prising that little or no concern
has’ been expressed by the tea-
chers' union or its membership,

Where is the NDP, who ferv-
ently claim to be the protectors of
our most vulnerable citizens?

Education minister Christy
Clark appears only to be interes-
ted in the bottom line. Children’s
education is beyond her simplistic
vision. How else can she impress
her cabinet. peers?

Where are the BCTF full page
ads and. TV commercials inferring
“Kids come first” that were pre-
valent during contract talks?
Where are walkouts and threats of

strike? It is interesting to note that

the champions of our children’s
education are forced into Friday
holidays.

On the brighter side, perhaps it
will help our northern economy.

Economic development officers
‘can brag about the school dis-
trict’s short week. This district
could become the hub of modern
education. Less is mare.

Teachers will have more time
to shop at Wal-Mart or visit
Prince George for Costco and
other delights.

eae
orced —

-on our kids shoulders.

CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD

The Mail Bag

This four-day school week do-
ve-tails beautifully into B.C.’s
new labour code. Children 12
years of age can work a three-day
weekend, pay WCB, contribute at
home financially, and generally
support the privileged class of
society. Maybe it’s not so strange

that Wal-Mart is coming to the

small City of Terrace.

Disadvantaged students under
this four-day school program will
not have second chances.

Those who fail to receive a
competent education could easily
cost society much more than the
board’s money shortfall.

If a teacher’s holiday is the
only way to balance the bocks,
beard, staff, and teachers should
muster up some courage, resign
en mass to reestablish. that pri-
mary goal: “A student’s education
really does come first.”

Royce Condie
Terrace B.C.

Dear Sir:

Does anybody believe that if
the local schooi board meets the
demands of the provincial govern-
ment and manages its cutback
quota and brings in the four-day
week that it will end there?

Last year the school board was
told to cut back and they man-
aged to nearly meet the require-
ments, after closing several
schools, laying off several tea-
chers, some who had been teach-
ing here for up to 15 years, and
increasing class sizes by nearly 3
per cent. ,

According to the May 14th
Terrace Standard, the district's
treasurer said they were right on
budget for the current year and
might even have a surplus.

If that is true and the budget is
frozen, then why are such ‘drastic
cuts needed again this year?

This year the school board tells
us they were hit with even greater
more impossible goals. It won't
end until the public

of

parents have to work just to make
ends meet.

Remember, they will be sad-
dled with extra homework and
less time in which to do it.

And what about the extra cost
of daycare? Many parents simply

fanitatford tt iu alee
Many parents have.taken jobs

7

that work for their kids’ school
schedule. A four day week would
seriously hinder that. Not to men-
tion an extra 25 days of daycare
per school year. At $30 per day (a
modest estimate) that’s an extra
$750 per family.

Five-day weeks are standard
nearly worldwide and for good
reason. It works on many levels,

Even though the attended time
is only six hours, the teachers
have an-eight-hour day minimum
over the five-day week. Teachers
do much more than is generally
seen such as preparing lessons for
classes, grading papers and provi-
ding extra help for the students
who need it,

And finally it is consistent with

the attention span of the average

child.

The proof of under funding is in
the recent report that. says we
need more achievement from our

‘students relative to other school
districts. From the examples set
by school districts that have tried
it, the four-day week is not going
to accomplish that.

Studies show that you now
have an increase in vandalism be-
cause the kids have nothing to do,
and with Mom and Dad at work,
it’s unlikely that many of them
will be home doing homework.

There is also a three day ab-
sence from the teaching environ-
ment. We all know about the
Monday Blas.

' The school board doesn’t tell
you that the few test cases of a
four-day week have resulted in
lower grades and the areas that
have it want to go back to five

days. Grand Forks is

speaks out in force —
with pickets, demon-
strations, petitions,
letter-writing cam--
paigns and more,
There will be
fewer school days
yes,. but there will be
fewer teaching hours
as weil and that falls

day

at Kids week?”
I think it’s pretty

“Are educators
in Victoria,
lower malntand OF Board officials have
heaven forbid,
West Vancouver ing they need aca-
espousing the bril-
liance of the four-

repeatedly men-
tioned, but no speci-

fics are given. The
the Grand Forks School

been quoted as say-

demic proof that
achievement has not
been compromised.

The four-day week
was tried in Alberta
and tests showed

school

cowardly to use
children as pawns.

What about family time? You
might reply, well what about the
extra day they will have off. I
would immediately answer that it
will likely be spent at daycare for

‘most of the younger kids, and at -

the mall for the older onés, be-

cause in this day and age, both

vod

that the students had
lower grades than their five-day
counterparts. It was scrapped after
one year.

In 1996, the Scenic Valley
School District in Saskatchewan
went to a four-day week to bal-
ance its budget. Their estimated
savings was five per cent, and

their actual savings turned out to

. 8 ue i

eb Pd

the five-day week.

be Jess than two per cent. That's a
far cry from what we are being
told. To date the rest of Saskat-
chewan has not followed suit.

I believe the four-day schoo!
week is a cop-out on the part of
our elected officials and compro-
mises the quality of our children’s
education.

They are our future and they
need to be given the best possible
chance, Don't let Neanderthals
degrade our youth and our future.
Fight back.

‘ Dan Hawke
aderrace B.C.

.
u

Veteeied Mavs
lente | R A | : ‘
Dear Sir: .
Why. aren't more parents

speaking out on the planned four- -[:

day school week? .

This structural change will
drastically impact all families
with students in Coast Mountains
School District.

Yes, the school board is caught
in a very difficult situation as it
tries to overcome the deficit and
this is why they have considered
the four-day model.

But .are we being fair to the
overall wellbeing of our students
and communities? Are we giving
enough consideration to, the aca-
demic, social, emotional and phy-
sical needs of students?

Every young child needs the
continuity and consistency of
daily structures and routines to
learn successfully.

With a three-day break — and a
four-day break when a stat holiday
falls on a Monday — the interrup-
tion in the learning process will
greatly affect memory recall and
the retention of the previous
week's skills and lessons.

How will most students spend -
Friday? Most will sleep in, watch
TV, play computer games or pur- .
sue other sedentary pastimes.

This will be exacerbated by the
long winter months. How many
students over 11 or 12 years of
age will be be at home unsuper-
vised except for check-in phone
calls from working parents?

At the community level, I'm
very concemed about the increase
in vandalism that I expect will
oceur, As a teacher, | often return
on a Monday to find broken win-
dows, graffiti and damage to
school gardens and property.

There will be greater property
damage downtown, possibly an
increase in shoplifting because we
will have many more idle youth.
Will these concerns necessitate
an increase in policing and the al-
tendant rise in policing costs?

Parents, ask your board mem-
bers to consider the wellbeing of
the whole child before they make
their decision.

As a teacher, I find this cost-
cutting measure contradictory to
improving test results and the Dis-
trict’s accountability. I appeal to
all parents to get involved in the
decision making process and to
urge the school board to preserve

-‘Susan Jay
Kitimat B.C.

s

. ” The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - A5

CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD

The Mail Bag

Don’t sue Alcan
Dear Sir:

This letter is in regard to “Study Quebec's tactics, -

Baker urges” in May 21, 2003 The Terrace Standard
which supposedly reflects the Terrace Economic
Development Authority’s views on the Alcan issue. ;

This was slanted to seem that I was quite
supportive of Kitimat’s argument on power sales,
when that is simply. not the case.

_ When you look at power sales and how they can
certainly lessen.the value of the resource to Kitimat
and the northwest region, I would certainly agree. 1
really feel that learning from the Quebec experience
is valid. Quebec's deal certainly evolyes around job
creation in return for the resource. Again, no

. argument.

Use of excess power for potential industrial
development in Terrace certainly has potential, but I
think Alcan is open to that possibility.

The provincial government's role of mediator in
this dispute is obvious, but this is where the article

‘gets cloudy. The province should certainly sit with

affected communities, but Alcan should also be
present at that meeting. They are a key stakeholder to
any negotiation and dispute resolution.

Not to say Kitimat’s concerns do not have validity,
but Alcan certainly have concerns which are quite
valid as well. No long term labour agreement. If we
look at Quebec as a model, we have to compare’
apples to apples, Quebec has an 18-year labour
agreement. High labour cost in Kitimat is certainly an
issue for Alcan.

I am sure there are other issues for Aican; these
are just a couple of key issues which certainly need
to be voiced at the negotiation table. ;

Taking Alcan to court will most likely be a losing
venture, no matter who wins or loses. Developing
policy which addresses the concerns of all involved is
the only way to solve the dispute.

The province needs to address all concerns, from
citizens of the northwest to Alcan, and resolve this
conflict. Creating a region conducive to investment is
very important for the northwest. -

By taking legal action against the major corporate
entity, a good corporate citizen, I am not sure we will
be sending the right message to potential investors.

Does TEDA support Kitimat or Alcan? The answer
to that question is that TEDA supports resolving’ the
dispute so all parties are satisfied, and creating a win-
win scenario outside a courtroom.

Brian Baker, Executive Director,
Terrace Economic. Development Authority,
‘Terrace, B.C.

~ The right attitude
Dear Sir; Be
In response to Mr. Glenn Kelly’s letter in The
Terrace Standard of May 7, 2003 regarding the
attitude of Terrace.

re ihavgyliyed in-Terrace, for-35 -years,and, think our

aan

attitude is just great. Mr. Kelly, you have not lived

:~ here long enough to form a fair and just opinion. The

people here have always been friendly and caring. I
was part of a group of people who fought hard against

- stat holiday openings. We just do not need it.

There is enough time all year round to do your
shopping. Opening on the few statutory holidays
during the year is not going to make any employer
ticher, and yes I also think that family is far more
important than working stat holidays.

- Employees are not usually given a choice, sir, of

’ whether or not they want to work.. Also considering

the wages you will have to pay, electricity etc., if you
really stop and think about it, you end up losing
money,

_ As for Wal-Mart, right now is not the time for an
operation that size to be opening up in Terrace, As for
thé so-called creation of jobs, the smaller businesses
that may end up closing, will be the ones employing
Wal-Mart,

It is kind of like taking from Peter to pay Paul,
don’t you think?

Before you start knocking the attitude of our city
councillors, you should look at their records for the
years past, and not just for the short time that you
have lived here.

You couldn’t pay me enough to be on council.
Even though I may not agree with some of their
decisions, they are probably doing the best they can
under the circumstances.

So Mr. Kelly, I think that maybe you’re the one

- who needs the attitude adjustment and not Terrace.

M.C. Viveiros,
Terrace, B.C.

About that runway

Dear Sir:

Local readers would think that the Municipal
Finance Authority arranges financing for. airport
runway extensions. Even if this were possible, as
guarantors, the Terrace property owners would be
taking on a tremendous burden, which could

jeopardize our future borrowing privileges. My

experiences with the MFA, a provincial jurisdiction,
are that it will arrange loans for infrastructures, under
strict terms, public meney invested securely.

Traditionally, Department of Transport, Ottawa,
pays for. airport reconstruction, which is as it should
be, The. Terrace Standard of informs us that. Air
Canada has declared bankruptcy, owing the airport:
nearly $70,000 received from flying consumers.

The courts will tie this up for months. With luck,
half the money will be salvaged. Unless, under
written agreements (no verbal promises), Ottawa
engineers constructs, finishes and pays for in full, the
airport runway jengthening is dead.

Gerry Duffus,
Terrace, B.C.

About the Mail Bag

The Terrace Standard welcomes letters. Our
address is 3210 Clinton St., Terrace, B.C. V8G
BR2. You can fax us at 250-638-8432 or e-mail
us at newsroom @terracestandard.com. No
altachments, please. We need your name,
address and phone number for verification. Our
deadline is noon Friday or noon Thursday If It's a
long weekend.

a