AS - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Dear Sir:

“To at least some readers it must seem
a sign of paranoia when teachers claim
that the provincial government is deliber-

ately underfunding education in order to
promote an ideological agenda of Priva-
tization. °

Nonetheless, it is difficult to argue
with facts.

‘Despite an’ acrimonious strike i in the
fall over underfunding, and subsequent
government promises that serious griev-
ances at issue. (such as class size, class
composition, etc.) would be addressed,

session.

there has been little or no progress at the
celebrated “round table,” and education:
has been barely mentioned in the Speech
‘from the Throne, which outlines govern-
ment priorities for the coming legislative

The minor improvements that have
emerged since the strike were fully fund-
ed by foregone teachers’ and support

:, workers’ salaries, ©

The Speech from the Throne allocates
‘a 2.35 per cent increase in educational
spending over three years, a paltry*sum -
that: is ‘in

selves.

reality a:decrease in funding |

once inflation, currently running at more
than this per year, is considered.

By contrast, private schools have been
allocated an increase of 10.38 per cent,
this from tax dollars from many general -
taxpayers whose. children will never see
the inside of a private school.

Examine closely the: published ads __
the private schools use to promote them-

. Without exception, they offer class
sizes.of “sixteen,” or'use phrases such as
“low class size.” If private schools can
afford, to provide such class size offer-

ings to their cli-
ents, they should
have no need of
_the government
funding the Lib-
erals feel is their ,
due.
Orconversely, |
‘if low class size ~
‘is a desirable fea- ~
ture of education
generally, '- (and

iberals just love private schools —

despite the glib propaganda spouted by:
“right wing “think tanks” such as. the Fra-

_ money would be better spent alleviating
the very real problems faced. by school
boards across the province. «

Instead, however, the Liberal govern-
ment seems to think it is’important to

what at the expense of public education.

emies.

research “makes
“it clear that it is,

Al Lehmann |

- Stop hitchhiking
. Dear Sir: >
_ Watching the TV news makes me. very ‘con-
cerned about the various Highway of Tears reports.
Another body found and not one mention that wom-*
en should not be hitchhiking.
As a-local truck driver you would be amazed at
" how it many women, are ‘out there at all hours, with

a their, thumbs out.

10 days after Tamara had went rising I saw
three; women in three diferent spots out there hit-

chiking. What is the matter with these women that

they‘are putting their lives at risk? Where do you re-
ally need'to go at 1; 2, 4 a.m. in the moming or rat
anytime for that matter?
_.Whatever is happening i in your life’ that j is mak- ;
ing you hitchhike, you need.to realize that standing
_ on the side of a highway is only going to make:it

-worse. In order for women to stand strong against. -

violence, they need to.actually stand. strong. Don’t
be out there being a victim. - .

" ve Terri Soucie
Terrace, B.C.

Vesta the storyteller.

» Dear Sir: :

' | first met Vesta Douglas 52. years ago and rec-
ognized immediately she was a ‘kid magnet”. When
one met.Mrs. Douglas in the corridors of the com-
munity it seemed that banners flew and bells pealed
forth like an aura around: her. Young people were
her enthusiasm.

-But it was 25 years ago. that I learned z an amusing -

story about she and her husband...I did a “life and
times” story on her for the Herald when she recount--

ed their honeymoon in’ the backwoods of Borneo - ff

where they sojourned. in a bamboo hut tied ‘together

with string in such a’ ‘way as to allow ample light. to.

- shine through the cracks between the poles.

Not only were they. really roughing it ‘but the ©

‘roof leaked: very badly, too, especially above | the:

‘hammock where they slept. She instructed me not |
to include it in the story, as it would embarrass Mr..

Douglas who was sitting right there as we spoke.

Mr. Douglas, it seems, had always wanted to visit

Borneo and took the opportunity by taking his bride
tothid ‘dfeamn

mantic nature?

“And Mrs: Douglas liked to tell a good story, even

' it it wasn’t meant for publication. She then had him — .

recite a very long poem from memory about Tubal- °
’ Cain, which told of the formation of civilization ac-
cording to the romantic lore of the Freemasons. -
Brian Gregg
Terrace, B.C.

Can't bear the spelling

Dear Sir:

Enjoyed your recent editorial, “This Bear Don’t

Dance”. It,is remarkable that someone has now ..
decided to;correct some of the injustices that have
plagued our white bear. ne

You took the ini-.,

tiative to try and cor-
rect; for the masses...
” of B.C., the correct © |
spelling of the bears | 4
propername. -
. . You spelled it: |;
wrong. According = |:
“to McTaggart Cow-
an, Dean of gradu-
ate studies, UBC, in
the book Mammals
of British Columbia,
the correct spelling
is . Kermodei, not
Kermodie. It is, ap-
parently, Latin, the .
language of science.

. You then contin-
ue the editorial us-
ing the wrong spell- |
_ing, Kermode, the entire length of the piece. I must
remind all who use.the Kermode spelling that that is
the man’s name, Francis Kermode. ‘The bears name,
in science, is Kermodei. wo

Vesta would be in tears.

“Les Watmough

Les Watmough
_ Terrace, B.C,

Ksan applauds city”

Dear Sir: _—

A few weeks ago oI received a phone call from a.

_ researcher; they: were doing some ‘research, she said,
and could she have some time to speak with me.

I’m quite familiar with calls from researchers -
office equipment, long distance providers and other
telemarketers of the world call often and I have a:
set manner of dealing with them. One of my first.
questions is always - on whose behalf are you call- .
ing please. and why are you calling? The answer I
received on this call was surprising, very surprising
even. .-

The City of Terrace. The City of Terrace? What
are they researching I asked - seniors issues was the
response. I probably sounded like an echo - the City
of Terrace, about seniors issues? Yes, she said, the |
City has asked us (us being the research department
at UNBC) to do some research on issues related to
local seniors; we’re here for two weeks speaking
to individuals as well as hoping to do some focus
groups. After I got over my shock we set a time
to get together. The researchers had definitely done

cant destination: Mr.’ Douglas had a very F To- .

Be

CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE : TERRACE STANDARD _

Q

cs

JALAL

Shirley Bond in response to local criticism.

Dear Sir: =.

_ education funding in the Coast Mountains school:
district. (“Four-day week kept intact by. school
board,” March 15).

Coast Mountains trustee Lorrie Gowen’ is

that government does not recognize the different
needs of districts. . .: oo

~ In fact, the Ministry of Education: will be pro-
‘viding the district with an estimated $8,528 per
pupil in operating funding next schoo! year, an
increase of $172 per student over 2005/06. Next
year, the Coast Mountains school district will
have an estimated $1.6 million more in operat-

enrolment has been rapidly declining.
Provincewide, since 2000/01 the per pupil

‘During the same period, erirolment has declined
by 30,000 students and it is expected to continue

next five years. Operating funding for school

— the highest ever.

Our government recognizes that northern and
rural communities have unique needs - this is
' reflected in the funding. formula: for B.C. school

districts. : ;

- The simplified: formula accounts for unique

and remote. factors, small communities, climate

UNIQUE geographic factors, such as a greater dependence on buses, is accounted for in —
the Ministry of Education’s funding formula for school districts, says education minister

- School dollars reflect _
_ rural districts’ needs

Vd. like to set ‘the record straight ‘regarding

quoted saying education is underfunded and’ and makes rec- §

- is comprised - of
“secretary

ing funding than. it did in 2004/05, even though districts.

grant for B.C. schools has increased by $991. sche
asked for
to decline by another 30,000 students. over the ibility and authority to make decisions based on

districts next year will i increase to. $4, 055 billion

~ and educators c can help i improve student achieve-:

geographic factors like low enrolment, rural —

FILE PHOTO —

sparseness.
The ministry’ s.
technical review -
committee annu-
ally reviews the.
funding formula

ommendations.
The committee.

a. mix of super-_
intendents:: and

trea-:
surers from both.
rural and urban —

‘It’s | impor- °
tant to note that
school | boards
and —
received the flex-

"Shirley Bond :

the unique needs of their communities.

If students are doing as well or better as ‘a -
result of the creative changes school. boards are.
implementing in their districts, I commend them.

_At the end: of the day, our number one goal -
for education is achievement — and how parents —

ment. .
mo a Shirley Bond, |
Minister of Education. -

» their homework in designing the tool they. used for’

gathering information - she asked some solid ques-
tions on a wide variety of subjects. From health,

"mobility, accommodation to transportation and so- ,

cial issues - she covered them all. She was asking
me in my official capacity but asked my personal
comments as well. I was very impressed with the
researcher, the research department and most of all,

with the City of Terrace.

She spent about an hour with me and then made
arrangements to-have a focus group at the Emergen-

cy Shelter. Staff and clients there, afterwards, were”

very pleased with the session as well.
In the social service field we know the only way
things, anything related to the “people business”, are

going to change is through pro-action. The problem
we face daily is we are so busy handling the day-to- .

day issues that come across our desks (putting on
the ‘band-aids’) we seldom, if ever, have time to do

‘the proactive stuff. Proaction is the subject of our:

dreams, always wishing we had the time but never.

_- quite finding it. Proactivity is forward thinking - to’.

make plans to get us to the point we don’t need the

_‘band-aids’ any longer. ‘The day we get to be proac-
- tive is the day we applaud ourselves. - it’s a great .

day.
' Way to go City of. Terrace, it’s a great day in- :
deed! .
Carol Sabo, Executive Director, -
Ksan House Society,
‘Terrace, B.C,

Police deserve better

Dear Sir:

I am writing in response to a letter submitted by
Shelley and Tanner Morberg, in which they told of
the unfortunate occurence of their cat being shot. in

1

} :
.
.

ml

the face, presumably by a neighbor. My ‘sympathy ©
stayed right with them for most of the article, until :

the last few sentences when they lost my good wn
“I hope (the RCMP) are enjoying. their donuts ..
_ how they chose .to end this otherwise well- writen
- article.

I am the wife of an RCMP member, and I take ‘

“exception to this comment, A-trail of blood leading « a

to a property is not enough. proof to convict some- |

one of a crime. There’ are also safeguards in laws |
and bylaws, which at times make even strong , cases
|. difficult to prosecute. RCMP members are out there

’ every day, trying to make Terrace a safer place, and-
"- they certainly don’t need slams from the public over»
' things likely not in their control.

ser Institute), then perhaps government -

shore up the private sector, at least some- |.
Sometimes’ paranoids have’ real en--

Al Lehmann,
Terrace, B.C .

‘Regarding the coffee issue — is it not lawful to . - :

"provide workers a coffee and/or meal break during —
‘their shift?’ Do ‘other. people not:like’ Tim Hortons «

coffee, and choose to go there? That the RCMP wear

uniforms makes them highly visible, and so they are

noticed as “always being there.” I know a great many -
days, officers don’t take’ lunch or coffee, because of |

- aheavy load of cases. They are at best taking a break .
- like most every other worker does. And at worst, not .
.getting one at-all. It is my understanding one of the

reasons they. often choose the Tim Hortons on the’ -

| - $outhside-is that the wide, open parking lot-enables -
them to safely leave i in a hurry if they need to.

The RCMP. get enough abuse, name-calling and,

. threats ‘from the clientele they deal with, and don’t ™
*need to read disparaging comments, like those made.
. by the Morbergs, ¥ when they. open the m mewspaper. |

een fs Lange,’ .

_ Terrace, B. C. s

State has no business
In the nation’ Ss kitchens —

Dear Sir:

- Are you aware the B. Cc. “Government has’ passed

; legislation. stating that, farm animals’ cannot be _-
slaughtered and sold directly to the consumers with- — a
“out being provincially inspected? ; ° a

We have no inspection facilities - available . ito”
us. You as a consumer, will have to buy your beef,

chicken, lamb, pork or turkey from a grocery store.

_ Many of you realize the need for farm fresh meat.

. Many’ of you know how aniirials' are ‘tieated ‘at: a
+ ~ slaughter, houses. : :

Many of you ; also know of the feeding of growth

: hormones, antibiotics, and other products which are
_ very unhealthy to humans. . ,

It has been your choice to eat the healthiest meat.

- you can find. In less than six months, September Ist,

2006. You will no longer have a choice, of where you
buy your meat. \
You will no longer be able to buy from your local
farmer or Farmers Market. .
. The provincial government believes they know '

__ better than you' when choosing healthy food. »

If this at,all-concerns you, please write to your.

: / MLA: and to. Pat Bell, (Minister. of “Agriculture),
- stressing the importance of. rescinding: this legisla”.
_tion. Ie s not what we want. -

°

Graliam Larson, |
»Kisplox, | B. .C.

Atomic hypocrites |
Dear Sir: |

o

Canadians and other peoples of the world a are 6. 7 ‘. |

atomic energy is becoming a great threat.

While this: over publicized nonsense is. being « . ~ we

forced on us the real culprits with. the atomic weap-~.;

-ons threatening the’ world are allowed to proceed *

unchallenged.
~The U.S.A. and others with atomic arsenals

, should be ordered or demanded to dispose of already ;

existing weapons.
If Israel, the U.S., Pakistan and India all have:
atomic weapons, why. not Iran? No, country needs -

_ atomic weapons. All should be destroyed. ©
~ The world should not fear Iran’s nuclear program

but the world should fear the .U.S.A..and its feeble’.
leadership of commander and chief “Bush”, the only «
"power to have used mass destruction on civilian peo-. :

ple - consult the Japanese for proof of this: -
, D.L. Bulleid,
"Terrace, B Co

| Local « carrier inpresece

Dear Sir: won}

. In February I escorted an ‘elderly neighbour down.
to Vancouver for medical treatments. The following
‘fares were for the two of us.

For $913, Air Canada provided" us with one”

7 grumpy steward and a beverage (chocolate bars.
-were $1 extra.)

. This booking was made: ‘over. the phone s so we did.

not receive an itinerary and the clerk asked me when — -

we were returning. I explained that it depended upon -

what the doctors found so the clerk said, “Let’s leave
it open’ and just call us when you are > Teady to re-

turn.” Great!
A open return ticket is just what we wanted but

. when we were ready to come home, Air Canada told
us that the fare was a one way fare.: 1 felt very’ de-
; ceived. ‘

Consequently, we - returned with Hawkair ‘for =

$501. They provided us with a cheerful, friendly .

stewardess, wider seats, a beverage, veggies, dip,
cheese, a bun, candies, mints and wheelchair assis-

tance. Thank you Hawkair for your excellent service

and at a reasonable fare.

of

Shirley Palahicky, _

Terrace, B.C.

. being conditioned to believe that Iran developing - an