CASTLEGAR NEWS, Thursday, March 29, 1979

POWER PLAY, a Theatre Energy production, will play this evening and Friday at the Regional Recreation Complex here in Castlegar. On Saturday and Sunday It will moke a two- evening appearance at Winlaw in the Winlaw Hall. This growing company is only tvo years old but has already collec-

tively created three original plays ‘about Kootenay life as well. as theatre worksh

and the Theatre

Synergy Festival. Many will remember last year’s production, “Muck Millie Virgil."—Ron Woodward Photo

- Voice of the People

~” Concerned About Cut-Back

.,. Editor, Castlegar News:

2+ Asa parent of two children attending elementary schools in the Castlegar school district, 1 am deeply disturbed by the implications of the school board's policy of putting finan- cial considerations ahead of educational quality.

“I do not know what the ejimination of four teachers due tp: jini ! will do

Ms. Jones suggested that ion time

possibility of severely reduced

for ear-

ks

was on trial. Was it on trial for its educational value? Has the trial been evaluated for edu- cational benefit? What were the results? What has preparation time been found guilty of, that it must be eliminated?

We are given no infor- mation — our board is evidently d with monetary'value

to: ig to the pupil-teacher ratio in the .. district, because I do not have the figures, I fear, however, that it will result in larger classes (what is the average * elementary class size now?). I predict a reduction in the ‘present programs for children ‘with learning difficulties. I see no hope of programs for gifted children,

Why doesn't the board look upon declining enrolment as an opportunity to reduce class size, in order to make individual assistance more readily avail-

- able to children? Why don't they look upon declining en- *- rolment as an opportunity to “expand special programs for children with learning diffi- culties? Why don't they look

only.

There are suggestions that elementary librarians are to be cut out. If so, then that, too, is unconscionable. At a time when the focus of education is on the improvement of reading and writing skills, it is absurd to reduce library services. In order to read, children must have books. Books are most easily accessible ‘in libraries. Libraries without librarians might as well be broom closets,

It is alarming to see edu- cational cutbacks being so casually confirmed by the chair- man of the education com- mittee. Why, rather than an- nounce a fait accompli in March,

did the board not raise the

lier public discussion?

The public might take the view that more appropriate places to make cuts would be such things as extravagant travelling expenses for trustees and their spouses, and BCSTA membership fees. (In return for the latter, remember, the board was aided and abetted in its wilful disruption of education for six weeks last fall.)

Isn't it the education com- mittee’s job to promote edu- cational programs rather than reductions in programs? Or is it

the entire board's educational .

policy to eventually jam as many children into as few classrooms as possible? That’s no way to guarantee children’s right to education. '

Tsubmit that the board has *

a responsibility to see that the taxpayers of the district get the best value for their money. That is not achieved by making major educational reductions in order toachieve minor financial savings,

Money that fs not invested

upon declining as an opportunity to institute pro- - grams gifted children? The elimination of ele- -mentary. teachers’ preparation

time is unconscionable, It will inevitably mean that teachers will have to use more of their own time in which to prepare lessons, will therefore be less rested and less prepared, and the quality of their teaching will suffer accordingly.

As a result, we can expect more, not fewer children who cannot read, write, or compute. They will grow into adults who

cannot read, write, or compute, *

and many will be unemployable and therefore a burden upon society.

Our readers are In- vited to express thelr views freely In letters to the editor. All letters dis- cussing timely issues will b Hiished

in now will surely have to be spent, many times over, in the future: on welfare, on unemployment benefits, on policing, on all the other costs that society must bear when its jon system turns out

e Pp they are within the laws of libel. Although noms: de plume may be used when necessary, letters should be short and carry the name and address of the writer. The editor retains the privilege to edit letters for brevity, style, legality and taste. Address your letter to: The Castlegar News, Drawer 3007, Cas-

people who are too illiterate and too unskilled to obtain work, Additionally, the board has

a responsibility to the children — to see that they get the best lifetime opportunities that the public schools we compel them toattend can give them. Giving them less than the best, in a society which can afford the best, is mean and deceitful,

Robert Jackson

Castl B.C.

tlegar, B.C. VIN SH4

three years they have been neig| Ss, t ond dogs with a loud hello, kiss and hug and a ‘goody’ just made.” In addition to maintaining a “big enough garden to supply the neighborhood,” the Houghtons help neighbors with their gardening and “are always there with o rose, advice, an extro set of hands or just a flower.”

The Castlegar News/ Mid-Week Mirror In co-operation with Sam's Nuraary & Florist

presents:

Good Neighbour Salute

Do you have an exceptional neighbour? Someone especially good, kind, and thoughtful? Has someone recently gone out of his or her way to help you?

Write and tell us about It.

2 The selected Good Neighbour of the Week will receive a plant of thelr choice, > courtesy of SAM'S NURSERY & FLORIST, along with the ''Good Nelghbour’’ "certificate from the Castlegar News/Mid-Week Mirror. i

Send your letters-to:

THE GOOD NEIGHBOUR SALUTE c/o Castlegar News/ Mid-Week Mirror

Drawer 3007 CASTLEGAR, B.C. VIN 3H4

jave wel

™

The

- This week's Good Neighbor Salute goes to Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Houghton of 4 1105 Ninth Ave., S.. in Castlegar. Terry and Karen Hughes write thai during the © ahh

1 “stray kids

J

2 About Crossing :

I's and Dottin

On top of my thls morning, I'found a-note from my husband that. read, “Walrunch Hnchinty. ~ Sol, Quea?????Ine 17,"

“What's this mean?" I asked, 2

\ “Can't you read my hand- writing?” he snapped. It. says National Handwriting Week, Column idea????? I thought maybe there is something in the fact that one day is being set aside to improve the writing habits of Americans and you eould do a column on it.

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“It -means if. you had penned the Declaration of In- dependence, the United States today would stand for "Ifn, liverte, and the prsut of hapi- nes.”

“ “Phat's a fine way for someone to talk who makes her sevens look like ones.”

“Says who?”

“Says the wrong number I got the other night from a phone message you left me."

“You try writing a phone message on a piece of waxed paper with a steak knife.”

“I still think you could make a funny column about

Erma

-Bombeck

how you flunked ovals in the first grado and went on to give birth to children whose 8's look like 3's and who forget to close their G's.”

“Don't forget they were sired by a man who loops his O's and who once wrote a cheque to the’ paper boy for $8,000!"

“At least I didn't write a”

note te the school when one of the kids was sick and have the nurse call to see what it was we had under control... his

‘diarrhea’ or his ‘drain.’ "*

“You know, it might be

nice to have just one day when everyone took the time to write legibly ... dotting thelr I's and crossing their T's, I bet millions of dollars are spent each year on people making mistakes and

y' i q ee: pea not saying’ what they -reblly mean. I'm sorry I snapped-at you, I'm going to file this 4déa until next June 14 and maybe gat the country to obsertg a day when we.could all rgad what one another is writing<" “What June 14?" asked

husband. “National Handwrit- ing Day was Jan, 28, See? That's an A which you mistook for a U and the 4 is a 3.and is nowhere near what youthought it was and who would listen toa woman who can’t even read English anyway?"

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