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Mad Hatter Page 5

 

ics, electronics, travel, banks, insurance
companies, trust companies, brokerages, real
estate, mining, entertainment...every single
sector of our economy has inflated and
grown. Dollars are not good measures of
relative costs or efficiency.

Of course, all of this took place in an ex-
panding economy. In the depression-like
recession of 1983 this growth has been re-
versed in many areas. Some -- not all --
parts of the private sector are spending
less. All parts of the public sector are
spending more (about six per cent more is
usual) EXCEPT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. In
1983 the public school system will spend
less than it did in 1982.

Whether this is just or not, it certainly is
not evidence that public school costs are
out of line with the rest of the economy.

But consider the other side of the ledger.
Apart from the multiplier effect of educa-
tion spending on the economy, the techno-
logical and productivity gains are incalcul-
able.

Brainpower and understanding produce techno-
logical change. Technological change pro-
duces productivity gains that dwarf any
other influence except incompetence.

Agricultural output is rooted in the green
revolution; automotive technology, in ro-
botics; expectation of life, in health tech-
nology; heating and transportation, in geol-
ogy, mining and chemical processing; and so
on.

These are not simple technologies. Without
a generation of secondary school graduates
who have some understanding of the, we shall
not sustain them; nor shall we grow to the
next technological level. Malthus did not
believe the world could sustain four billion
people. It does. Population estimates of
six billion in the near future will need new
technologies if the world is to sustain such
numbers. It is no accident that this in-
credible rate of technological growth began
with the introduction of compulsory educa-
tion. The pace of the '80s and '90s will be
greatly influenced by what we decide now
about the public school system.

 

— ~ IN

Conclusion

I am proud of the public school system. It
has taken on an incredible task. It has
achieved. It has not taken an unfair share
of resources and it has contributed enor-
mously to the creation of those resources.

And in doing all of this, thousands of

good and decent people have shared the joy
of living and caring for each other while
seeing the growth of young minds and of
understanding. Our schools are creative
places full of the laughter of children and
the wonder of discovery.

 

Gary Begin

Reprinted, with permission, from the March
10, 1983 issue of BCSTA Report: Point of
View. Vol 78 No.3

 

Long Term Disabilit

Historically, there have been delays in
receiving initial payments on long term
disability claims through the insurance
carriers. This in turn has hampered Per-
sonnel in ensuring prompt payment to our
employees.

As you are aware, the long term disability
plan is a compulsory benefit for all reg-
ular employees. The first 30 calendar days}
are paid at 100% salary by the College. On)
day 31, long term disability with the in-
surance company comes into effect. As LID
payments cannot commence until the neces-
sary documentation has been completed, it
is imperative that the paperwork is com-
pleted fully, accurately, and as early as
possible.

 

Part of the delay in processing the docu-
mentation is a result of Personnel being |
unaware of a pending claim. To assist us |
in preventing this unnecessary delay, I |
am requesting that the supervisors notify
Personnel in writing of any pending claims.
This information should be provided as soon
as a claim is certain (day one in some
cases, eg. serious car accident), however, |

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