Letter to the Editor

Tre letter below was sent to Lorna Kirkham, Co-
ordinator Community Social Service Worker, by Ruth
Lund, a Student in the C.S.W. Prog.,
Ruth's letter speaks clearly of what she perceives
to be a very discriminating college policy,

When I came into the Community Social Service Worker Program in
September, 1981, [ thought I knew how to write letters, memos, reports
and other items of business communications. This assumption was based
on the Norch American concept of success -- I had been paid a substan-
tial salary for my ability to do so. I got my firse assignment back
from Helen, my Communications Insctructor (COM 110) and had to face a

shocking truch - 1 knew very little about communications. To accept
this was the first step in learning for me.

I am now learning what I call “The lielen Grodeland Method" -
simple, streamlined and effective. 1 did not iiave the opportunity to
learn "Tne Helen Grodeland Method" before - it was not available to me.
Now Helen's method is being made unavailable to future studencs because
she is being forced into ‘mandatory ege 65' retirement. T am concerned
for the C.S.S5.W. students chat will follow this class. Communications
for a Community Social Service Worker is a vital part of employment. LI
have had the experience in my field work placemenc of doing an intake
assessment and having the supervisor, woo was present ar the interview,
comment 'Cood = it tells anyone exactly what the situation is'. The
C.S.S.W. program needs Helen co help other students in future classes
to reach chis understanding and abilicy co communicate in their reports,

"exactly what the situation is'.
Why is the Collesxe aliowing this to happen? Lo recice an tustructor
of Helen's calibre without any provision for continuance of her special

method is to deprive the C.S.$:W. grogram of a needed part of the learning
that is imperative to wraduates of Lhe proyrim in obtaining and keeping
their field.

a job in I have always consilered Douglas College to be in

touch with the studenc’s needs. At Douglas C-lleye - feel - am couside red.

As a student my aveds and wants ure of prime ceneern. At Mouylas College,

I Feel L can ciweose the courses that bese Till my pecds and wants for leares-

ing. For me co explain "The Helen Grodeland Mechou" to sumeonme uot in the
course, is very diffienle. [ will have che advanrage of completing one more
semester (COM 290) with Holen aad then, perhaps T van explain.

My classroom experiences include getting back assignments, shot
full of holes. Peep holes, that allow the Light to shine through. The
holes have the strong threads lefc intact and Helen's written comments
are the bright mew throaads that I can use to reweave my efforts. IL am
learning to recognize my own faults and shortcomings and co overcome
them, ingrained as they may be. The important thing to me is, I am
learning what I want and need to know - clear, concise communicacion.

My own opinion of mandatory age 65 retirement policy is that, like
the human sex act, when one anticipates and participates by free choice,
ic is an experience chat has deep personal meaning. However, to be
forced into retirement for reasons of age alone is cape - a violacion of

the person.
Our Provincial and Federal Governments are currently reviewing their

policy of mandatory age 65 reriremenc. It is timely for Douglas College

and its Faculty Asseciation co review existiny policy regarding 65 mandatory
y } 8

'

retirement coo! Lec's net cuntinue this discriminating practise.

Ruth Lund Studenc.

 

MAD HATTER PAGE 6.-

 

FISCAL
YEAR:END

 

FISCAL YEAR-END
MARCH 31, 1981

In preparation for year-end
we ask your cooperation in
the following:

A.

Invoices

Please return all approv-
ed invoices to the
Purchasing Department as
promptly as possible.
Should there be any quer-
ies or inaccuracies on
invoices, please call so
that we are able to
complete changes that will
affect year-end figures.

Request for Honoraria etc.,
Please have all requests
for payments for service
to be rendered prior to
year-end, completed and
forwarded to the Account-
ing Dept., by MARCH 27,
1981.

e Reports
Please have all reports for
expenses incurred prior
to and including March 23,
1980, submitted for approval

by MARCH 26.

We also ask that all Deans,
Campus Principals, Directors
& Supervisors forward the
approved expense reports to
the Accounting Dept., for
processing by MARCH 30.

LATE SUBMISSIONS FOR ANY OF
THE ABOVE MAY BE CHARGED
AGAINST THE 1981/82 BUDGET