Dear Editor:
I read a May 4 letter in your paper, NV's Keith Lynn a KLASS Act, which stated that one of our treasured schools was to close. This is very disappointing and hits me deep inside. I spent a bit of time running back and forth from home to PASS, which stands for Project Alterative Secondary School. It was located on Kings two blocks west of Lonsdale. It later moved, shortly after I left, in 1976 to Keith Lynn Avenue, now called Keith Lynn Alternative secondary. It was filled with great kids that wanted an education but who couldn't cope with regular classes.
The school I went to was still in its infancy, but I know that a large group of kids went on to bigger and better things in life. This is due solely to the hard work and affection from the staff of this alternate school. I believe if this school is removed from the mainstream of the North Shore's school system we'll end up with a lot more kids out there with addiction problems unable to find work through a lack of education. As a community we'll pay a large price. What's the cost of putting a kid through an educational program that has proven itself to work, versus the cost of jail, addiction counselling or welfare. There's no work out there for people without an education so, North Vancouver, you better stand up for this program or we're all sunk. That's a guarantee.
Mike Henderson
North Vancouver
(Editor's note: See also our Sunday, April 29 story, The Klass of 2012 Will Be the Last.)
