B2 • ARTS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2012 - SOOKE NEWS MIRROR
www.sookenewsmirror.com
Without a Net to perform for coffee house on St. Patrick’s Day
T
his Saturday the Sooke Folk Music Society’s monthly Coffee House is very pleased to present an evening of entertaining and thought provoking music from Without a Net. David and Mary Lowtherwere employed by the province until 2002, where they both had busy careers and despite being well acquainted (well, married anyway) they had never played music t o g e t h e r ! H o w e v e r, when the government decided it did not need to care for the sick and/ or needy anymore, they found they had a lot of time on their hands. Then one day David discovered a clarinet in the back of the closet. “Honey,” he asked,
Submitted photo
Davis and Mary Lowther are Without a Net performing March 17.
“can you actually play this thing?” Did we mention that they’d been married for years at this time? Is David a true guy or what? Do you suppose he calls Mary “honey” as an endearment or because he can’t remember her actual name? Before you answer, we remind you he is a guitar player. He owns a banjo. Yes, in fact, Mary can play that thing, among others. This led to much klezmer music, and a few original songs that could best be described as musical letters to the editor. Eventually it occurred to them that they should take their act to an open stage, which is kind of frightening the first time you do it because you are
playing live, with an audience but without a net. The MC asked them for a name, hence David and Mary: “Without A Net.” Without A Net play a combination of traditional klezmer music and original songs. David does the lead vocals and plays the guitar, banjo and bazouki while Mary sings harmonies and plays the flute, clarinet, saxophone and a number of other things you blow into and move your fingers around on. Having wasted their formative years working as public servants for an ungrateful government (and parenting, but let’s not even go there!) they have
Cont’d on page B3
FUNDING FOR STUDENTS, NOT FOR WAGE HIKES. The BCTF is demanding a 15 per cent wage hike and other benefits that would cost $2 billion and raise taxes for BC families. Virtually all other public sector unions have settled for no wage increases. It’s unacceptable that schools are disrupted and that students and their families are inconvenienced over an unreasonable salary demand in difficult economic times. The union is making claims and demands that simply don’t add up.
BCTF CLAIMS AND DEMANDS
FACT
The union wants more paid time outside the classroom – sick leave for teachers on call, expanded bereavement and discretionary leave.
The government wants more time for teacher training and to ensure that Pro-D days really are for professional development.
The union says all teaching positions should be selected on the basis of seniority.
The government supports seniority but qualifications must also count so that math teachers teach math, and science teachers teach science.
The union says that teachers who perform poorly in evaluations will be dismissed – ‘one strike and you’re out’.
The government wants to support teacher improvement through a standardized evaluation process.
The union says that government refuses to negotiate.
There has been over a year of negotiations and 78 full bargaining sessions.
The union says that class size limits have been eliminated.
Class size limits will remain in place on all grades across BC.
The union says that BC has 700 fewer special needs teachers.
2100 new teaching assistants have been hired since 2001. And, with a new $165 million Learning Improvement Fund, we will hire more.
It’s time to focus on what matters most in education – BC’s students. That’s why we are focused on per-student funding which is at an all time high, not on wage increases. We all want to do more to make BC’s education system even better. It’s the driving force behind BC’s Education Plan that teachers, parents and students are helping to shape. Teachers care about their students. Parents care about their children’s future.
LET’S PUT STUDENTS BCEDPLAN.CA