a ECS TIN ta SC Ne ect ge Editor’s note: what follows is a highly abridged version- of a piece originally submitted by Myriam Nelson as an essay for Art Now. The questions she raises deserve the consideration of everyone in the Colloege community. Thank-you Myriam. . Dear Maurice, The objective of this letter is to bring attention to the concerns of parents in this school, particularly single women. I am specifically interested in bringing forth some ideas and possible solutions to the prob- lems faced by student/parents here on Granville Island/False Creek area and here at the school. In order to make this school a truly equal opportunity environment for everyone, some things must change. I have been thinking of different ways of looking at this area’s issues. I have been hoping we can adress some of them, with no financial cost to the school. And—without asking for government funding, which ends up being complicated and slow in coming. The changes I am proposing have to do with Transporta- tion/Commuting, The Shuttle Service, Childcare, School Board Boundaries, Communications, Affirma- tive Action, Time Management, and Year Round Day and Evening Classes. Most of seriously believe in equality for women (oy —/ but we are still unable to express these new ideas through the old systems, and perhaps even our language hinders us itself. In my particular case, I am a single mother, taking part in an affirmative action program | called 1.0.P. or Individual Opportunities Plan, a new program developed for women on Social Assistance. During the school year from September to May, I am working on my Emily Carr Diploma, and I am also finishing a B.A. in Arts at $.F.U. with evening courses and summer session studies. I am also in my third year there. I have three children, two seven year old twin girls and a twelve year old boy. I live in the suburbs. My children are very far from me all day as I com- ; mute about an hour each way, from South. Burnaby, twice a day to get to and from school. Babysitting can be quite a disister for me as my children are not in a school that has a daycare pro- gram, before or after school. For this reason, and for financial reasons, I have often wondered if it is reallistic for me to follow my heart and try to go for an art career. Even with the help of the I.O.P., whiich is done much the same as the loan/grant proportions of the B.C. and canada Student Loans, I will still have a big Debt when I am finished which I will have to start paying right away. If it were just myself to deal with, things would be different. I could take a Joe job somewhere, ‘continue to live cheaply and produce my work. Having three mouths to feed is quite a different story. A Joe job won’t cut it. I wonder if I will be able to provide for my children out of my own work, from my own hands, not from a “government hand-out,” as people like to say . I wonder if it is possible for me to overcome the poverty most divorced and separated women usually have to live with. I wonder if it is realistic to want to achieve my goals. I wonder if I can really expect to be successful on my own. I don’t want to end up a statistic. It seems strange to me that women are still being locked out in essence because society doesn’t see the connection between quality child care and a woman’s chance at success. To think that all my hard work might be for nothing is a horrifying thought to me and I feel compelled at this point to do something before it’s too late. Unfortunately the ratio of women to men is still not very good in the art world. Even though many more women enroll in art schools than do men, there is still a much higher percentage of men who go on to successful art careers. Even now, several of my instructors told me, it’s still very hard for women to get their foot in the door, at least to the big exhibi- tions and public commission work. The numbers don’t lie. Statistics tell us not too many women make it. When they do, mostly they are single women with no children. Childcare I have opted for a babysitter when I have to work at night. This can cost me up to thirty dollars more a day, if I work six hours, and I have done it quite a bit this term. My Student Loan mosey went fast this time, and my children felt neglected. The situation with being artists is completely different than with people studying academics at a university of college. Most of us need to be here at school in order to do our own work. The children need to be part of our loves here, if we are going to hve basically the same opportunity as others.. Without them close by, we have no choice but to run around dropping them off and picking them up like a bunch of parcels. Editor's note: what follows is bighly abridged version of a piece originally submitted by Myriam Nelson as.an say for Art Now. The questions she raises deserve the consideration of everyone in the Colloege community. Thank-you Myriam. Dear Maurice, ‘The objective ofthis eter i to bring attention to the concems of parents inthis school, particularly single women. Iam specifically interested in bringing forth some ideas and possible solutions to the prob- Jems faced by student/parents here on Granville Island/False Creek area and here at the school. In order to make this school a truly equal opportunity environment for everyone, some things must change, T have been thinking of diferent ways of looking at this area’ issues. I have been hoping we can adress some of them, with no financial cost to the school ‘And—without asking for government funding, which ends up being complicated and slow in coming. The changes Iam proposing have to do with Transport: tion/Commuting, The Shuttle Service, Childcare, School Board Boundaries, Communications, Afiema- tive Action, Time Management, and Year Round Day and Evening Classes. Most of seriously believe in equality for women @ but we are still unable to express these new ideas through the old systems, and perhaps even our fanguage hinders us itself, In my particular case, Tam a single mother, taking part in an affirmative action program called 1.0.P. of Individual Opportunities Plan, a new program developed for women on Social Assistance. During the school year from September to May, Iam working on my Emily Carr Diploma, and I am also finishing a B.A. in Arts at S.F.U. with evening, ‘courses and summer session studies. Tam also in my third year there. Thave three children, two seven year old twin sirls and a twelve year old boy. live in the suburbs. ‘My children are very far from me all day as I com- ‘mute about an hour each way, from South Burnaby, ‘twice a day to get to and from school. Babysitting can be quite a disister for me as my children are notin a school that has a daycare pro- ‘gram, before or after school. For this reason, and for financial reasons, I hhave often wondered if is realistic for me to follow iy heart and try to go for an art career. Even with the help of the 1.O.P., whiich is done much the same as the loan /grant proportions of the B.C. and canada Student Loans, I will sill have a big Debr when I am finished which I will have to start paying right away. it were just myself to deal with, things would be different. I could take a Joe job somewhere, ‘continue to live cheaply and produce my work. Having three mouths to feed is quite a different story. A Joe job won't cutit. wonder if I will be able to provide for my children out of my own work, from my own hands, not from a “government hand-out,” as people like to sy. wonder ifit is possible for me to overcome the poverty most divorced and separated women usually have to live with. T wonder if tis realistic to want to achieve my goals. I wonder if I can really expect to be successful ‘on my own, T don’t want to end up a statistic. Tr seems strange to me that women are still being locked out in essence because society doesn't see the connection between quality child care and a ‘woman's chance at success, To think that all my hard work might be for nothing is a horrifying thought to me and I feel compelled at this point to do something before its to0 late. ‘Unfortunately the ratio of women to men is still not very good in the art world. Even though ‘many more women enroll in ar schools than do men, there is stilla much er percentage of men who go ‘on to successful at careers. Even now, several of my instructors told me, i's still very hard for women to get their foot in the door, a least ro the big exhibi- tions and public commission work ‘The numbers don’t lie. Statistics tellus not too many women make it. When they do, mostly theyare single women with no children. ‘Childcare Thave opted for a babysiteer when I have to work at night. This can cost me up to thiry dollars more a day, if work six hours, and I have done it Quite a bit this term. My Student Loan money went fast this time, and my children fele neglected. ‘The situation with being artists is completely different than with people studying academics at a university of college. Most of us need to be here at school in order to do our own work. The children need to be part of our loves here, if we are going t0 have basically the same opportunity as others.. Without them close by, we have no choice but to run around dropping them off and picking them up like a bunch of parcels.