We have received three kinds of criticism on the resource unit. The first criticism is really approval of the basic idea. Some parents particularly those from Vancouver's low income east side, wanted more information in the unit, such as an expansion of information on the gap between the rich and poor and the role of corporations, the relationship to poverty in the Third World. Other parents emphasized that the unit should be taught very sensitively so that kids who come from poor families don't get embarrassed or singled out. This a good point, of course, and can hopefully be dealt with in in-service training sessions on the curriculum unit.

The third kind of criticism is that the booklet is "negative" and "too political." Our coalition responded to this criticism by saying that it is better to face negative facts so they can be dealt with than to ignore them and let them fester. We put forward the view that it's the responsibility of the education system to help students participate in the political process as citizens.

Poverty and unemployment are affected by the political process and are not subversive topics.

Interestingly, when the unit's author was on a radio hot line show, a number of callers, who were young people just out of school, called in to say that their schooling didn't prepare them for the real world of unemployment and low wage employment. They said they would have welcomed a unit such as "Poverty in B.C." when they were in school.

For us, so far, "Poverty in B.C." has been one of our main accomplishments. Over 2500 copies are now in circulation. It has worked to spread information about poverty on three levels: to the general public through media coverage and when local groups go to school boards to get it endorsed; among teachers; and also, we hope, among the young people who we'll be relying on to shape lour society in the future.

Jean Swanson is now the Co-ordinator of End Legislated Poverty. She has been involved with social issues since 1973, starting with the Downtown Eastside Residents' Association, continuing with the Health Employees Union and Solidarity Coalition. Sandy Cameron, the author of Poverty in B.C., has been a teacher of native Indians, adults, and inmates in the prison system.