Dane Gibson and Paula White
Northern News Services

INUVIK (May 24/99) - Fearing for her life, Inuvik teacher Linda Palasz fled to Ottawa on Friday to escape three students who had her convinced they wanted to kill her.

The teacher, who taught at Samuel Hearne High School for less than a year, was too traumatized by the incident to speak to News North. Her husband, Martin Palasz, described the events leading up to her departure.

"When I got home (on May 12) at 6 p.m., my wife was standing at the door of our apartment in tears and she couldn't get the words out over the tears. That's when she told me that some kids wanted to kill her," Palasz said.

Inuvik RCMP Cpl. Brian Pinder said they received an anonymous Crimestoppers tip on Wednesday, May 12, saying that three students were discussing causing harm to Linda Palasz. The students in question were interviewed along with their parents, teachers and school administrative staff.

The investigation concluded that the threats were unfounded and the file is now closed.

Palasz said because his wife had taught in the North for 20 years and was accustomed to difficult situations, she returned to teach the next day.

The students who were allegedly plotting her demise were in class, even though Linda Palasz had requested they be suspended. Because the RCMP found no proof that the incident occurred, the youths were allowed back in school.

"One of the boys had his feet up on the desk. He looked at my wife square in the face and said, 'You can't be charged for plotting a murder.' He then smiled at her," Palasz said.

"This was the straw that broke the camel's back for my wife."

He said his wife immediately informed the vice-principal, Principal Bernie MacLean and the RCMP about the comment. Nothing was done.

"My wife was basically finished school then, she had to take time off for stress."

Palasz said his wife advised union rep Cliff King of the situation. He said King requested the school board give Linda Palasz her summer pay in advance. He was refused.

"This is now the 10th day since this incident happened, and nobody from administration, including Principal Bernie MacLean, has contacted Linda to even see how she's doing or if they can help," Palasz said.

He said Inuvik Roman Catholic deacon Eddie Lavoie heard the Palasz' story and gave them $1,000 to get out of town.

"I'm very disgusted with this school board. I feel that they have no compassion for term teachers. They tried to take this situation and down play it, sweep it underneath the rug," Palasz said.

NWT Teachers' Association President Pat Thomas said her organization is looking into the allegations and that the Inuvik incident is just one of four violent reports from Northern schools brought to her attention this week.

Three of the cases involved death threats, the fourth was a report of a student describing how to torture and kill someone. It's something that has Thomas, who has taught in the North for 25 years, shaking her head.

"My understanding of the (Inuvik incident) is that it was a death threat. There is a duty of the employer to satisfy themselves that the individual or individuals concerned are not a danger to themselves or others in the school," Thomas said.

"If those students were allowed back, it's the employer's duty to ensure everyone is safe. It has really brought to my mind that no school is exempt from this level of violence."

She said they've started discussions with the Department of Education and the RCMP to develop a protocol on how to warn and advise staff and parents about threats and dangerous situations.

"Abusive language, insults, obscene gestures and physical attacks happen frequently in some schools, especially at junior and senior high school levels," Thomas said.

"If you told me two years ago when I first became the teachers' association president that I would be dealing with incidents at this level, I wouldn't have believed it."

While more awareness programs and contingency plans to deal with violent incidents are put in place, Thomas said the violent trend happening in schools today will continue.

"We all have to take a long, careful look at what we have become and what changes we have to make as a society. If you just deal with what happens and don't address the roots of behaviour, violence is going to continue to happen," Thomas said.

"This is something that has to be dealt with at the societal level. We have to look at the root of the situation and start working from there."