Paula White
Northern News Services

INUVIK (May 28/99) - An incident where three students were allegedly plotting to kill a high school teacher, which ultimately led to her leaving town, has prompted reactions from some Inuvik residents.

"My first thought was that it was a pretty bad thing in a community of this size," said Martin Male, the parent of three school-aged children. "So I was quite taken aback to see that, first of all, that type of thing was happening here and second, from what I understand, that's where it stopped. It didn't go any further. The kids weren't disciplined or charges weren't laid or anything."

Male said from what he's heard, violence in the schools here is not a new thing.

"Over the past couple of years I've come to realize that I'm really disappointed with the family values that are placed on the kids up here, because it seems that there's far too much violence in the schools and there's a total lack of respect in the schools from a lot of the kids towards any of the teachers."

Male added he thought the teacher was justified in leaving town.

"To be honest, I wouldn't be sticking around if somebody was threatening my life and nobody was doing anything about it," Male said. "Maybe leaving's a little bit drastic but if nobody's going to protect you, what are you going to do?"

Samuel Hearne high school teacher Linda Palasz and her husband Martin left Inuvik on May 21 for Ottawa, Ont. Their departure came just over a week after Linda first heard of the plot. Martin said Linda first heard of the plot on May 12 from an RCMP officer.

A subsequent police investigation however, concluded that the accusations were unfounded and no charges were laid. But the incident didn't end there. Another indirect encounter took place on May 15. Martin said one of Linda's female students came over to their apartment to bring her flowers. She and another girl were followed by two of the boys involved. An exchange between the students was overheard by Lois Kathrens, manager of Lakeview and Parkview apartments.

"I heard them down in the front entryway so I went downstairs and asked them who they were looking for. And they asked if I knew where (Linda) lived and I said 'Why?' because I'm aware of what happened at the school, I'm not about to tell anybody where she lives."

Kathrens then went and got Linda and the four proceeded to Kathrens' apartment. In the meantime, Kathrens said, two boys (she did not know their names) were hanging around outside the building. She said the girls told her the boys had followed them to the building.

"So I put the run on them, told them if they came near the property again I would call the police. They said okay, they're leaving, they would not be back and I have not seen them since," Kathrens said. "It's good for them. Trust me on that one. I don't put up with that crap."

Sonia de Klerk, another parent, has three children in school. She said the incident made her aware that violence in schools isn't restricted to the United States. It could happen in Inuvik just as easily.

"I think it's a terrible thing to happen," she said. "Any threat that's made has to be treated seriously."

Because of these incidents, the Palaszes made arrangements to leave Inuvik as soon as possible. The couple was low on cash, however, so they had asked James Anderson, chair of the Beaufort Delta Education Council, for an advance. The council refused. It also refused the Palasz's request to be paid for June.

"This board has no respect for term teachers and it's evident in the way they're treating Linda now. It's very, very sad."

Anderson could not be reached for comment.

The Palaszes did, however, receive financial help from an unexpected source before they left. Roman Catholic Deacon Eddie Lavoie, who had heard their story, offered Linda and Martin moral support, as well as a cheque for $1,000 from the church.

"I...would like to express, on behalf of my wife and myself, deep thanks and gratitude to (Eddie Lavoie and the other members of the Roman Catholic Church)...that they had compassion enough to assist us in a time of need."

Martin added Lavoie has the couple's forwarding address should anybody wish to send Linda letters of support or farewell.