The kids researched, wrote and illustrated the stories, a project involving the whole class.

This kind of creativity is instrumental in promoting literacy and such projects build confidence and encourage teamwork. They also offer students an incredible sense of pride.

Too often lessons learned in school seem far removed from the real world. Bringing the two together is always a good idea.

The bylaw's purpose is simple. Currently there's no policy in place that explains who is eligible for special grants and core funding. This new bylaw will finally offer the distinction between the groups and the help applicants need in applying for funds.

Some local groups wouldn't be able to survive without core funding from the city. The Northern Arts and Cultural Centre would have to close its doors if it didn't get its $40,000 grant from the city. This new bylaw will offer NACC more security and give other groups the help they need in applying for these important grants.

City councillors shouldn't hesitate in making this new bylaw a reality.

The parties' decision to return to the bargaining table today must certainly be seen as a positive sign. Job action in the form of work to rule and rotating strikes has already begun, which means that students are being affected.

The two sides also appeared earlier this week to still be far apart on the details of a proposed agreement. They may have agreed in principle on some of the salary and Northern allowance figures and on the need to devote more resources to special-needs students and to reduce class sizes, but remained divided over details and how to achieve those goals.

What is essential in all this bargaining, however, is the government's need not to cut the best financial deal it possibly can. Rather, it is to ensure the best education possible for Northern children and to make our educators happy. Teachers in the regions are dealing with vastly different situations that their counterparts face in Yellowknife. A deal must be reached that regional teachers not only grudgingly accept but which will guarantee they remain in place for years to come, and that new, competent teachers are attracted North to fill the shortages that continue to exist.

The government justifiably points to a looming budget deficit and consequent constraints of its ability to be flexible. It is clear, however, that Northerners consider education, along with health care, to be a priority. And many of the new team of MLAs were elected because they persuaded the public they could successfully tackle tough issues like education. It is up to them, along with the teachers' association, to prove their worth by striking a deal that doesn't just solve the present crisis but finds solutions for the future.

Spreading the word

Last week was a big week for the Anglican Church in the Beaufort Delta. Elders Mary Teya and Hannah Alexi were ordained in Fort McPherson last week. On Sunday, the Church of Ascension in Inuvik was consecrated following its extensive renovation and expansion.

Rev. Teya and Rev. Alexi will serve as deacons in the church. Their ordination marks the first time in decades that members of the Gwich'in community have entered the church in such a capacity.

Because the church continues to play such a major role in the region, this event is extremely significant. Best wishes to the two women, their families and friends.

The contract battle between the territorial government and the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association has led to reams of information flowing from both sides.

Naturally, some of what is written only elicits more acrimony. A GNWT media briefing Monday resulted in yet another discrepancy. The NWTTA issued a press release disputing some of the figures put forward by the government. Thankfully, the GNWT and the NWTTA have agreed to sit down and begin talking again. As painful a process as it may seem, it's the only way things are going to be settled.

Among the statistics that weren't disputed were those indicating how the NWT's teachers compare to their counterparts in the rest of the country in terms of straight salary. According to figures from the Alberta Trustees' Association, the GNWT maximum for a teacher with a four-year bachelor of education degree (a common qualification among NWT teachers, according to former minister of education Charles Dent) is in excess of $65,000, the highest in Canada. The minimum for a NWT teacher with that same level of education is over $47,000 -- again, that's the best in the country.

In light of the statistics that portray NWT teachers as the highest paid in the country, the issue of the cost of living was brought up by a reporter during Monday's media briefing. Dent replied that Northern allowance, which ranges between $2,500 and $14,000, is intended to compensate for the differences in the cost of living in Northern communities. Whether it truly accomplishes that, he admitted he could not say for sure.

So whether or not NWT teachers are really the best compensated teachers in the country remains somewhat in doubt. Regardless, they are seeking greater wages and benefits. Do they deserve it? There seems to be little argument that class sizes and special needs here in the NWT are also among the highest rates in the country. The level of demand placed on our teachers is disproportionately high. Therefore why wouldn't they be entitled to what they are demanding? Among their demands is help. That's going to cost more money. The question is where that money is going to come from.

There is a deficit situation in the NWT. Last week, teachers' association president Pat Thomas contended that the government shouldn't attempt to reduce the deficit on the teachers' backs.

"I'm not the one mismanaging the money," she said.

If financial resources have been mismanaged, it's too late to start laying blame. If fingers were to be pointed at the GNWT, that should have been done before the territorial election. The electorate has now had their say in who they want to represent them. Finding a resolution to the education crisis is the immediate concern.

Dent said it's hoped some of the money to cover the increase in wages and benefits for teachers would come from the government's supplementary reserves. Beyond that, it's going to be the responsibility of the new legislative assembly to find the funds, he said. The dollars will have to be reallocated from somewhere and that's when the most difficult decisions will have to be made.

There's a price to be paid, and if it's not paid now the cost of an inferior education will grow exponentially in the future.

Students were completely immersed in the international phase of the program.

The kids learned about different cultures in various countries; where they are located on this great planet of our ours and the different lifestyles, dress and diet preferences.

Those who visited the school on its International Day got a first-hand look at just how involved the students are with the program.

The majority of friends and family who took the tour left the school more than a little impressed with the effort the students put into the day.

The icing on the cake was the international flavour the students carried over into their annual Christmas concert.

The elementary students have just begun their Favourite Author phase of the program, which promises to bestow just as many, if not more, benefits upon the kids.

Leo Ussak is holding a Just Me and My Dad night tomorrow from 7-9 p.m.

Dads will have the opportunity to visit the school and see what books are attracting their kids and listen as the stories are explained to them. Talk about quality time!

The evening will help boost the kids' self-esteem as they will be able to interact one-on-one with their fathers in a leadership roll.

Another benefit of this phase is that the kids will learn the amount of effort it takes to produce a book. Not to mention becoming familiar with different authors and illustrators and learning to recognize their different styles.

As principal Cheryl Forbes pointed out (see feature story page 24), the students' language and reading skills will also be enhanced by the Favourite Author phase.

Theme-orientated learning programs have been effective educational vehicles in other regions and are proving to be just as effective in the Kivalliq.

Any program that instills the desire to learn within young minds, expands their horizons, promotes interaction with friends and family and helps to positively mould their personalities deserves strong local support.

We hope record numbers of fathers turn out tomorrow evening to spend some quality time with their kids and lend support to a worthwhile program.

We're willing to bet not only will the evening be educational, it will be downright fun.