Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Pond Inlet (Mar 13/00) - Stuart van Oostveen was looking for a way to solve behavioural problems for more than just a few days at a time.

As the principal of Nasivvik high school in Pond Inlet, he was in the perfect position to do so.

"What we found is students who have behavioural problems were sent to the office and suspended," said van Oostveen.

Realizing that removing so-called problem kids for a few days here and there didn't even come close to dealing with the root of the problem, van Oostveen said the school chose instead to implement Star Quest, an in-school suspension program.

"Instead of kicking the kids out, which doesn't rectify the problem and sometimes exposes them to situations that cause more problems, we focus on changing their behaviour and teaching them to consider other people's perspectives," said van Oostveen.

This is where Jake Awa gets involved.

Hired with surplus board of education funds, van Oostveen said Awa's goal was to teach the students behaviour management skills.

"It's a curriculum specific for bullying, anger management, some problem-solving processes for conflict resolution," said van Oostveen.

The students are led through specific exercises for the duration of their suspension.

Although the program is still quite new, van Oostveen said it is already showing signs of success.

"I'm very pleased," he said.

"There are as many as 10 kids going and working on real behavioural things with someone to guide them through it."

Awa said he is also pleased to be involved.

"Instead of sending students over to the office for misbehaving, they send them over to my class," said Awa, a former Inuktitut teacher.

"A lot of teachers don't have enough time to deal with these situations. This leaves the teachers with more time to teach instead of spending it on other things," he said.

And while he believes the program is working and having an effect on the students, he said he would like to see it expanded to include more cultural activities.

"It would be nice to take them out on the land and give them fresh air and go on a hunting trip for a day or two," said Awa.

"It would help them clear their minds and get over their anger."