Inuvik children find shelter from bullies in public buildings
Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Feb 05/01) - The ring of the school bell is a source of anxiety for Inuvik children who fear that some of their classmates may be waiting to harass them.
Bullying is a problem in Inuvik, said Darryl Cook, project officer for Ingamo Hall, but parents' attitudes hide it from public view.
"Parents get defensive about their child being a bully," said Cook, who is organizing a Bullying Workshop Feb. 16 and 17 at the Friendship Centre.
"They want to believe that their child is respectable and courteous at all times. But when the child is away from the parents their behaviour changes."
Fear of being beaten or taunted by bullies has forced some children to take shelter in public buildings.
"We do occasionally get kids who are hiding from children who are threatening them," said Nora Dixon, director of library services.
"Then we (the library staff) go out and look mean to scare (the bullies) away."
It's not an everyday occurrence, but Dixon said the problem does exist and some kids are shaken when they find themselves targeted by their peers.
Librarians have tried to catch the culprits, to make them understand that harassing other children is not acceptable behaviour, she said.
"Otherwise we just let the kids wait a few minutes and then (the bullies) go away."
Cook hopes to establish a Safe Stop program with local businesses so children can escape being taunted and threatened by bullies.
He also hopes that schools will agree to adopt anti-bullying policies.
Lorraine Greenland, a counsellor at Sir Alexander Mackenzie School, said she often directs students on how to deal with peers who act aggressively.
"I try to work with kids who have problems within the school ... we talk about friendship, understanding behaviours, stress, things like that."
Any child being bullied should report it to a teacher or supervisor immediately, Greenland said.
"When things happen off school grounds there is not much that we can do, but I encourage kids to tell their parents so they can deal with it," she said.
