Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Sep 07/01) - It's not Mr. McNaught, it's Norm.

That's one of the first things students learn when they meet Thomas Simpson school's new counsellor and Career and Life Management (CALM) teacher.

Besides being on a first-name basis, students are finding out that he emphasizes respect and trust, but he acknowledges that it takes time to build the latter.

"I want to listen and see what the community has to say," he said. "There are some very bright people here, and very bright students in the classroom."

Being attentive is a very important aspect of his job, he noted.

"The onus is on me to listen. When I listen, I may be able to hear something I can help with, I may be able to use my skills," he said.

He's also going to show some initiative when he senses something is wrong.

"If I walk down the hall and I see someone who's not happy, I don't just walk by. I ask, 'Is there anything I can do,' and show them there's someone in the picture who cares," he said, adding that he can learn as much from students as they do from him.

As well, McNaught promotes communication between students and teachers who are not seeing eye to eye. It's imperative to eliminate the tension because anxiety inhibits learning, he said, adding that he believes in positive reinforcement.

For many years McNaught was a teacher/counsellor at Parkview high school, enrolment 1,100, in Bridgewater, N.S. He also taught in the Eastern Arctic for four years. Prior to that he had been a construction engineer with an education degree.

"Believe it or not, I got bored to death," he said of the career change.

Coming to the NWT was a challenge and an adventure he felt compelled to take.

"I was really comfortable at home, but I thought, 'Do I really know anything?'" he said. "This is a learning experience for me so I can develop as a person. I should be able to grow here .... If I'm any good at what I do, maybe it will be good for other people."