Paulatuk (June 16/03) - For the second consecutive year, Paulatuk students will say goodbye to most of their teachers.

James Anderson, director of the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Board of Education, said six of the nine existing staff are leaving Angik school at the end of this school year.

Tom MacIsaac arrived in the community last July to teach high school Math and Science. He headed back home to Stephenville, Newfoundland at the end of May. He doesn't have a job waiting for him there, he just wanted to get out of Paulatuk.

Just as MacIsaac discovered the uniqueness of Paulatuk's geography and climate, he also noticed the structure of education and community attitudes towards it are completely different than in the south.

"Teaching is really tough here because the students aren't at grade level, almost none of them are, so it's quite challenging," he said.

With 30 Grade 9, 10 and 11 students in the same classroom, MacIsaac said each and every one of them has different skill levels.

"So basically you're making 30 lesson plans to accommodate all of them," he said.

Paulatuk has an "absolutely terrible reputation" as a community plagued by substance abuse and violent behaviour, according to MacIsaac.

"There is a lot of bad things that go on, a lot of dark stuff.

"They (hamlet residents) don't need to be told publicly that these problems exist.

"You talk to anybody who has been here and they will say it's the worst community in the North. Even government people that come in vocalise that fact," he said.

MacIsaac said he wasn't at all prepared for what was waiting for him in the classrooms of Angik school.

"Kids realize it's important to come to school, but they don't put the effort into coming," he said.

But his experience living in Paulatuk hasn't been all that bad. Generally, he said local residents have been "fairly friendly, although they take a while to warm up to you."

The only way to get through the adjustment period, MacIsaac advises, is to "keep your eyes open, your ears open and don't be judgmental" of local residents or the way they choose to live.

"It's a growing experience. It's been a huge eye opener," he said.

He would encourage other teachers to explore teaching opportunities there. But as he told the Beaufort-Delta Education Council recently, MacIsaac advises anyone thinking about accepting a teaching position in the North should first investigate the community and the position.

Staffing problems

Anderson sees no single reason for the turnover at Angik school, except housing.

During the Beaufort-Delta Education Council meeting June 4, Paulatuk DEA chair Jason Reidford agreed housing is a big problem in the community.

Anderson said up until last year, staffing at Angik school had been "stable" for a decade.

However, he agrees with MacIsaac's recommendation that teachers need to orientate themselves before taking the job. He said the DEA and the school principal provide orientation sessions to help teachers adjust to their new job and home.