Rankin Inlet (Feb 04/04) - Absenteeism and student tardiness are running rampant in Rankin Inlet schools.

While absenteeism is actually the bigger issue, the DEA is moving to tackle the problem by focusing its efforts on the students who are continually late for class says Rankin District Education Authority (DEA) chairperson Stan Anderson.

Of the 166 students enroled at Alaittuq high school, only six have not been late for a class since school started back after Christmas.

"You go to the school any morning just before classes start and you might see 10 or 15 kids in the hall getting ready for class.

"The other 150 or so stream in at various times, some up to 30 minutes late and others don't bother to show up for their first class at all," says Anderson.

Teachers and the DEA are just one piece of the puzzle in addressing the situation, Anderson adds.

The parents and students also have to take responsibility.

"It's frustrating when you see kids who are late being dropped off by their parents.

"That sends a real bad message to the kids that it's OK to be late."

Anderson says the DEA is working with Rankin's three schools to come up with some sort of initiative to encourage students to show up for class on time.

"Maybe we can look at some form of contest in each class with prizes for the students with the best or most improved attendance, or, maybe, the family with the best attendance.

"But, unless the parents buy into this -- which means getting the kids to bed at night so that they can wake up in the morning -- it won't resolve anything."

Anderson says parents who don't ensure their children are getting to school on time are depriving them of future opportunities.

He says the notion kids know best and should be left to do what they want is not a valid one.

"That may be how you'd like it to be, but if you were to ask the elders they'd tell you that's not how it was in their day and it's not acceptable today.

"Anyone with that attitude is just abdicating their responsibilities," says Anderson.

Anderson says teachers are going to start calling parents when a student is being continually late.

He says that could lead to a parent receiving numerous calls in one day.

"Hopefully, if they get enough phone calls, they'll start to make the effort to get their child to school on time.

"If nothing else, they'll no longer be able to claim ignorance that their child is late," says Anderson.