Inuvik (Nov 29/04) - Ruth Wright says her decision to hold her two children back a grade has been rough on her kids, but she's sticking to her choice.

And she welcomes word the Beaufort-Delta Education Council will examine the policy of moving kids to the next grade regardless of their marks.

"I think it's about time they did that," Wright said last week.

In September, she kept her two children in Grades 2 and 5 at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school in Inuvik despite the grade advances given by the school.

"The kids understood why they were going back, but at the same time they are going through a very difficult time because all their friends are in the next grade giggling and smirking at them," she said.

Wright said it's wrong to advance children automatically, a practice known as "social passing."

"Their expectations are lowered so they can just buzz on by," she said.

Wright said there's attitude an prevalent among high school students, and some Grade 12s, to plan to return for upgrading even before they finish school.

"That's pathetic when you are in high school and you are planning to take upgrading when you graduate."

Bob Simpson, acting regional co-ordinator of the Beaufort Delta Regional Council, said the policy allows students to advance with their peers to the next grade level regardless of their academic performance.

"What that does is create a little bit of a disincentive for kids to perform academically because they know they will be passed onto higher grades anyway.

"What we're requesting to the GNWT is to let local schools make their own policies," Simpson said.

The Beaufort-Delta Education Council as a whole will study the issue and set out proper policies.