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Five years ago, an Alberta educator shocked a roomful of Catholic school parents after proclaiming to one of them that he would hire his son "and get him a secretary, too," should the student graduate high school without knowing how to spell.

It was a poorly considered statement, surely not one that reflects the true quality of education at Yellowknife Catholic Schools. But it was instructive. Parents are increasingly bewildered by, what seems to them, an almost heretical capsizing of long-held beliefs about what it takes to get a good education.

Homework, timed exams, deadlines for school assignments - many of these and more are on the chopping block as educators increasingly insist that these time-honoured methods don't work. The territory's social passing policy also means students are not at risk of being held back a grade until they reach high school. Parents who grew up with homework, risked getting a zero if they didn't complete it, and repeated grades when their performance was poor, are left scratching their heads.

Homework is still standard practice at Yellowknife Education District No. 1, but parents there are no less concerned.

"I can't understand the report cards," complained Jill Hebert during a Yk1 town hall meeting held earlier this month.

As it turns out, a format glitch led to incomplete statements appearing on some report cards handed out earlier this year, but Hebert and other parents were referring more specifically to the information offered to them in report cards and the state of education in general. Just how are the kids doing in school and are they learning what they need to succeed?

Parents in Yellowknife have reason to be wary. During last year's Alberta Student Achievement Tests, Yellowknife students in grades 3, 6 and 9 fared better than other students in the territory in math and English but consistently ranked below their counterparts in Alberta. The results were further skewed by the revelation that up to 21 per cent of Yellowknife students were exempt from some exams because they were either two grades behind or in a special needs program.

A Yk1 official said Yellowknife's highly transient population was one of the reasons for the poorer results. But this can't possibly be the only reason why many students in this city struggle.

Yk1 should be given credit for holding these town hall meetings. Communication with parents is even more vital in this age of changing education methods. But the question begs, are they listening?

By her own account, Miranda Currie is "a pretty smart cat," with a good education and a strong support network in her corner. However, her talents and resources couldn't spare her from the frustration caused by callous treatment at the hands of the territory's Income Assistance bureaucracy.

After suffering a series of concussions in late 2011 that now cause her physical and mental hardship, the 32-year-old entrepreneur, musician and athlete sought income and assistance from the government agency in January 2012. The income arrived about four months late and the assistance was nowhere to be found.

Her first cheque finally arrived in April, requiring her to depend on friends and family to help her cover expenses in the meantime. Currie said she was met with rude and demeaning behaviour whenever she inquired about the delays, bringing her to tears on numerous occasions.

"Crying won't get you anywhere," she said she was told by one of the case workers.

The case worker may not have been moved by Currie's plight, but Education, Culture and Employment Minister Jackson Lafferty and the department's deputy minister Gabriela Eggenhofer were. The pair have offered empathy and promised to assist her after her story went public.

Currie rightly points out that not all income assistance clients have as much family support, self-confidence and education as she has.

Income Assistance staff must be trained to address their clients with respect and humanity.

No matter how prevalent or problematic fraudulent Income Assistance claims might be, agency staff must not lose sight of their role in the community.

While ferreting out fraudulent claims may be an important task, treating people with respect, sensitivity and compassion must also be part of the job description. Filling out forms must remain merely a means to extending a helping hand to vulnerable people looking for help in a difficult time of need, and not an end in itself.

It's great to see that the Fort Liard RCMP intercepted two shipments of alcohol that were being bootlegged into Fort Liard.

The news of the seizure, however, is yet another reminder of the troubled relationship that communities and people across the Deh Cho and the North have with alcohol. Not that we really need a reminder.

The history of alcohol has visible signs in every community. One of the most blatant are the people who are regularly seen unevenly walking the streets of their community in a state of inebriation.

Alcohol, often hard liquor, is frequently the catalyst for criminal activity. Often alcohol contributes to people becoming victims of the crimes, as well. The legacy of alcohol also includes broken families, children born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and promising lives that are stunted. One of the tragedies is that too often the effects of the abuse of alcohol by one generation are felt by the next, which can lead to a continuing cycle of addictions.

Looking at the state of alcohol use in the Deh Cho and the North and evidence such as the alcohol that was seized going into Fort Liard, it's apparent that alcohol abuse and addiction is something that will continue to be dealt with for years and possibly decades to come. If there was an easy solution for how to stop alcohol abuse, someone would have discovered it already.

What is clear is that the issue will have to be continually addressed from a variety of angles. One of those angles was seen recently in Fort Simpson when the Grade 6 students at Bompas Elementary School graduated from the Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education program (DARE). Often the best way to confront any continuing social issue is to start by educating the young.

Programs and counselling offered by departments such as Dehcho Health and Social Services will also continue to be of primary importance.

Altering the patterns of alcohol use and abuse in the North may seem like a daunting challenge, and it is. The benefits that could be gained, however, are equally momentous and are what makes the challenge worth addressing.

With last week's announcement of the funding for the Inuvik-to-Tukoyaktuk Highway, I must doff my hat to both the federal and territorial governments.

You can say what you like about the economic logic of building a highway to service fewer than a thousand people on the Arctic Coast, but the project shows a bold vision that has to be given its due. You might even say it's a direct descendant of the decision to build the national rail line all those years ago.

A similar bold vision can be seen in the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optic Line project. Stuart Salter, the lead consultant on that project, summed up the need for this kind of project during a public information session in Inuvik:

"It doesn't make economic sense but it makes social sense," he said.

Not everything can be measured in terms of economic sense, nor should everything be reduced to that level. Nor should political decisions of this type be viewed strictly in cynical terms. The NWT has just one parliamentary riding, so investment isn't necessarily going to pay off politically come election time.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, to give him his due, has an affinity and interest in the North that belies those kind of pragmatic and strategic considerations. The $200 million the federal government has put into the pot for the highway construction is both a tribute and testament to his awareness of the North. It also shows a progressive attitude for which he's not often given credit.

The GNWT also deserves high praise for its willingness to jump into the fray, both for the highway and the fibre optic line. That's a bold statement of the importance with which it views the northwest end of the NWT, which has been suffering from economic stagnation.

The detractors can say what they want about the projects. Yes, many of the jobs might only be short-term construction work. Yes, the economic spinoffs are uncertain and rarely seem to come to fruition in the way the experts predict.

However, doing something is sometimes better than doing nothing, because action at least gives opportunity and hope for improvement and change. That hope is what the Mackenzie Valley and Beaufort Delta needs as much as anything to help rouse it from its economic slumber.

If nothing is done, nothing will change, and that's the bottom line.

To quote George H. W. Bush, that's the "vision thing." It's about time we've had a taste of it.

MLAs from outside of Yellowknife may not like the strong rhetoric but Weledeh's Bob Bromley, Frame Lake's Wendy Bisaro, Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins and Range Lake's Daryl Dolynny are doing their jobs by questioning more money going toward construction of an all-weather road from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk.

The legislative assembly's committee of the whole approved an extra $65 million for the capital project on March 11, which brings the total estimated cost to $299 million.

"It's visions of the Deh Cho Bridge kerfuffle all over again," Bromley said in a later interview, referring to the span across the Mackenzie River which ended up costing $202 million by its completion date, up from early estimates of $55 million.

Granted, there are differences. Most of the money for the bridge came from Government of the Northwest Territories coffers while the highway is being cost-shared, with the federal government contributing about 66.6 per cent, or about $200 million, while the GNWT will pay for about 33.3 per cent, or about $100 million.

Still, that's a lot of coin and all of it is funded by the taxpayer, regardless of the level of government providing the money.

And the costs are no where near set in stone. Only 85 per cent of the road design is complete, a source for gravel has not been decided, roughly 12 km of the road will travel over glacial ice, which presents its own unique challenges, and then there is the issue of the Inuvialuit wanting money because the road crosses its claim settlement lands.

MLAs outside of Yellowknife, and especially those from the Western Arctic and the Beaufort Delta in particular, see the road as a necessity and are thankful that the Harper government is supportive of a land link to the Arctic Ocean.

Yet scrutiny is essential to keep a project of this magnitude on track, both financially and to ensure a reasonable timeline is achieved. Part of that task falls to the ordinary MLAs from Yellowknife who, through their questions in the legislative assembly last week, indicated they are up to the task.

We encourage Yellowknife MLAs to keep their microscopes handy and not be afraid to be vocal if and when this ambitious project looks like it is coming off the rails.

It is clear from the humongous crowds of people who gathered for Long John Jamboree over the weekend that organizers have hit upon a winning formula.

Seemingly everybody who didn't head out of town for spring break spent at least part of their weekend at the jamboree. Undoubtedly, one of the main attractions was the Fire and Ice bonfire and the fireworks show, which had traffic backed all the way up School Draw Avenue.

There were many other great events too, old Caribou Carnival standbys such as the Ugly Truck and Dog Competition, a skijoring race, and a spectacular ice carving competition.

The public interest shows us two things: there were lots of great activities for people to see and take part in, and, after the long winter, residents are craving for something to do and will come if it's worthwhile. This year's jamboree, despite the bone-chilling cold over the weekend, definitely fit the bill. Weather is an issue, however, that must not be ignored.

In last Wednesday's editorial, we encouraged organizers to emulate Folk on the Rocks' success at maintaining enthusiasm at the board level, ensuring fresh faces are there to take over when burnout inevitably occurs. As the jamboree is also a weather-dependent event, we also encourage organizers to prepare against the cold as much as possible.

True lots of people came last weekend, but for many, particularly those with young children, they didn't stay for long. Despite organizers' best efforts, some tents - the kids' tents, beer/blow your socks off tent - were just too cold to remain in for long.

This can be chalked up as a learning experience but organizers should remember well cold weather was the nail in the coffin for some of the last few Caribou Carnivals.

There's nothing like a good old double standard when it comes to the sexes.

A certain former Nunavut premier must have shook his head in disbelief after the offcolour joke blurted out by British Columbia Premier Christy Clark at a public event earlier this month.

Clark fought with a microphone that just wouldn't stay upright for her while addressing a public gathering.

The oh-so-colourful premier couldn't resist telling the crowd she wouldn't say the limp-like microphone reminded her of her exhusband.

Now, let's be honest.

Can you imagine the public indignation had that been a male leader making a similar remark while wrestling with a pair of wellformed balloons that seemed to deflate in size after being unveiled?

Our former premier can imagine it, after one illadvised profane insult set him on the path to political destruction.

And this is certainly no oneoff for Clark, a premier who just can't seen to stay away from controversy when it comes to sexuality.

Yes, this is the same Clark who billionaire Richard Branson asked to go on a date of nude kite surfing.

And the same Clark who also said publicly it was better to be an attractive mother who men would like to have intimate relationships with than to be a cougar.

So, it seems the rules are different and the bar set considerably higher when it comes to the commentary of those members of the fairer sex who hold political office.

Maybe, with the call of equal pay for equal work having been met in most quarters, it's time for a call of equal punishment for equal rudeness and lack of taste.

The same goes for all the attention being paid to stay-at-home dads during these ever-changing social times.

Not long ago, during the rise of feminism, stay-at-home moms were either touted as domestic heroes who put their families ahead of personal fulfilment, or portrayed as loving women being taken advantage of by their sexist husbands.

Fast forward to today and a rising number of dads are staying home to care for the kids, if their wives earn a pay cheque that keeps the family afloat or better.

But there are no male domestic heroes being lauded for putting the care of their kids ahead of personal gain.

Far from it.

Stay-at-home dads are portrayed in many circles as a bunch of losers who have put all the pressure of being the breadwinner of the family and earning a living squarely on the shoulders of their wives.

Their masculinity is brought into question, and it's a stigma that's not going to disappear anytime soon.

And, if you are a stay-at-home dad, good luck finding a support group to help you overcome the challenges you face.

For all the talk of equal opportunity, equal partners and equal standards, the pendulum certainly seems a little out of whack.

Maybe it's the price men pay for all those decades of living atop a man's world.

Or, maybe, it's simply a case of women being no more able to handle true social elevation then men.

Either way, true equality between the sexes remains a myth.

Just ask any former premier you know the next time Premier Clark comes up with another limp one-liner.

There's no question that after decades of discussion, the transfer of authority over public lands, natural resources and onshore waterways from the federal government to the GNWT is closer with the signing of the draft devolution agreement March 11.

The recent negotiations involved the federal and territorial governments, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Northwest Territories Metis Nation, the Sahtu Secretariat Inc., the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Tlicho Government.

But as the government prepares for public "consultation" meetings, it's unclear whether changes can be made to the final agreement.

Premier Bob McLeod said in the legislative assembly that the agreement "is a take it or leave it," while the plain language summary of the deal offered online last week by the Office of Devolution states the agreement has not been formally approved and "may be subject to change before it is signed."

One issue both MLAs and residents have flagged is the federal government's continued control of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board - choosing who sits on the board and administering environmental assessments. The territory will be liable for cleanup of new development waste sites after devolution. The federal government keeps the reins for approving projects but is devolving the clean up costs of bad decisions to the GNWT. That's a giant liability for the people of the NWT.

McLeod is firm that the purpose of the information sessions and engagement strategy is to explain the content of the devolution agreement before it is approved and signed. He insists this is a done deal and it's up to the federal government, the GNWT and the aboriginal parties who have signed on to make the final decision expected during the next sitting of the legislative assembly in May and June.

McLeod seems to be taking a page from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's hardline tactics. If the territory had party politics, the premier could easily tout his steadfastness to this immense transition of power. But, with the legislative assembly's consensus model, people may well get their backs up, regardless of the merits of the deal.

A motion in the legislative assembly by Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley asking for a plebiscite to decide if devolution should go to a public vote was defeated 14-2 with two MLAs absent. So it appears the majority of MLAs are backing McLeod's rigid stance - for now.

In the next couple of months, devolution and all it stands for will be brought forward and dissected.

It's up to the public to become informed and attend the upcoming information sessions. It is also the public's responsibility to tell MLAs if they don't agree with the devolution deal and pressure for changes and/or further negotiations.

The deal can only be signed if the majority of our MLAs agree. The people of the NWT must now be heard.

MLAs are duty bound to vote yes or no to the devolution deal according to the stated will of the voters.

While student success in Nunavut depends on co-operation between teacher, parents and students, it should be marks that decide whether a student will move on to the next academic grade.

In 2012, out of 565 Grade 12 students who could have graduated, only 228 did, according to the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics. We still haven't had a year in which at least 50 per cent of those enrolled in Grade 12 graduate, though we've come close.

Obviously the system has not yet figured out how to set Nunavummiut students up for success, and the policy of social promotion, brought about in 2008, has slashed the consequences for not completing, or mastering work or not showing up.

The policy, in place for students during grades one through nine, puts the decision of whether a student will go on to the next grade in the hands of teaching staff, district education authority officials and parents.

With so many involved in this one decision, a child's long-term welfare might not be everyone's goal. In some cases, a parent might not want their child to be stigmatized by having them fail - a stigma surely made worse in a system where hardly any students fail - or they might themselves feel embarrassment, as if their child's success is a reflection of their own parenting.

District education authority officials might feel pressure from the government to adhere to the policy of social promotion to keep failure rates low. Teachers might feel pressure from their employers to do the same, as South Baffin MLA Fred Schell mentioned when he brought this topic up in the legislative assembly earlier this month. Or perhaps teachers just want a problem student out of their class.

Responding to criticism of this policy in the National Post last week, Premier Eva Aariak wrote in a guest column that preference is given to passing the students and monitoring their progress.

Without a doubt there are excellent parents and teachers in Nunavut who are savvy to the needs of the children in their care, and are striving to help those children succeed. But expecting educational success based on the opinions of a committee rather than meeting recognized academic standards is dangerous.

The place for policies that stress flexibility should only exist in the methods of education, allowing individual strategies with the sole goal of helping students meet national education standards.

When not given the tools they need to succeed, and instead being passed through the system with no real consequences ever applied to not doing work or not showing up or not meeting national standards, students are being set up to fail.

In her National Post column, Aariak wrote time will tell as to whether this policy is working. Logic suggests that with the students of today being set up to fail, positive results won't be apparent until the next generation, if ever.

Hopefully our elected leaders will have the political drive and backbone to change this policy before then.

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