Education Controlling anger
NNSL (OCT 25/96) - Students in Yellowknife are learning ways to deal with anger in a new anti-violence program this year.

Loretta Foley of the Yellowknife Catholic School Board, says it's a preventative step, not a reaction to a problem with violence in the schools.

"It's our response to the need to be aware of the trend that's happening in schools across the country," she says. "Being aware of this trend is the key to preventing it from becoming a problem."

Yellowknife Education District No.1 school board started the program in Grades K-5 classrooms this week and the Yellowknife Catholic school board is set to begin Second Step after the Thanksgiving Day weekend for Grades K-8.

Roland Ledoux, Yellowknife District No.1 assistant superintendent, says they are trying the program with Grades K-5 first, but may introduce it to other grades later in the year.

Anita Griffore, principal of N.J. Macpherson school, says the response from the students has been positive.

"Every child is getting the program, and it's going well," she says. "But we'll see the real benefits from the program in five years when the kindergarten class has gone through the program."

The program has three major elements -- empathy, impulse control and anger management. It's largely designed to teach students social skills.

Griffore says young children seem to lack in those areas, and need a program like this to teach them the skills.

They will learn to carry the skills to real-life situations through role-playing.

"This, I believe, is the strength of the program," Griffore says. "It helps them practise what they learn so they can bring it out to the playground.