New solutions to old problem
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Fort Providence (Feb 16/01) - Staff at Deh Gah school are tackling an old problem with some new methods.
As a technique to help all students, particularly those suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol effects (FAE), afternoon recess will no longer exist, beginning next week.
Instead, from 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. staff members will offer activities such as skiing, skating, chess, art, spelling bees, hair design, cooking, aerobics, volleyball and others.
Learning will continue, just not in a formal classroom setting,, according to school and community counsellor Margaret Thom.
"So that way everybody leaves happy, not frustrated or stressed," she said, adding that many FAS/FAE students become impatient with academics. "Maybe by 2 or 2:30 (p.m.), you know you have days when your brain shuts down? And then we're trying to push academics (on them). They just can't do it right at that time. Maybe they could do it tomorrow. So we've recognized that."
No diagnoses
Deh Gah principal Jane Arychuk said the school won't attempt to diagnose individual students as suffering from FAS/FAE. Suspected cases will be given the same supports as known cases, she said.
Other approaches teachers will incorporate will be to speak more slowly, repeat things when necessary and to give one instruction at a time. FAS/FAE children process information slower, and benefit from a structured environment Arychuk noted.
"Kids who are affected need time to be ready to make a move," she explained. "If they like what they're doing they don't like to stop."
The school hosted an FAS/FAE workshop during the last week of January. Thom said the workshop left quite an impression on her.
"It was super. I learned lots," she said. "It really opened my eyes."
Diane Malbin, from Portland, Oregon, who has a child afflicted with FAE, was the facilitator.
Thom said shameful feelings have to be overcome to address the problem, and a step was taken in that direction.
"I know some parents have recognized and admitted, 'Yes, I drank when I was pregnant.' It's really hard to do that," she said.
"But now we've got this whole thing on the table. It's out in the open full force. How people take it is really up to them, but I know it's done a lot for school staff."
