Grade 10 students learn what it takes to be a parent
Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services
Cape Dorset (Mar 26/01) - Classes are more than just reading, writing and arithmetic at Peter Pitseolak school.
Pampers and parenting are now part of the the Inuktitut language and culture curriculum for the school's Grade 10 students.
"Dolls are not my thing so it was pretty embarrassing in front of the girls," explained Jimmy Etidloie about materials used in the parenting class. "But it turned out OK."
Four books, printed by the Iqaluit Rotary Club, were borrowed from the school for the class. Written in Inuktitut, they explained what to know when becoming a father and provided information on pregnancy, infant care and child development.
"I learned a lot," Etidloie said. "Like about getting deformed babies after birth from drinking."
Teacher Moati Mathewsie said it was interesting for her to see 14 boys in the class learn that, as well as the 12 girls.
She said it was very important for fathers to play a significant role in child rearing.
"They have to know how to take care of their partner while she's pregnant," she said. "How to take of her, be with her and let her rest."
The parenting segment of the class began in November and wrapped up in mid-February.
"I'm a mother of three children and I learned from the students while teaching it," Mathewsie said. "I never used to drink alcohol and I'm not a smoker ... if I smoked when I was pregnant I would quit right away."
The books explained the how smoking can make a baby addicted to nicotine.
"Some of the time babies are medevaced out of here when they are born because they are asking for nicotine," she said.
As for Etidloie being a father, he said the experience hasn't scared him away from the idea of being a parent. He just wants to wait a while first.
"Maybe when I'm 30 but I am going to first live about 20 years free," he said.
