Cook, young people share experiences
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Mar 30/01) - Young people are educating their peers as part of an anti-bullying program.
recently Amanda Bernhardt, who is in Grade 9, and Grade 8 student Martha Day gave a presentation to Mrs. Musselwhite's Grade 4 class at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school.
Accompanying them was Darryl Cook, project officer at Ingamo.
The presentation included a film, Take action against bullying, which depicts four scenarios involving bullying. Afterwards the girls told the class about their experiences in school.
After the class Bernhardt and Day said they could relate to the film. Both girls are members of the Ingamo Hall Youth Group, and they got training for this program by taking in a recent Bullying Workshop at Ingamo.
Bernhardt added that she became involved because she wanted to do something about bullying.
"I was kind of shy at first, but I got used to it," she said.
A few weeks ago several Ingamo youth members started giving presentations at SAMS on bullying. Cook has accompanied them but said that in a few weeks or so the young people will be conducting sessions on their own.
Cook said next week they would be targeting Samuel Hearne secondary school.
He said the sessions have been getting a good response from both students and teachers. He pointed out many hadn't known about the possible harm caused by emotional scars, or that bullying goes beyond fighting and teasing.
Cook said kids now are noticing bullying going on in the hallways, whereas before they might have ignored it.
Cook is pleased with how the program is going so far.
"We're getting it off the ground, so to speak."
Next month Cook and some Ingamo youth may put on a presentation at Mangilaluak school in Tuktoyaktuk.
