Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

RANKIN INLET
A group of teachers spent time learning new skills to combat a growing problem in Rankin Inlet this past week.

Instructor Norm Jakubowski goes over course material with teacher Tom Lynch, sitting, during a Canadian Red Cross Respect-Ed anti-bullying program in Rankin this past week. .html- Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The teachers gathered to learn how to teach students the skills necessary to gain greater self-confidence in being able to stand up to bullies.

The Canadian Red Cross program, Respect-Ed, was delivered by Norm Jakubowski of Regina, Sask.

Jakubowski is a retired teacher and principal who spent 32 years dealing with bullying as an educator, and who has been focused on the Respect-Ed program for the past six years.

He said the course prepares teachers to find student leaders who want to help create safe environments for kids, as it relates to bullying.

"We want to empower kids to take action on bullying when they see it happen," said Jakubowski. So, we're trying to give teachers and students the tools and resources they need to make that happen.

"The course provides knowledge and help to teachers so they can help kids react to the situation when it occurs."

Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. was the chief sponsor of the Rankin program.

Also helping out were Page Burt, the Siniktarvik Hotel, Kivalliq Inuit Association, Hamlet of Rankin Inlet and First Air.

Jakubowski said youth involvement is paramount to the program's delivery in a community.

He said adults aren't present 85 per cent of the time bullying happens, but other kids are and the training can teach them how to respond to the situation in a way that's appropriate for them.

"One barrier to understanding what bullying really is, and being able to address it, are those adults who think it's just kids being kids or boys being boys. But we have enough information to show how devastating bullying can be. I would challenge people to find adults who were bullied as youth.

"They will be able to tell you how damaging it was and, as adults, they're still trying to find ways to cope with some of the things that happened to them in the past."

Jakubowski said the majority of teachers are happy to receive the training and acquire more resources to deal with bullying.

He said bullying isn't really covered during teacher training, but, once they spend time in the field working with kids, they realize it's a problem that needs to be addressed.

"Bullying isn't really a school issue, but, rather, a community issue that comes to school.

"Teachers have to deal with a lot of stuff that actually had its origins outside of the school. Bullying is a community issue, but teachers want to do their part to help make their schools safe.

"If we truly believe kids are our future, we need to invest in them and make sure they grow up healthy and happy no matter where they live in Canada."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.