‘It will scar them for life’: Bullying remains a serious problem in Nunavut schools, MLA says

Aivilik MLA Solomon Malliki raised the troubling issue of school bullying in the legislative assembly in October.

With Pink Shirt Day coming up on Feb. 28, he is still seeking assurances that students are being protected from abuse by peers.

“I want this message to go out to parents who have students in schools. Ask [children] to see if they are being bullied… it will scar them for life,” he said last week.

As for parents whose children may be too afraid to speak up, Malliki tells them to look for signs and to pay close attention to their children’s behaviour, “like acting up or giving [parents] a hard time.”

Pink Shirt Day is more than just bringing attention to the problems of bullying in school. It’s also about taking the time to assess each and every child, because ultimately “children’s well-being is very important,” the MLA said.

As for the Government of Nunavut paying homage to Pink Shirt Day, Malliki comments, “It’s just awareness. [Officials] know about it, but are not doing their part to eliminate it. Listen to what people are saying, especially the educators, especially the students,” he urges. “Sure, the educators are trying [to help], but it takes extra measures” to tackle the problem.

Malliki also feels educators are prevented from doing more and speaking out because of restrictions placed on them by the Department of Education.

“I think the GN should have a [dedicated] program for educators. They recognize there is bullying in schools, but they don’t have a program that really goes towards [helping] Nunavut students. Schools [here] have been [operating] for 50 years now.”

When Malliki raised the issue of bullying back in October, he was met with what he felt were evasive answers and Education Minister Pamela Hakongak Gross was “trying to shut me up.”

Gross responded during the session on Oct. 23 that she had been on maternity leave, but was aware of the problems and that letters that had been going back and forward between the department and Malliki regarding his concerns.

The legislators also discussed the use of a new violence-tracking system and deploying additional resources into communities, but Malliki felt his questions were not addressed satisfactorily.

Four months later, when asked by Nunavut News if he’s aware of any progress relating to suppressing bullying in schools, he responded emphatically, “Absolutely not. They’re not helping the students at all. They’re of no use whatsoever. Their answers [in October] were not appropriate for my questions.

“There’s bullying going on in schools… I’ve been told by some parents that they are afraid to send their child to school. Not just in Aivilik, but across Nunavut,” said Malliki. “Students are putting up with a lot of bullying, and it’s affecting their mental health in the long run.”

He described the abuse as verbal, mental and emotional. He also indicated that much of it seemed to be learned behaviour from the home environment.

“Obviously quite a few things prompt it. Some [kids] are getting [the same treatment] at home and bringing it to school.”

As for school staff intervention, Malliki said, “I’m pretty sure they’re aware of it, but I’m asking for everyone to do their part to eliminate bullying in school, and in general.”

Kira Wronska Dorward, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News