Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to get back to this utilization of schools. I have a problem with a process that we know does not work and continue to support that process. If we are jam-packing students into one classroom with different grade levels, different age groups, that puts a strain on not only the teachers, but the students who are doing the work. That is a problem area. I think we better look at resolving that problem because if we do not resolve situations like this, we are not creating a better learning environment for our children and the problem of having low graduation levels, high unemployment, high dependency on our social envelopes will continue long into the future.
We all agree that education is the answer to a lot of our social problems here in the Northwest Territories, but if we identify core problems, then we certainly should attempt to do something about resolving that problem. We understand through surveys and research that FAS is a big problem.
Our justice system in the Northwest Territories has physically separated the Indians in the correctional centres who have been identified with FAS/FAE from the general population, or even having contact with security guards that are not trained in dealing with this. Yet we justify the utilization of schools and the number of kids we can put in one classroom, using that as an excuse not to create a better learning environment for our children.
If we do not start looking at resolving this problem, we will be sitting here in five or ten years discussing the same issue, Mr. Chairman. I sure would like to encourage the department and the Cabinet to resolve this very basic problem that we identify in our communities. With that, I thank you, Mr. Chairman.