Another school year is now underway in Nunavut, and some parents are expressing concerns about a number of issues facing their children.

For Avakana Allukpik, a mother of five from Kugluktuk, the biggest worry is bullying.

She said one of her sons has been bullied by some of his peers for years. Conversations with the parents of her sonSA国际影视传媒檚 bullies have been fruitless, she added.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 nonstop conflict,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

When asked for her thoughts on a solution, Allukpik was quick to point to SA国际影视传媒渦nconditional love from parentsSA国际影视传媒� as the fix.

SA国际影视传媒淭he teachers are doing a great job,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 the home environment where it starts.

SA国际影视传媒淧arents need to pay more attention to their kids. I just wish these parents could learn to just love their creations and not use them and abuse them,SA国际影视传媒� said Allukpik.

In Cambridge Bay, father of five Andre Otokiak said his major apprehension for students in Nunavut surrounds the curriculum itself.

He would like to see a greater prevalence of on-the-land education for students of all ages to SA国际影视传媒渒eep traditional values aliveSA国际影视传媒� for future generations. He would also like to see training for trades worked into the curriculum.

SA国际影视传媒淢y concern as a parent would be a lack of communication with trades industries in our communities,SA国际影视传媒� he said, suggesting students should get school credits for training in the mining industry.

Richard Bohlender, a father of four in Arctic Bay, is most concerned about school closures due to inclement weather.

He estimates his children missed up to 30 days of school last year, oftentimes when temperatures were milder than -40 C, and winds were slower than 50 kilometres per hour.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 want the school closed anymore,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淜ids miss too many days now from those small conditions.

SA国际影视传媒淥nly reason for a school to close is if thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no running water or some infrastructural damage, but not for weather-related [problems] since the school bus is running and there are only 200 houses altogether [in town],SA国际影视传媒� said Bohlender.

In Iqaluit, Michael Fogan cited the price of school supplies as one of his chief concerns as a father of four.

He was able to acquire new backpacks and school supplies for his children at the local mosqueSA国际影视传媒檚 annual back-to-school drive, but contends that prices of these items are too high and that availability is also a problem.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou go to Northmart, you go to [Arctic] Ventures, a lot of times theySA国际影视传媒檙e overly expensive, or by the time we get there when we have child tax or something, theySA国际影视传媒檙e all gone,SA国际影视传媒� he said SA国际影视传媒淭hey have to cover freight costs, so youSA国际影视传媒檙e looking at a $35 backpack being $60 or $70 up here.SA国际影视传媒�

Minister of Education Pamela Gross did not respond to multiple requests address these parentsSA国际影视传媒� concerns in an interview.