Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (April 26, 2011)
18 in other words april26 2011 Better Parenting: Where Did You Learn to Act Like That? By Sonia Spackman A study from the University of Michigan states that most kids spend more time in front of the TV than doing anything else except sleeping-- 28 hours per week! This gives an enormous exposure to some really bad behavior. Dr. Cynthia Scheibe analyzed how much of children’s TV contained insults. You will be surprised to read that close to two-thirds of “pro-social” TV shows to educate young children have characters that insult each other. Regular TV programs have insulting behavior 96% of the time. So what do these insulting nasty behaviors have to do with your kids? A lot! We deal with this problem in our Vernonia schools every day. Researchers have studied acts of violence and the effect it has on kids. Much of the behavior is intended to hurt other kids by telling lies or secrets, or gossiping about friends to other kids. Hurtful behavior is done purposefully, like leaving some kids out, ignoring or picking on kids. These are behaviors that some kids use to make themselves more popular. Kids can’t get the real meaning. The good intentions of educational shows that use bad behavior as a means of teaching a lesson are missing the mark because young children are not able to understand the “cause and effect” the same way adults do. The more kids watch, the worse they think. “The more kids watched, the crueler they would be to their classmates,” reported Jamie Ostrove, one of the study’s authors. Kids were 2.5 times more likely to be bossy, controlling, and manipulative than violent in their aggression. Kids are learning tactics and becoming expert bullies. One Study called “Media Exposure, Aggression and Pro-social Behavior During Early Childhood” reported that TV teaches boys to be physically aggressive and girls to be relationally aggressive. They report that kids’ friendships are worse the more TV they watch. Kids love the shows that are spicy and full of unchecked meanness. In one episode of a poplar show, a girl made fun of her friend who likes things she considers “nerdy.” She called her brother a “loser” because of the way he speaks. One of the stars referred to an adult’s “man boobs.” And in a sub-plot on the same show, one of the characters portrayed an elderly grandfather as an idiot. So what is the lesson for the kids that are watching except to be cool like these characters and learn their language? Over time, relational aggression is very damaging. A 2008 study in the Journal of Communication reported that victims of relational aggression suffer with lower self-esteem, loneliness, depression anxiety, and in extreme cases are more likely to think suicidal thoughts or consider homicidal actions. There are no adult corrections or reprimands, or any apologies given. There is no consequence shown for any of these behaviors. Some of these comedies make it normal for kids to interrupt, insult and dismiss each other and not feel bad about it or experience any consequences. Things parents can try to turn their kids in the right direction: 1) Teach your child LIMITS on wrong behaviors. Let them know that it is not okay to insult adults or call their brother a loser, or to ridicule or mistreat friends or to do any of the unpleasant things popular characters on TV do to each other. 2) Teach your child COURAGE. Teach them that doing what is right is not always popular. When they see a wrong, to tell an adult is not easy. Ask your child to “practice” courage by doing something he or she knows is right. Ask your child to share their experience with you. 3) Teach your child about SAFETY, explaining how to act like a safe person. Explain how they can keep themselves safe and to care about how others feel. Ask them to “practice” by asking one person each day how they feel, especially someone who is being picked on. Tell them you would be interested in hearing about it. 4) Teach your child KINDNESS and how everyone has a battle they go through-- and how we treat people can make things better or worse. Ask your child to have compassion and understanding for those who seem to need it and tell them you would love to have them share their experiences with you. 5) Teach your child about BREAKING HABITS. In fact, tell yourself that it takes courage to change. That breaking a habit starts by practicing doing what you want to do and practicing not doing what you want to stop doing. David Spackman, the WGS counselor, is hoping to have the Ovation Company return to Vernonia this fall for an all-day interactive workshop for the middle school students. Middle school students will learn the above values through a series of activities providing the students with new perspectives on what school life can look like, while getting students to communicate with each other outside their normal routines. By the end of the workshop, the vast majority of students use these character traits in school and for the rest of their lives. As a parent, I hope we all promote these values in our own life, in our families, and with our children, where adults will ask our kids: “Where did you learn to act like that?” This fall, if The Ovation Company does the workshop, please plan on coming to the school and sitting in the bleachers with a thermos of coffee and your lunch and watch the inspiring activities they do with the kids. I think you will enjoy it and it will make a difference in the way you live your life in the future. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to e-mail soniaspackman@msn.com or call (503) 429-654. Resources: Martha Brockenbrough, MSN TV, Dr. Cynthia Scheibe, and The Ovation Company. Rebuilding Vernonia, Part II continued from front page Brownfields Program has become a proven program that has changed the way contaminated property is perceived, addressed, and managed. It is designed to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. Investors are often reluctant to invest in these types of properties due to contamination problems or fear of a possible problem. Owners of these properties often have difficulty selling them and costs for clean-up can be prohibitive. However, many of these brownfields properties can be turned into assets in a community by going through an assessment or clean-up process. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties can increase the local tax base, create job growth, and utilizes existing infrastructure, all while both improving and protecting local environments. With the grant application, the City of Vernonia is taking the first step towards helping local property owners receive assistance with potential clean- up and restoring their properties to valuable use. “One of the reasons we started looking at this seriously is, if the city as a whole is going through a transformational paradigm shift, and we are owning up to our past and looking to a future that includes green buildings, sustainability opportunities, then along with that is taking a look at fixing our soils so that investors, if they want to borrow money from a bank, can clearly step in and build on land that a bank will lend on,” says Haack. Private property owners who meet brownfields eligibility requirements are encouraged to participate. The process is community-driven; citizens help in the planning process and there is no cost to the property owner for environmental assessments. The performance period for clean-up is usually three years. Thousands of properties have been assessed and cleaned up through the EPA Brownfields Program. Many new uses may be possible on brownfields sites depending on the nature and severity of contamination and the community’s vision for the clean-up process. “It’s a tool that is available,” says Haack. “The city knows we have some problem properties. I see this as an opportunity. It’s meant to help people that own land discover and fix problems.” Upon receipt of a Brownfields Assessment Grant, the process of getting a brownfields site cleaned up involves three steps. First, before applying to be part of the assessment process, each property must meet the definition of a brownfields site. A brownfields site is a real property where expansion, redevelopment, normal use or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Certain information must be provided to EPA for EPA staff to make an eligibility determination. After eligibility is determined, an assessment can take place. continued on page 19
