0 - North Shore News — Sunday, December 24, 2000

5
Let
“Eugene Kaeilis
Contributing Writer
LEGALLY, any physical
contact. forced upon an
adult can be assault.

‘Yet infants, children, even
young men and women can,
under sanction of the Criminal
Cade’s Section 43, receive
corporal punishment from par-

“ems, teachers, “or person
standing in place of'a parent,”
provided “the force does not
exceed what is reasonable
under the circumstances.”

» According to surveys, phys-
ical punishment is used by
about three-quarters of
Canadian parents, In B-C.,
ivachers are forbidden ro hit
their students, but others, pre-
sumably babysitters, can do so.

SFU graduate student

- Adamira Tijerino, in his thesis

on corporal punishment,
claims that it is not an effective
way to obtain long-term com-
pliance by children. Moreover,
while the assaults rarely cause
enduring physical harm, they
probably have long-term psyv-
chological effects, such-as the
possibility Of depression and
suicidal tendencies.

One of the worst features
of carporal punishment is that
it habituates children to a
method of dealing with ditti-
cult interpersonal problems by
simply Ashing out at whoever
is perceived as causing frustra-
tion, a method not casil

carded as children gett
stronger, and acquire knives or
guns. Violence, in brief, begets
violence.

Sull, many parents feel jus-
tified in using corporal punish-
ment, same because it is saric-
toned, even ordained, by the
Bible; because chev were sub-
jected to it in their childhood
(Cand it didn’t do me any
hari}; or because, they sim-
ply do nor know of any other
means of dealing with recalei-
trant or frustrating children.

The impulse to hit children
takes place within a contest of
increasing family stress and

i
busines: in the tives of many

adults. They canner or wll not
sct up a prionty for the more

Ging-consuming but effective

approach o7 finding out what
really is troubling children
who display annoving behav-
ior, Parents and caregivers
need to ask thenuelves if the
demands they are making are |
realty justitied or just blind
“power-tripping.” H they are
justified, is the time-frame for
compliance fair and realistic?
Are Mere other means to
acquire the cooperation or at
least acquiescence of the child?
Tramay be a lony time
before corporal punishment is
put to rest, but a powerful and
useful first step would be to
repeal Seetion 43, tc violates
the dignivy of children, treats
them Tike property, permits par-
ents to act like brates, and con-
travenes the Charter of Rights.

Watch home gas

EXPLOSIONS and
house fires cars result
from snow and ice build
up on natural gas
meters, said B.C.’s chief
pas safety inspector
Susana Katz. :

Kav reminded people to
remove snow around gas
meters and cheek for damag
or leakage. Escaping | natural
gas can emit a strony “rotten
eggs” smell.

Tf you smell gas:

@ open doors and windows;
8 de norsmoke, light matches,
operate electrical switches,
appliances, thermostats or cre-
ate any source of ignition;

B shut off the main was valve. A

quarter turn of the gas valve, so
it is crosswise to the pipe, is the

al7 position. .
@ vet everyone outside and

- away from the building;

@ phone: your gas supplier
immediately.
To avoid damage to your

gas meter, Katz. provided the
tollowiny, tips:

8 clearly mark the locaton of
your gas meter before remov-
ing anv snow from around
your home;

@ deonot bury the meter and
avoid ploughing inte it with
snow removal equipment;
when removing snow from
rooftops, take care that. the
meter does not. become cov-
ered in ice or snows

@ keep vavestroughs clear and
in good repair so water does
not drip on the meter or piping |
and causy ice build up;

85 if vour gas meter js encased
in ice, cali your local gas siuppli-
er; :
B a temporary cover can help
to prevent meter damage. An
effective cover can be as simple
as a. phywond sheet. leaning,
against the house ta deflect
falling snow. If your gas supply
has been shut off, leave it to a
licensed gas fitter to turn the
gas back on and relight-y your
gas appliances,

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