¢ ~ North Shore News — Sunday, April 2, 2000 | Roots of vio Jan-Christian Sorensen Contributing Writer PROPERLY nurturing children dur- ing infancy is critical if parents and educators hope to stem the rising tide of school violence, says an expert on youth violence. Robin Karr-Morse, a family therapist from Oregon, recently co-authored a book that traces the roots of violence back to the earliest stages of child development. She spoke to a group of about 100 people gathered at Centennial Theatre Tuesday night at a meeting presented by Local Community Action Program for Children. Karr-Morse iden- tified the first three years of a life — including the nine months spent in the womb — as the q OR TH VA NORTH SHORE eApril 7 - 9: Cap College most crucial to ensuring a child’s healthy = emotional growth. She said that all too often people have a tendency to only look at older, school-age chil- dren for signs of violence when in reality the foundation for that sort of behaviour is laid at a much earlier age. “The roots of violence can be well entrenched by preschoul,” she said. “We need to be looking at the stages before adolescence, even before grade school, to the cradle of human formation. “We keep thinking that we can fix anything with love later, or we assume that we can do it malls, common ROBIN Karr-Morse — insight on violence. with brief periods of quality time. In reality, every baby needs someone there who thinks that they hung the moon. They need to be inti- mately hooked in with a key adult in those carly months of life.” She also talked at length about the recent spate of school shootings that has rocked cities and small towns in the American heartland. It was two years ago in Karr- Morse’s home state that 15- year-old Kip Kinkel shot his parents to death before opening fire oni class- mates at Thurston High School in Springfield, killing ewo and wounding 22 others. PUBLIC Want to learn m about how your dollars are allocat Residents are invited to attend a series uf presentations ‘to learn more about the District's Draft ‘2000 Financial Plan. You encouraged to ask questions provide input on the plan. meetings will be. held. 355 West Queens Road, beginning at 7:00 Municipal Hall, p-m. on the following dates: Tuesday, April 4 Departments to be discussed Clerk, include Planning, Environment, Services, Financial Servi Fire, RCMP. Municipal Building Thursday, April 6 Departments to ‘be discussed Recreation include Library, Commission, Museum of areas tax Corporate lence entrenched early She showed newspaper clippings on last year’s massacre at Columbine High in Littleton, Co. as well, where a teacher and 14 students — including the two gunmen — died. “Columbine rivets us to the reality of chil- dren killing children,” she said. “And in the case of this incident, with malice aforethought.” However, the problem of school violence is not solely an Americs one. In North Vancouver last year, ovo youths were charged after allegedly threatening the life of Windsor secondary school principal Dave Pearce. The pair is slated for trial Jury 21. Karr-Morse fingered the usual suspects — violence in the media and easy access to firearms — as contributing factors to the rise in violent behaviour among school-age children, but said See Brain page § MEETINGS 2. Seymour Local Plan _ comes to your neigh. . bourhood. Do you live east of the Seymour River and -- south of the BC Hydro power line? If so, you should have now received your copy of the and Seymour. Local Plan newslet- All. ter. In it you'll find important at information on the plan as well as a feedback form for your thoughts and ideas. : ore ed? are Want to learn more? Please: * «-°.4 come to an Open House where you can view displays on the planning options, ask ques- tions, fill out a questionnaire and share your opinions. Open : . ; House dates are: and ices, . Parkgate ‘Community. _ Centre . 3625 Banff Court Monday and Tuesday, ; and ~ 8TREAMKEEPERS " welcome ‘ volunteers to help on with the Hastings Creek off- ‘channel habitat. improvement 3 project on Saturday, April 8 at 10:00 a.m. Meet at Hoskins and _ Arborlynn. For further infor- mation call Catherine Sherlock , 924-4880. af a “LIVE ON THE. . :: NORTH SHORE “2 *April. 5+ 30: Seymour Art - .Gallery | presents. Patterns .. Unfolding, a textile art display. . /@April.7 - 8 and 12 - 15: “Hendry Hall presents Nuts, a ‘man's reflections of growing up in Ireland. Theatre presents Carmina Burana, College choirs. * April 13: Cap College Theatre presents The Paperboys, . award-winning Celtic band. a A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. The recent Supreme Court decision to overturn the Workers' Compensation Board — (WCB) smoking ban does NOT change the District's Sma king Regulation Bylaw that probibits smoking in public places. As of January I; 2000, the District. went 100% smoke-free in pubs, restaurants, cabs, workplaces, ‘shopping status of the - buildings, any place of public gathering and more. Any person who contravenes any. of the provisions of the liable, conviction, to a fine of up to bylaw is on $2,000. For more information, please call Public — Health at 983-6700. . your ~ local Inspector Archives, North Copies of the Draft Financial Plan are available for review - Discrict Libraries, at all District Hall the District (www.dnv. org). information, 990-2233. and For please and West Vancouver Emergency Program. don Web ~ Page more — eall — April 3 and 4 - 12:00 noon - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, Apri 5 9:00 a.m -.4: 00 P- m Saturday, April Bot 10:00 a. m. +4200 p.m. wee * For more . information, ‘pleaie call the ‘Seymour. Local Plan Information Line at 990-3700. working together for a better commun ih vnc. ne ror vw. ony. gra}