HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-02-02, Page 27Wednesday, February 2, 2005
Exeter Times–Advocate
27
Bullying discussed at Mt. Carmel
Mt. Carmel students Meaghan Glavin,Angela Regier and Pierre Langois help Paul
Behnke in one of his songs Jan. 21 during a presentation on dealing with bullying
Behnke put on. (photo/ Pat Bolen)
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
MT. CARMEL — Mt. Carmel students
heard some important lessons Jan. 21 on
dealing with bullying.
Students from Kindergarten to Grade 5
saw a presentation from Paul Behnke, a
teacher and musician from Bright, Ont.
Using songs, stories and role-playing,
Behnke gave the students lessons on deal-
ing with different types of bullying situa-
tions.
Behnke told the students bullies are look-
ing for anyone different or weaker than
them and will try to do something to upset
their victims.
According to Behnke, the most important
rule for dealing with a bully is to never cry
or get upset..
He said ignoring the abuse means the
bully is not having any fun and most will
stop.
Behnke said threatening to tell an adult
is another way of dealing with it, as bullies
don't want parents or teachers involved.
If bullying escalates into physical acts,
Behnke said it was important for victims
never to get physically involved.
"It's ok to run away," was the message
Behnke told the students, as well as imme-
diately telling a trusted adult.
Behnke has been giving his seminars on
bullying for six years across North
America.
Mt. Carmel will be having another dis-
cussion on bullying in April.
Grades 6 to 8 will hear Miles Neuts,
whose son died after being hanging on a
coat hook.
For information on Behnke's seminars,
visit www. paulbehnke. on. ca.
Queensway talent show a success
HENSALL —
Queensway's talent
show Sun., Jan. 30 was
definitely the highlight of
the week. Young and old
contributed their many
talents.
Fred Fry at 98 years of
age singing, The Ring
Your Mother Wore was a
hit as were the piano
solos by 6 -year-old Tori
Mittelhotz.
Staff member Diane
Volland had everyone in
stitches with the jokes in
her comedy routines.
These were just a few of
the wonderful entertain-
ers that took part.
January birthdays
were celebrated Thurs.,
Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.
Entertainment was pro-
vided by Harvey Smith
and guitar; Devon
Martene on fiddle;
Harold Mills with accor-
dian and Don Finbeiner
accompanying on the
piano.
Birthday celebrants
were Dorothy Hovey and
Wanda Lawrence. The
20 Senior Dining guests
all stayed to enjoy the
great music with resi-
dents.
Pastor Harry Frielink
of the Exeter Christian
Reform Church led wor-
ship service on Tuesday.
Volunteer Belva Fuss
was organist for the ser-
vice.
Monday evening, Julie
Battjes, Michelle Hern
and Jo Ann Masse of
Arbonne International
Organization presented
a Health and Wellness
seminar and hands-on
demonstration. All in
attendance found the
seminar very enlighten-
ing.
Coming events
Fri., Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.
Friendship Friday with
Andy and Friends.
Thurs., Feb. 10 at 6
p.m. Senior Diners.
Sat., Feb. 12 at 2 p.m.
Valentine's party with
Audibly Awesome (spon-
sored by Hensall
Legion).
Conservationist of the Year award
AUSABLE BAYFIELD - As the need
for environmental preservation
increases, citizens become more vigi-
lant in caring for our land and water.
Since 1984, the Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority has recognized
individuals, families, organizations and
corporations who have demonstrated
outstanding achievements in improving
local water quality, reforestation, envi-
ronmental education, advocating best
management practices and protecting
fish and wildlife habitat.
Past winners of the Conservationist of
the Year Award include Ray Letheren
and the Friends of Bayfield River,
Environmentally Concerned Citizens of
Lambton Shores, Stephanie Donaldson
of Grand Bend and Andy deBoer of
Exeter.
These recipients took awareness and
turned it into action.
They demonstrated strong conserva-
tion ethics by initiating projects to pro-
tect unique environmental features in
their community, promoting steward-
ship of our resources and volunteering
in support of conservation -related pro-
jects.
To be eligible for the award, recipi-
ents must be located within the juris-
diction of the Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority.
Current ABCA staff and directors are
not eligible.
Details describing the categories and
nomination forms are available at your
municipal office, the ABCA office at
235-2610 or www.abca.on.ca.
The deadline for submissions is
March 4 and the Conservationist of the
Year will be named at a special meet-
ing of the ABCA board of directors
March 17.
Influences and factors on a teenager's sex habits
By Kent Nicholson
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE
(Note:The author is a student in South Huron District
High School's Grade 11/12 Communications class. The
article is one of a series students are writing this year.)
EXETER — Sex is a big part of a teenager's life and
their sex habits start to change due to a number of
influences — television, parent -teen relationships and
drugs and alcohol are some of them.
Television is a big factor because many teenagers
watch a lot of TV. A teenager can watch on average
around three hours a day, says Rebecca Collins, PhD, of
RAND Corporation.
A study from the journal "Pediatrics," has shown that
teens who watch sex on TV are more likely to become
sexually active sooner. Collins did phone interviews
with nearly 1,800 young people aged 12-17 about their
sexual activities and television viewing habits. One year
later they called participants again to note what shows
they watched and new sexual experiences the teens
had experienced since the first survey.
The results showed that teens who viewed the most
shows with sex in them were nearly twice as likely to
have started having sexual intercourse as those who
watched the least sexually charged shows. Twelve-
year -olds who watched the most sex on TV (in their age
group) were similar to youths two to three years older
who watched the least sex on TV (in their age group).
This makes the kids grow up faster, according to
Collins. The issue is not just sexual scenes, it is also the
dialogue about sex that is just as influential.
There are risks that go with sex, such as diseases and
unexpected pregnancies and these issues are not men-
tioned on TV. Collins also writes "only about one out of
every seven TV shows include any safe -sex messages"
and "it apparently makes little difference whether a TV
show presents people talking about whether they have
sex or shows them actually having sex". Also parents
may want to watch TV with their children and discuss
risks and decisions related to the shows' sexual content
instead of turning off the TV or drastically changing
programs.
Another influence on teenagers is their parents and
how close their relationship is with them. A study done
by Robert Blum PhD, the director of the Center of
Adolescent Health and Development at the University of
Minnesota shows that the closer the relationship with a
parent the more likely the teen will delay sexual activi-
ty. So if you don't have a good relationship with your
child, here are some things to ponder, says Blum.
Rather than planning activities with your children, try
taking steps to do things like being familiar with their
friends, as well as the parents of those friends. Just
doing activities with your teens is not going to cut it, but
talking will, as will listening and being available. This
isn't going for coffee with your kid, it is about being
involved with their lives.
If you do want to get involved in their lives, here are
some tips from Denise Witmer, a "Professional Parent"
in a teen home for 11 years, on talking about sex to
preteens:
• Make sure they really know the basics. If you
haven't already explained to them where babies come
from, now is the time, as they most likely have heard it
from their peers. You may need to see what informa-
tion they have and then, give them the truth. Pre -teens
are notorious for misinformation on sex.
• Talk about body image and issues. During adoles-
cence, both boys and girls are concerned with the way
their bodies start to change. They will have concerns
about what is and what isn't normal. Let them know
they are normal and everyone going through this time
in their lives has the same valid concerns. Share some
of the concerns you had when you were their age.
• Discuss the consequences of sexual behavior. Pre-
teens are learning about Newton's third law in science
class at school: Every action has an equal and opposite
reaction. It is not too far a stretch to relate this to their
lives in other ways. Some consequences can be wonder-
ful when they happen at the `right' age. Pregnancy is
great, when your child is all grown up and married. It
makes life hard though, if your child should get preg-
nant at a young age. Share these feelings with your pre-
teen as you discuss these difficult issues.
• Give your pre -teen every possible perspective. It is
beneficial to your pre -teen if you are able to get sexual
information and perspective from both a woman's and
a man's point of view. Moms can shed some light on
what girls are all about to their son and dads can
impart an observation or two about boys to their
daughter.
If you feel uncomfortable — that's OK. Most likely, so
does your pre -teen. Try to keep these conversations
light and with some humor.
• Tell your preteen that your door is always open.
Most importantly, encourage your pre -teen to talk to
you often about any questions they may have about sex.
Remember that you are their person of choice when it
comes to valuable life information. Your pre -teen does
realize they are facing choices and they will come to
you with questions. Let them know you will be there for
them. Remember to bring up the fact that open com-
munication with you about sex does not in any way
imply that you condone sexual behavior at their age or
maturity. Saying this will clear any confusion your pre-
teen may have and calm some of your own concerns.
Another thing that influences teenagers' sex habits is
drugs and alcohol, says Witmer. Drugs and alcohol can
influence a teen's sex habits because, when using
either, it will impair their judgements about sex, which
will place them at an increased risk for unplanned
pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. A survey
was taken by Witmer on high school students and their
sex habits. Some of the results are: about 75 per cent
of high school seniors have had sexual intercourse at
least once in their lives; about 20 per cent have had
more than four sexual partners by their senior year.
Eighteen per cent of females and 39 per cent of males
say it is acceptable for a boy to force sex if the girl is
stoned or drunk.
These three results show that teens are frequently
having more sex at younger ages, according to Witmer.
These three influences: television, parent -teen rela-
tionship and drugs and alcohol are, as you can see, big
factors in a teen's sex habits. By understanding this,
you may become more influential on your teen about
their sex habits.
Sources:
my.webmd.com/content/article/93/102451.htm;
www.hbns.org/newsrelease/mothersinfluence9-4-
02 . cfm; http://parentingteens. about. com/cs/teensexuali-
ty/a/sex_teens_drugs. htm;http://parentingteens. about. c
om/64/teensexuality/a/teen_sex7.htm