Kid's view

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Dec 30, 2000 by Capital-Journal

THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE, IF THERE WAS NO VIOLENCE ...

Violence has been a major problem in our society today. Scientists have said that one of the major effects of violence is television. Children may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of other people, they may become scared of the world around them and children may become more aggressive to others around them. Studies have shown that children's TV shows have 20 violent acts every hour. They also have said that children who watch a lot of TV are more likely to think that the world is a mean place and that violence is a good thing and that it's normal.

One thing that really bothers me that I have read is that about 100 percent of pre-schoolers were observed after half of them watched a violent free show and the other half watched a cartoon with a few violent acts in it. At the end of the observation, the conclusion was that they could see a difference in the children from what they had just watched. Children that watched cartoons that are just meant to be funny are more likely to hit their playmates, argue, disobey people and be very impatient.

Violence in school also has been a big situation. Principals have kicked kids out of school for saying, "Bang, Bang." "Boys will be boys" or "They're just kids" is not working anymore. A pinch or a whispered threat is taken as a very serious act.

One thing that parents can do to help their kids through this tough world of violence is to set a good example for them. If the parents do something violent, then most likely, their kid will follow their act. Some other ways to help is to watch what your children watch on TV, movies, media, and watch what video games they play. Parents can watch a TV show with their kids that is violence-free and the kids will know that they have something in common with their parents and that will give the family something to talk about. Parents should sit down with their kids and talk to them about weapons and other acts of violence. One of the major things that parents can do is spend time together. Get the child involved in family activities and talk with each other about problems or even just a happy family conversation.

I hope that this paper can change some opinions about violence and maybe even help the world be a better place.

JUST SAY NO TO VIOLENCE

--- KIMBERLY ABERNATHY, age 13, eighth-grader at Logan Junior High School

This Day in History was compiled by The Topeka Capital-Journal. Source: The Associated Press.

Dec. 30

1853 --- The United States bought some 45,000 square miles of land from Mexico in a deal known as the Gadsden Purchase.

1911 --- Sun Yat-sen was elected the first president of the Republic of China.

1936 --- The United Auto Workers union staged its first sit-down strike, at the Fisher Body Plant No. 1 in Flint, Mich.

1940 --- California's first freeway, the Arroyo Seco Parkway connecting Los Angeles and Pasadena, was officially opened.

1944 --- King George II of Greece proclaimed a regency to rule his country, virtually renouncing the throne.

1947 --- King Michael of Romania agreed to abdicate, but charged he was being forced off the throne by Communists.

1948 --- The Cole Porter musical "Kiss Me, Kate" opened on Broadway.

1972 --- The United States halted its heavy bombing of North Vietnam.

1998 --- Weak but radiant with pride, Nkem Chukwu, the mother of the Houston octuplets, went home from the hospital.