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Show f I WEEKLY REFLEX-DA- NEWS JOURNAL, NORTH DAVIS LEADER, JUNE 17, 1982 VIS d T Diseu Editori toeaagers Note: Thb it another in a series of article deatta with and the problems of alcohol. The series of articles b pressions of independence. Young people are often under heavy pressure from their friends to drink. They are bombarded by advertising urging the use of alcohol. prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Alcohol, Drag abuse and Mental Health Admlntorl- Why you need to talk about it. YET TEENAGERS have mixed feelings on the subject. They want and expect their parents to talk with them about drinking and driving, according to a recent national survey. But often teens resent adult advice, particularly if they think they will simply here dont. Examine your own example. TRAFFIC accidents are the number one cause of death among teenagers, and most of those accidents involve a drinking driver. Its comforting to believe: not my daugh- ter or son. But 50 percent of high school students drink in cars, and about one out of four reports driving after having had a good bit to drink. . WHEN IT comes to adult behavior like drinking and driving, parents are closely copied role models for their teenagers. Before you begin to talk to your daughter or son, honestly explore your own attitudes and behavior about drinking and how they may affect your attitudes toward your childs use of alcohol. Teenagers are very alert to hypocrisy. The last thing you want is to put yourself in the position of telling your child, Do as I say, not as I do. Here are some questions to ask yourself: How do I handle drinking in our home? How would my teenager describe my use of alcohol? Do I demonstrate a safe approach to drinking and driving? TEENS ARE inexperienced at both drinkand ing driving. Even moderate amounts of alcohol for example, one beer per hour can significantly impair a young persons driving. Despite the facts, teenagers dont necessarily believe there is anything wrong with drinking and driving. Young men, in particular, are likely to perceive the drinking driver as an independent, brave, popular individual. ITS NOT an easy subject. Your first reaction may be to want to avoid the subject of drinking and driving altogether. Your teenager may feel the same way. For both parents and teenagers, it can be an emotion-charge- d WHAT WORRIES me most about my teenagers drinking? Being in a car accident? Getting sick? Getting into a fight? Damaging his or her reputation? Sexual involvement? T rouble with the law? Under what circumstances do I think it would be OK for my teenager to drink? Not at all? Only on family occasions? Under adult supervision? subject. FOR PARENTS: There is apt to be a natural conflict between the desire to control your childs behavior to protect him or her from harm and the recognition that some of these controls must be relaxed as children move into their teens. It can be difficult to decide how far to go in either direction. For Your Teenager: The teenage years are a time AM I MORE comfortable with the idea of my teenager drinking than using other drugs? If so, why? Talking to your teenager. of experimentation and trying out adult behavior, and both drinking and driving are ex A preference Joker: Waiter, bring me a slab of political pie. Waiter: Yes sir. Do you prefer the applesauce or the plum filling? Bountiful Area tudes and preferences, and what you are most concerned about. TEENAGERS HAVE an amazing physical they can close their ears. Most parents know that even if they can get their teens attention, they still have to get past a turned-of- f attitude to get their messages across. There is no one way to discuss drinking and driving. Each teenager, each parent, and each situation is different. But as you consider various approaches to the subject, you may find some of the following guidelines useful: ability: SET REALISTIC goals. Most teens do drink on some occasion and most either drive or are passengers in friends cars. To forbid either activity is unlikely to work. A more realistic approach is to help your teenager find ways to not mix drinking and driving. Take advantage of everyday conversations, such as discussion of news events, to follow up and reinforce important points about drinking and driving. - BRING UP the subject when family members are in a calm frame of mind. Make clear that you want to share ideas about drinking and driving, not make accusations or hand down ultimatums. Dont try to start the conversation when your son or daughter comes home drunk. A discussion in the morning may be more successful. Be honest direct in stating your own atti FREQUENTLY teenagers are defensive when talking to their parents about areas of their lives they consider private. Your first com orations may not go well. But by taking the ltr.-step, you will open the door to future Trust Me Theres No Magic Formula Youre a mother, a father, a parent with a teenage son or daughter. Its a weekend night, or any night, and youre waiting up; the kid was supposed to be home hours ago and youre beginning to wonder, again. when Ive had enough, I know when to say no more, thanks. Trust me. I dont drink and drive. OR THE kid will look you straight in the eye and say you drink and drive, why shouldnt drink and drive? You say, were not talking about me, were talking about you; you say, Im an adult and youre not. But it doesnt make a lot of difference, because the kids gota point not that hed admit it, not that shed admit it, and not, now that you think about it, that you' d admit it either, but the kids growing up and following in your footsteps. Some of them anyhow. 1 YOU KNOW kids drink, or some do; your own kid drinks, you know that, too. Youre wor- ried because you figure there's a fair chance your kid has been drinking tonight, and unless hes wrecked the car, unless shes wrecked the car, unless dont, you tell yourself, hey, its OK, kids are kids, which doesnt help at all, because this kid happens to be your kid, and if your kid has been drinking. . . Trust me, the kid says, I can handle it, Im not like other kids, I dont drink to get drunk, I know Look, you say, you could wreck the car, kill yourself, or somebody else, or hurt yourself, begin to build in your chest, real anger, you scared me, you kept or somebody else. You could wind up in jail. All true. me up. AND SO could you. Trust me, you say, I know what Im talking about. The message is dont drink and drive, and please listen to me, I know what Im talking about here, the message is dont drink and drive, the message is dont drink and drive. Who said that? Hello, am I talking to myself. love you, 1 . . YOUR MIND begins to wander, you doze off, you wake with a start, theres a car pulling into the driveway, headlights sweep the dark room where you wait. Youve been holding your breath, you relax, you feel like a balloon going down. At the same time you feel the anger Here comes the kid. She's been drinking. He's been drinking. You can smell it. YOU WISH there was a magic formula, never mind how foolish it sounds, or a magic wand, anything to make your job easier, make this kid understand the truth you're trying to tell, the message you have to deliver: don't drink and drive Youre talking to yourself now: dont drink and drive. Youre talking to yourself, but you're talking to your kid, too Dont drink and drive. Here comes the kid. Dont drink and drive, and please listen to me, know what Im talking about here, I love you. 1 er Tie: GAYLE STARKS, Clear- By TOM BUSSELBERG BOUNTIFUL-T- he ecutive Director of the Exer Bountiful Area Chamber of Commerce says the imaginary line between Farmington and Kaysville should be erased. ONE WAY to help accomplish that is coordination with the North Davis Chamber Association and the Layton, Kaysville and Clearfield chambers, says Executive Director Haven Bumingham. We want to coordinate efforts toward overall county planning, he said in a tele- phone interview, responding to discussion of the possible joint effort raised by officers of the North Davis Chamber, recently. NOTING THE South Davis interest, Layton Mayor Lewis G. Shields said, Anything we can do to erase that line we should do. I think we ought to pursue (cooperation). Layton Chamber Pres. Hirsh Ipaktchian noted Hill AFB acts as a sort of common denominator for north Davis and also cited the close geogBountiraphical proximity. ful has always been part of Salt Lake City activities. In most cases, (issues of common interest) arent discussed. field City Manager, urged some caution in any major joint effort. "I feel our North Davis Chamber is for promoting north Davis. We may give our strategy away (if Bountiful Chamber joined). Everything is divided, I don't think we can erase that," he added, noting north Davis is part of the Ogden Area Transportation System program while south Davis is ties to Salt Lake Area Transportation, for example. We have to start som- Mayor Shields ewhere, emphasized. THE NORTH Davis executive committee will meet with Bountiful Area representaMr. Ipaktchian indicated. Lets open our lines of communication. We needed help with the health department and they responded, he added, speaking of the restaurant fee issue where Bountiful Area Chamber issued a letter of protest echoing the north county associations tives, feelings. We need to establish that were after certain things, he said. Theyve been very cooperative and y. IN A telephone interview, Mr. Bumingham said his group had discussed coordination on issues that would affect the entire county but emphasized no intent of actually joining the north chamber had been raised. Blaming the previous "linedrawing" dividing the county largely on fragmented telephone service, he said of the I new countywide dialing, think we will see a much more cohesive effort. HE SAID a gentlemens had existed that agreement county commissioners would represent each area, one each from the north, central and south. They shouldnt just do it for their local area but for the whole, he emphasized. I dont think theres any desire to be a member, only Mr. one of coordination, Bumingham reiterated. Good Luck A guy and a girl were sitting on her couch discussing intellectual things like mental tele- pathy. Would you call it mental telepathy, the girl asked, if you were thinking the same thing I am thinking about? "No, the guy smiled. I'd call that just plain good luck! DRINKING PROBLEM ifted Program Gets Boost By TOM BUSSELBERG - If FARMINGTON child you a of the parent youre think might be gifted, some classes set to begin this fall and might provide the stimulus help your child could need. THE DAVIS School District is organizing the Davis Academy to challenge the more advanced, capable stu- in a variety of areas that may range from basic computer classes to geometry , and study problem-solvin- g dents ful, a parent with several children who probably will participate in the program, she stres- sed that "gifted doesnt necessarity mean an intelligence quota of 180, for instance Recalling a U.S. Office of Education study she said it found 50 percent of gifted were working four grades or more below grade level while another 50 percent didnt finish college. A lot of people have anxieties about what is gifted and if their child is gifted. What does that skills. (gifted) mean? Is mine gifted Geared for kindergarten-9t- h sograde, Dr. Lany Wilson, cial studies supervisor for the district, says its aimed at that level because high schools offer many elective classes and activities that similar growth. can provide enough? extra-curricul- ar SET UP with assistance from Carolyn Zaugg of Bounti THERYRE (DISTRICT) performing well saying if hes in school or very capable but not responding well, then it might also be well to enroll Straight As isnt a them. guarantee a childs gifted. In fact, some creative children resist that, she explained. This summer, one Spanish class with 14 students js under way at Mueller Park Jr. High School taught by Renee Meniott. But plans call for the programs expansion throughout the county come fall. WE DONT claim there arent other places a child can get these classes, Dr. Wilson But this is a emphasized. series of classes (designed) to challenge" and stimulate the mind. Following district policy of generally mainstreaming gifted students with their peers, tentative plans indicate classes will be held evenings and Saturdays as part of the community a school. To be ses$20 fee for an eight-wee- k sion of lVi two hour classes each week, is planned. Classes will be limited to 15 students. STUDENTS WILL be drawn through student interest, parent concern and teacher recommendations with fees going primarily to pay instructors salaries. We will try to reach out and utilize communDr. Wilson ity personnel, says with students responsible for their own transportation. Noting the classes are an answer in part to parent concerns Dr. Wilson says There is still a feeling among many parents and educators the district should respond in a more direct way to the needs of those students who want challenges beyond the regular program of curriculum and instruction. Many parents have indicated a desire for more attention to the needs of students who would benefit from access to an accelerated academic program. CLASSES WELL be offered where sufficient interest is generated, he continues, with potential class offerings including basic computer language and operation; creative dramatics; basic study and thinking skills, inductive and deductive thinking, logic, reading comprehension, nathematics, junior great 'books, futures problemsolving, history fair, and a on American government. Also being considered are speed reading, calligraphy, Spanish and creative writing. close-u- p Classes could be rotated on a quarterly or term basis giving exposure to many offerings with possible parent classes available in parenting for gifted and talented students and pare- nt-child communications. ADDITIONAL information will be available to interested parents and students after the program is more "firmed up as time draws closer to the 1982-8- 3 school year. Staff photo by Father and teenage son discuss youth drinking problem and the fects of liquor, especially when driving. af- Scott Lee |