WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Teaching 'Positive Parenting' is group's goal (Hartford-WTNH) _ Is it possible to teach positive parenting? Some school systems are trying and there's now an effort to make the courses available state-wide. There are over 30,000 reports of child abuse and neglect in Connecticut each year. Most victims are under age six. Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports. There's a group called the coalition for parenting education, and they are pushing this idea. One member is on the school board in Wallingford and the program is in its infancy there. Wallingford's Moran Middle School is in the second year of a program to teach parenting skills in family and consumer science, what we used to call home economics. In the first year, it's almost like teaching how to baby sit, take care of a little brother or sister. Barbara Morris, Teacher: "Give (the) child that either doesn't have another role model or are doing this for the first time, or going to be doing it, outside of school, just a little bit of education." According to the Coalition for Parenting Education this kind of course could reduce child abuse and neglect, and maybe even help curtail violence. Among the lessons is what's an age appropriate toy. Alissa Imperatore, Wallingford: "Some safety ideas and stuff like." Mark: "Was it stuff you didn't know?" "Well, since I babysit, I knew some of it but I learned some new stuff in it." Matt Rago, Wallingford: "I definitely learned a lot because some toys, I thought would be for older kids, turns out that they could be for younger and some visa-versa." Lindsey Morris, Wallingford: "If it's something really small, they could choke on it and, it's more for safety." State representative Mary Mushinksy of Wallingford is trying to introduce this state-wide and make it available to all middle and high school students. Rep. Mary Mushinksy, D-Wallingford: "Normal cycle of child development, how to respond to your child's needs, how to relieve tension in your household, bring up your child in a good mental health and equipped for life." In Wallingford, the courses are on a six week rotation so that each student get's four to five classes per year in seventh, eighth and ninth grade on parenting topics. A legislative committee has removed the part of the legislation that require all school systems to offer this type of course. The new version of the proposal would have the state provide guidelines and the decision to go ahead with parenting classes would up to the local school boards around the state. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Teaching 'Positive Parenting' is group's goal
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Is it possible to teach positive parenting? Some school systems are trying and there's now an effort to make the courses available state-wide. There are over 30,000 reports of child abuse and neglect in Connecticut each year. Most victims are under age six.
Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports.

There's a group called the coalition for parenting education, and they are pushing this idea. One member is on the school board in Wallingford and the program is in its infancy there.

Wallingford's Moran Middle School is in the second year of a program to teach parenting skills in family and consumer science, what we used to call home economics. In the first year, it's almost like teaching how to baby sit, take care of a little brother or sister.

Barbara Morris, Teacher: "Give (the) child that either doesn't have another role model or are doing this for the first time, or going to be doing it, outside of school, just a little bit of education."

According to the Coalition for Parenting Education this kind of course could reduce child abuse and neglect, and maybe even help curtail violence. Among the lessons is what's an age appropriate toy.

Alissa Imperatore, Wallingford: "Some safety ideas and stuff like."
Mark: "Was it stuff you didn't know?"
"Well, since I babysit, I knew some of it but I learned some new stuff in it."

Matt Rago, Wallingford: "I definitely learned a lot because some toys, I thought would be for older kids, turns out that they could be for younger and some visa-versa."

Lindsey Morris, Wallingford: "If it's something really small, they could choke on it and, it's more for safety."

State representative Mary Mushinksy of Wallingford is trying to introduce this state-wide and make it available to all middle and high school students.

Rep. Mary Mushinksy, D-Wallingford: "Normal cycle of child development, how to respond to your child's needs, how to relieve tension in your household, bring up your child in a good mental health and equipped for life."

In Wallingford, the courses are on a six week rotation so that each student get's four to five classes per year in seventh, eighth and ninth grade on parenting topics.

A legislative committee has removed the part of the legislation that require all school systems to offer this type of course. The new version of the proposal would have the state provide guidelines and the decision to go ahead with parenting classes would up to the local school boards around the state.

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