From staff reports

This year’s &uot;Turn off the Violence&uot; events are something in which every parent should participate.

Wednesday, October 13, 1999

This year’s &uot;Turn off the Violence&uot; events are something in which every parent should participate.

The festivities kick off Thursday with a meeting involving 16 local school districts, all of which will recognize students’ activities designed to help children &uot;unlearn&uot; violence.

It is an urgent objective.

While violent crime is not the norm in America, it is high profile and increasingly severe. Each time a few disgruntled youths vent their rage in murderous rampages, everyone is left fearful. But, violence can take on a lot of lower profile forms, such as physical or emotional abuse, or even bullying at school.

If only alternatives to violence could be taught early, while there is still time for prevention.

That is the goal of &uot;Turn Off the Violence.&uot; Organizers with the Crime Victim’s Crisis Center, schools and other organizations say violence is learned, and can be unlearned, and stopped.

The statewide &uot;Turn off the Violence&uot; day was designed to ask people to turn off violent television shows, movies and music and to plan nonviolent alternatives.

But that’s only part of the solution.

Children must be taught alternatives to violence, and that violence is not an acceptable solution. They must also be given an appropriate mix of freedom and boundaries, support and supervision.

Parents need to parent.

&uot;Turn off the Violence&uot; offers a good starting point.

Together, families can pledge not to use their hands for violence during &uot;Hands are not for Hitting;&uot; volunteers will be at Wal-Mart and the Albert Lea City Offices Building on East Clark Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to help families trace their hands and make the pledge. Saturday mural volunteers will be at Northbridge Mall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We encourage everyone to make the pledge and set an example for children.