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Keoyilyioyyinam4&ss Geoff Fellows operates the Human Resource Development lastitute, PO. Box 642, Cambridge, NIR 5W1, providing effectiveness training for business and industry.) PAGE AB â€" WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1991 House or â€"Cedar~ Womvoiles . ons ts heeid dsb dncb doica o Here are some factors that stimulate the development of intelligence (1) good models of language usage and encourageâ€" ment to develop language skills. (2) ample opportunity for stimulating contacts with the world around them and for experiences gained by means of books, pictures, films and so on. (3) opportunities to solve problems on their own, and encourageâ€" ment, in and out of school, to think clearly about a variety of situations. (4) plenty of opportunity for interaction with adults, (5) most importantly, parents who are understanding and warm, rather than authoritarian and cold. Don‘t do anything to ;tuxit't-i;is_e;gvemess for. as someone said, too many human beings, unlike the lepidoptera, start out as bufferflies, and end up in cocoons! Dr. Bloom is not advocamié -a;;'form of intensive training, but rather to realize that the capacity of small children to learn is far greater than we give them credit for. The home environment is very significant, not only because of the large amount of intelligent growth which has already taken place before the child enters first grade, but also because of the influence of the home during the elementary school period. Mpenl coenli s U 1 © 1 1 If as much of the development of intelligence takes place in the first four years, as in the next 13 years, then changes in their environment during their very early years can boost their LQ. by 20 points, he estimates This could mean the difference between a professional career, or an occupation at a much lower level. What does he mean by intelligence? Briefly, it is the ability to learn, to exercise the higher mental functions, a readiness for comprehension, and the capability to meet situations, especially o un in e e ces 1 1 I T m if new or behaviour Just reflect how much of this a small child has to do in order to relate to this strange world, quite apart from learning how to walk, learn the language and a host of other physical skills. Children will have developed about oneâ€"third of their basic learning patterns by the time they enter first grade, says Doctor Bloom. They will have attained half of their general school achievement by the age of 9 Although they must have some genetic potential for learning, the direction the learning takes is most powerfully determined by the environment. As a result, according to the professor, they will have developed 50% of their mature intelligence by that age. They will have up to 80% by the age of eight; then the remaining 20% by the time they are 17, when intelligence, as currently measured, seems to reach a plateau. He says that the kind of home that children live in during the first five years of their lives has a far greater effect on the development of their intelligence, their personalities, and other characteristics than is generally realized. Children learn more in their first four years than in any other fourâ€"year period in their entire lives! i pustanasalne opu t o e on tR by Benjamin S. Bloom, oneâ€"time professor of education at the University of Chicago and president of the American Educationâ€" al Research Association. If you have a small child, you‘ve probably received advice from a hundred sources on how to do a better job of parenting. But if you are interested in learning more, there is an in triguing book, Stability and Change in Human Characteristics, Since 1974 Early years are key learning years deol ons e es e i enit uht Roee e n n enRepmeienn? unforseen, by a rapid and effective adjustment of Whirlpools, Saunas Spas, Hot Tubs PERSPECTIVE personal rapport. ‘"The Prison Fellowship operap tion is one that tries to bridge the gap between leaving here and returning home," Andress says. ‘"They try to keep the kids away from the kinds of circumstances that got them here in the first place." Andress says it takes a special person to befriend a young offendâ€" er, gain his trust and confidence. That person needs to be under. standing, have empathy towards the situation ig which the young person finds himself, be a good listener, and be able to develop a Wce e is an openâ€"custody facility to which young offenders ages 12 to 15 are confined at night. And Hope Harbor, a halfâ€"way house on Madison Avenue in Kitchener, is also an openâ€"custody facility for young offenders ages 16 to just under 18, with emphasis being placed on helping the residents retun to their communities as productive citizens. But in all Ray of Hope facilities, emphasis is placed on structure, guidance and direction in a Christian setting. Onâ€"site schools, recreational activities, life skills training, counselling, and job readiness training are but a few of the support services offered to young offenders through Ray of to Ray of Hope residents. One such community group is Prison Fellowship. Ray of Hope deals with male young offenders who have been placed in one of its three facilities by the court under the Young Offenders Act. Hope Manor in Petersburg is a secureâ€"custody facility in which young offenders serve their time, confined 24 hours a day. Anchor House, on Schneider Avenue in Kitchener, An invaluable program offerd by Ray of Hope, Andress says, is a friendship program in which volâ€" unteers befriend young offenders in the facilities. Several communâ€" ity groups offer volunteer services "I don‘t want to get onto touchy ground, but kids don‘t get the opportunity anymore to discover the whole process of right and wrong through the larger systems, like the school system and family networks," says Ray of Hope executive director Garry Andress. "Going to church, having values that are beyond the self. and having hope that there‘s better things to come â€" those things have been taken of the larger systems. I believe poeple have to have goals in life and core values. And they have to have standards on which to make rational judgement from day to day. If you don‘t have that, people go from pillar to post and become confused." "IHHNNNRNRRRrrmmmmmmmmmenmmmemmmmmmmmmmmtententsoommmmmmmmemmenpmmmmmmmmmemmmnos,..___ The men and women who make up the Ray of Hope Ministry believe that troubled young people â€" those who have are in conflict with the law â€" need more than to be penalized. ) They need love, understanding and moral guidance. Otherwise, they are in danger of being caught in a "penal institution whirlpoo!", repeatedly getting into trouble with the law and repeatedly being placed in custody. The Ray of Hope Ministry is working to end that cycle for many area young people. Through three facilities in the area â€" a closedâ€"custody facility in Petersburg, and two openâ€"custody facilities in Kitchener â€" the Christian organization, its staff, and volunteers, provide young offenders with the guidance they need to get on the right track. e Deborah Crandall Chronicle Staff Ministry helps young offender get life back on the right track ‘"When we go into these faciliâ€" ties, these kids know we are going in because we care, not becasue we‘re being paid," LeClerc says. "Their defences drop and they befriend us. Hopefully we can be role model for them." LeClere says volunteer visits with young offenders might in P o o PR odie ty Tib uind irtnliiiinditilinct Aectiiidind riudiibh 6b belmes moral and spiritual guidance can oung offenders on right track. $ put y ngm Crandall LeClerec _ understands _ how young people get into trouble. He was an eightâ€"yearâ€"old street kid, and spent 21 years in prison. Now, after finding spiritual reâ€" generation through Christianity, he is an honor student at the University of Waterloo, and deâ€" votes his life to helping other young offenders turn their lives around. 1000000 AAAACCAARTEEAERTERErememememememmmmme Garry Andress, executive director of Ray of Hope Ministries, hallauas masal ced cormcc praan 0) A 22 I Serge LeClerc, director of the local chapter of Prisoy Fellowâ€" ship, is one of those volunteers. And he works to coâ€"ordinate other volunteers who befriend young offenders. * THE AREA‘S LARGEST SHOWROOM * 41 Models on Display * From $659 NOW ON SALE! House o: Ced 210 Regina St. N., Waterloo . Those interested in volunteer ing with Prison Fellowship can contact the Serge LeClerc at 747â€" 5076, and those interested in directly volunteering with Ray of Hope can contact volunteer coâ€"0râ€" dinator Vic Baker at 634â€"8883. tems," Andress says. "The buiâ€" dling of trust is a very important component, and it sometimes takes a period of time to do that." Approximately 25 Prison Felâ€" lowship volunteers are involved in helping young offenders in Ray of Hope facilites. But LeClerc say more are always welcome and needed. ‘Relationship building is very important, because many of these kids have learned not to trust anybody with the larger sys volve conversations, a game of pool, or attending chapel service. But the main purpose of the visit is to help the young offender see that someone does care, and that there is hope for a productive life. 885â€"1711