ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 7, 1995 TAG: 9512070086
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-12 EDITION: METRO
Many parents admit abuse of children
NEW YORK - Nearly 1 in 20 parents disciplined their children so severely in 1994 that they were committing physical abuse, a nationwide Gallup poll released Wednesday shows.
The study produced figures substantially higher than any previously recorded by a national organization.
Gallup and child advocacy officials said the findings were the result of a broad definition of what constitutes physical abuse.
Under this poll's definition, for example, the once-common punishment by some Catholic school nuns and parents, striking a student's hands with a ruler, would be abusive. However, human service officials said that unless that act was performed repeatedly or it caused an injury, the adult would not be cited by an agency for physical abuse.
Several of the 1,000 parents surveyed admitted other actions classified as physical abuse, including: Kicking or hitting a child with a fist; shaking a child age 2 or younger; throwing or knocking down a child; purposefully burning or scalding a child; and choking a child.
The Gallup poll also found 1.9 percent of those surveyed said their child had been the victim of some sort of sexual abuse by an adult or another child during the past year.
- Chicago Tribune
Study ranks U.S. low in literacy
WASHINGTON - Nearly one in four Americans age16 to 25 lacks basic literacy skills, according to an international study released Wednesday.
Among seven nations studied, the United States ranked sixth in literacy - ahead of only Poland, said an official of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
In the 16-25 age group, more than half were in the lowest two of five skill levels, according to the survey, ``Literacy, Society and Economy.'' Among Americans in that age group, 23.5 percent placed in the lowest level and 30.7 percent in the second-lowest level.
The study sampled 1,500 to 1,800 adults in seven countries. It did not grade countries on a comparative scale, but Albert Tuijnman, a top OECD official, ranked them this way: Sweden, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, the United States and Poland.
- Associated Press
Steering flaw brings police car recall
DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. is recalling 62,800 1993-94 Crown Victoria police cars to inspect bolts that attach the steering system's upper control arms to brackets on the vehicle frame.
Ford said the bolts might loosen under extreme use and make steering difficult or impossible.
The company has had one report of an accident that might have been caused by the defect, but no reports of injuries, spokeswoman Francine Romine said Wednesday.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Medium: 61 linesby CNB