sealPurdue Lifestyles, Education, Careers Briefs
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April 2000

Parents should use 'time-out' judiciously, expert says

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A Purdue University expert on parenting says the use of a "time-out" may be an effective way to control behavior in the short-term, but it will not equip children to manage their own behavior as they grow older.

"I've heard a lot of pediatricians recommend this form of discipline almost like a prescription," says Judith Myers-Walls, an associate professor of developmental studies and Extension specialist in human development. "The recommendation is one minute of "time-out" per year of the child's age and per infraction. But it's not that simple, and it shouldn't be automatic."

Myers-Walls says discipline is ideally about teaching, and parents must remember that there is not a single teaching method that will always work in every situation with every child. She says the "time-out" method can be effective if a child is losing control, but it should not be used as a form of punishment.

"If a child's behavior becomes unmanageable and inappropriate for a certain situation, it can be helpful to remove him or her from that situation and give the child private time and space to settle down and regain some control," Myers-Walls explains. "Whether or not that will happen depends on the temperament of the child. If the youngster will not stay in his bedroom, for instance, and the parent ends up having to stand outside the door to keep it closed, it becomes a struggle of wills and the child isn't learning anything about how to manage anger."

While Myers-Walls readily admits that there isn't always a lot of room to negotiate with a 2-year-old, she says it's still important that any form of discipline be constructive.

"It should teach the child something about what is reasonable behavior and what is not, and not be just a demonstration of power on the part of the parent," she explains. "It's that understanding of what is reasonable and expected that will help the child get along in the larger communities of school and the workplace as they get older."

CONTACT: Myers-Walls, (765) 494-2959; myerswal@cfs.purdue.edu

Civil engineers pave way to the future

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Next time you cruise around town in your '57 Chevy, take a moment to thank a civil engineer for the roads you travel.

But highways aren't the only contribution civil engineers have made to life in the 21st century: They are also credited with synchronizing traffic lights, designing homes, building bridges, erecting industrial facilities and constructing recycling plants.

"Most people think of civil engineering as people who build highways and waste treatment plants, but it's much more than that," says James E. Alleman, professor of civil engineering at Purdue University. "If you think about it, you could say that civil engineers helped invent the building blocks of American enterprise."

Vincent P. Drnevich, head of Purdue's civil engineering program, says the university has more than 11,000 civil engineer graduates working around the world.

"Purdue has made a great impact on civil engineering in the United States, and on an international level as well," he says. "Right now we have about 1,000 alumni living and working abroad."

Drnevich says Purdue's reputation in the field is extensive.

"We are in everybody's top 10 list for rating engineering schools in the nation, and our students leave Purdue with a strong sense of the Midwestern work ethic, they're willing to relocate, and they have the education to do the job."

Job placement for graduates of Purdue's civil engineering program runs around 90 percent. "We don't have exact figures, but it isn't unusual for a senior to receive three or four job offers," Alleman says.

Purdue civil engineering graduates with a bachelor's degree can expect to earn $36,243 to $50,560 a year, depending on their field of study. Those fields include construction, environmental and hydraulic, geomatics, geotechnical, materials, structures, and transportation and infrastructure systems.

Nationally, graduates who complete a master's degree program will earn an average salary of $55,000, and those with a doctorate in civil engineering earn an average salary of $60,000, according to the National Science Board.

Purdue doctoral candidate Priscilla Johnson of New York says it wasn't the salary that drew her to civil engineering.

"Civil engineering is by far the most rewarding profession, especially when you consider the important role you have in helping the general public," Johnson says. "You have the power to make lives run better and influence public policy."

CONTACTS: Drnevich, (765) 494-2159, drnevich@purdue.edu; Alleman, (765) 494-7705, alleman@purdue.edu; Johnson, (765) 463-6337, priscill@ecn.purdue.edu

Compiled by Sharon Bowker, (765) 494-9723; sbowker@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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