Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 8, 1976, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press thursday january 8, 1976 9 course offered girls taught to avoid rape is a rape prevention course necessary in Winnipeg according to parents of girls who arc taking such a course it most definitely is. I just wish i had some thing like this when i was a 1 said a Mother of four daughters. She was one of about 20 parents who attended a meeting tuesday fight in Silver Heights collegiate 350 Lodge Avenue St. James As Sim Boia. The parents attended the meeting to discuss a self defence program being taught by Ingrid warning. Mrs. Warning a 25-year old physical education teacher Iii the school outlined parts of the course which w i 11 be available to 110 Grade 10 and 11 students. After mrs. Warning had explained some of the situations and techniques which help to reduce the risk of sexual assault one enthusiastic Mother asked if she could take the course. M r s warning explained that although the course was primarily being offered to students she did t see any reason Why an interested Parent could t join. Mrs. Warning told the parents that the course w ii i c h began this month does t guarantee prevention of a rape situation but it does help victims to defend themselves. The course also explains How girls can avoid danger Ous situations such As hitch hiking. Mrs. Warning said one in every six women in the United states who hitch hiked was subject to sexual assault. As Well As avoiding rides from strangers girls and women could also Lessen dangerous situations in other ways such As walking at night Down Well lit streets with a lot of people around. Mrs. Warning also presented slides which illustrated self defence techniques i n eases of actual attack. Among the scenes shown was a woman lacking a Man in the Groin illustrating that the woman s leg reach was adequate against the attack ing Man s Arih reach. Also shown to parents was a film How to say no to a rapist in which an Ameri can expert on the subject explained at times humorously various rape prevention tactics. Reaction of parents at the meeting was at first a reluctance to speak. Gradually however various parents mostly the mothers of Daugh ters taking the course at Silver Heights began to express approval. It s a Good idea. It gets the students to talk to be another about one woman said. It shows that it s not just Mommy who s said another woman. School principal l. L. Lautermilch said he thought the most valuable part of the program was its emphasis on avoiding dangerous situations. The main Effort is the prevention aspect rather than the actual self defence part of the or. Loutermilch said in an inter View after the meeting. There is a real need for this kind of he said sexual assaults were not a problem restricted to the downtown area of Winnipeg. It can happen Here not just on the other Side of the 1 dead 6 Hurt in new violence Belfast up three bombs wounded six persons in Belfast Early today and police found the body of a ;