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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
Police Handcuffing Five-Year-Old Draws Mixed Response; Syria Withdraws from Lebanon
Aired April 26, 2005 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST: Good evening, everyone. A mother and her son murdered. The question is, by whom? 360 starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER (voice-over): The mystery of Tyler Jones, a 10-year-old boy accused of shooting his mother, then shooting himself. Tonight, we sort through the evidence. Was this a murder/suicide, or something even more sinister?
The five-year-old girl handcuffed by cops. Tonight, a close look at the tape. Judge for yourself who went too far. The teachers, the cops or the kid?
Temper tantrums. Punching and kicking. How should you deal with an unruly child? Tonight, the pros and cons of spanking, and other things you can do to calm your kids down.
A solo ski trip turns into a life-or-death struggle. Eight days alone, trapped on a freezing Colorado mountain. Tonight, we take you to the windswept slopes and the remarkable rescue of Charles Horton.
And tired of being tired? Maybe the problem is in your bed. But how to pick the right mattress and pillow? Tonight, we put high price, high tech to the test to help you get a great night's sleep.
ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is "ANDERSON COOPER 360."
And good evening again. We begin tonight with a terrible mystery. Two people are dead, a 10-year-old boy and his mother. Both of them shot to death. The question is, by whom? The police say Tyler Jones shot his mother, then turned the gun on himself. They claim -- they don't even claim to know why.
Tyler's father stands by his boy, saying what police allege is impossible, that this boy, 10-year-old Tyler, wouldn't do that to his own mother and he wouldn't do that to himself. Tyler was laid to rest just three days ago, and the small town he's from is in shock.
CNN's David Mattingly investigates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The crime would be shocking no matter where it might have happened. But in the rural crossroads of Arcola, North Carolina, it is impossible to believe.
Glenda Pulley, single mother of two, and her youngest son Tyler, just 10 years old, both found shot to death in their home. No sign of a struggle, no sign of forced entry, no sign of a robbery.
MICHAEL PULLEY, GLENDA'S BROTHER: I reached up there, I kicked the door down, went inside and (INAUDIBLE).
MATTINGLY: Worried when no one answered calls on a Saturday morning, Michael Pulley broke down his sister's front door to get inside. He found his sister had been shot in the head, apparently in her sleep. A pillow, he says, may have been used to silence the blast. And at the foot of her bed on the floor his nephew, also shot in the head.
(on camera): When you first walked into the crime scene, what did you think you had at that time?
SHERIFF JOHNNY WILLIAMS, WARREN COUNTY, NC: We thought we had a homicide, a double homicide.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): Immediately the question in this tight- knit community was why?
According to friends and neighbors, Glenda Pulley was well-liked, described as as beautiful inside as she was out. Young Tyler was just as popular, a lovable child, they say, raised in a loving home. And in a community so small that there are no strangers, who could have possibly pulled the trigger?
(on camera): But the county sheriff says the answer is clear, and so startling that it could be as hard to understand as the killings themselves. He says that not only was the killer someone everyone knew, it was someone that no one could have suspected.
(voice-over): The crime, according to state and local investigators, was a murder/suicide, carried out by 10-year-old Tyler, who is believed to have taken a family 410 shotgun like this one, killed his mother, then himself.
Even though he was found with the weapon still in his hand, friends and family refuse to believe this little boy could kill the mother he loved.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just can't fathom that 10-year-old boy getting out a shotgun, putting a pillow to his mom's head, shooting her, put a note under her pillow, then reload the shotgun and then shoot himself. I just cannot fathom that.
MATTINGLY: It's so hard to believe, because Tyler was on the honor role at a small private Christian school, where the principal says he never showed any behavioral problems and was not known to be on any kind of medication.
The afternoon before the crime, Jamisha Davis (ph) picked Tyler up after school, and says he was excited about weekend plans he had with friends.
(on camera): When you heard that this happened, what went through your mind?
JAMISHA DAVIS, FAMILY FRIEND: There's no way Tyler could have did it. No way.
WILLIAMS: Everybody's got their opinion. But I have to look at the physical evidence.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): Warren County Sheriff Johnny Williams says the facts speak for themselves. Investigators from the State Bureau of Investigation, he says, believe all preliminary signs point to a murder/suicide.
There was even a suicide note that Tyler's father and brother find hard to believe.
DANIEL JONES JR., BROTHER: The first line is, "I'm sorry that I had to kill the best mom ever." And, you know, for a child to sit there and write that he know he's doing something like this, somebody (INAUDIBLE). I just don't understand it.
MATTINGLY (on camera): What else did he say?
DANIEL JONES, FATHER: The part that stays with me the most, when you get to the part that say, "Don't nobody cry for me, don't nobody love me. My daddy don't even love me."
MATTINGLY (voice-over): Divorced from Tyler's mother for years, Daniel Jones believes the words did not come from his son.
The sheriff says there was also a cryptic reference in the note suggesting an explanation for the killings could be found in the CD from the rapper 50 Cent. But when we listened to the CD, we found that it contained no themes of matricide or suicide. Twelve of the 22 tracks mention guns and gun violence. But strangely, Tyler's family says he didn't like guns -- so much so, he would frequently get emotional on hunting trips.
(on camera): What is it about that note that makes you think your son did not write that?
JONES: Just me knowing him, knowing how he is, knowing his ways, knowing his likes and dislikes and his fears. He was scared of guns. And I know he loved his mama with all his heart. He would do anything to protect her. I know in my heart that he's not responsible.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): Sheriff Johnny Williams says the mother's long-time boyfriend was at the house early in the evening before the killings, but he was interviewed and is not a suspect.
And with so many unanswered questions, state and county investigations continue into a crime few believe could be committed by an apparently happy 10-year-old boy.
David Mattingly, CNN, Arcola, North Carolina.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Such a strange story.
Coming up next on 360, a skier stranded alone for eight days in the ice and cold of Colorado. His leg broken, no food, no water. One man's life-and-death struggle to survive.
Also ahead tonight, we're looking at the video that has America talking. A five-year-old girl handcuffed by police after throwing a fit. Tonight, the tale of the tape. What really happened, what led to this moment, and what's the best way you can handle your child's temper tantrum. Some creative solutions.
Also ahead tonight, a far lighter note. If you aren't sleeping well, the problem may not be in your head, but in your pillow or your mattress. We're going to put all those high-priced pillows to the test and help you pick the perfect one and get the good night sleep you need.
First, let's take a look at your picks, the most popular stories right now on CNN.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Well, imagine heading out for a day of skiing and suddenly finding yourself trapped on a mountain, injured, without food or water or shelter. That's what happened to a man named Charles Horton. Now, he didn't tell anyone when he left for a day trip into the Colorado mountains, so when he broke his leg and didn't come back, no one even knew he was gone. That day trip became an eight-day test of survival, a test he passed, because, even while trying to stay warm, he forced himself to stay cool.
CNN's Keith Oppenheim has his story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Charles Horton went off on his own. On Sunday, April 17, the avid outdoorsman drove to a wilderness area in northwest Colorado to go cross-country skiing. On a moderate slope, he fell and broke his right leg.
CHULA WHEBY, SURVIVOR'S FRIEND: He didn't panic. He remained calm. He knew what he had to do, what kind of energy he needed to save.
OPPENHEIM: Chula Wheby would eventually find out what happened. Her family owns the home in Steamboat Springs where Horton lives. Horton is a certified massage therapist in town, and a week after the accident, Wheby and her family discovered his cat unfed, his phone messages unanswered.
WHEBY: We all got back on Sunday from our vacation and looked around, called friends -- they hadn't heard from him -- listened to his answering machine, and on there it said, where are you? I thought we had an appointment, and it was not like him to do that, so that's when we knew.
OPPENHEIM: Fortunately, the family also knew, generally, where Horton had planned to go skiing. More than eight days after Horton had left for his trip, rescue teams on snowmobiles found him alive. With a broken leg, he'd built a shelter to stay warm. At one point he tried to crawl three miles to his car, supporting himself on his elbows. When he was found, Horton was suffering from dehydration, hypothermia and frostbite.
DR. MICHAEL SISK, ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON: Eight days out in the woods, this time of year, is a long time, and unless you know what you're doing, I think the odds of success are very low.
OPPENHEIM: Now that Horton is in stable condition after surgery, his friends say his knowledge of what to do in a crisis made all the difference.
WHEBY: He's spent a couple weeks with Tom Brown Jr.'s wilderness class, and they learned how to build things from nothing except for what you have out there. I think that really helped him.
OPPENHEIM: Keith Oppenheim, CNN, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: It is about 12 past the hour right now. Erica Hill is tracking the headlines for us. Erica, what's the latest?
ERICA HILL, CNN HEADLINE NEWS: Hey, Anderson.
Terror on the rise big time. Congressional aides say a new government report shows the number of major terrorist attacks around the world more than tripled last year, the same year as the Madrid train bombing. Now, that spike is being blamed partly on a more aggressive monitoring effort, and violence over the disputed Kashmir region bordering India and Pakistan.
In La Crosse, Wisconsin, a man is accused of keeping his dead mother in a basement freezer. According to court documents, Philip Schuth claims his mother died of natural causes more than four years ago, but he feared police would blame him for her death. Police say Schuth had been living off of his mother's Social Security checks.
In Mathuun (ph), Massachusetts, buried treasure: two friends trying to dig up a tree in a backyard found a box with cash and gold and silver certificates. Now, some of it dates back more than a century. A coin shop owner says it is all worth more than $100,000.
Most Americans, we're also learning at this point, not really rich in the shape department. A new study published in the "Archives of Internal Medicine" found only three percent of Americans followed the health guidelines.
And, that's the latest from HEADLINE NEWS. Anderson, we'll turn it back to you.
COOPER: Erica, you know, I -- frankly, I couldn't hear anything you said after -- about the guy with his mother who he kept for...
HILL: Not really sure what you said because I can't hear you, I'm sorry.
COOPER: Oh, all right, never mind. Well, you see, she couldn't hear it either. Erica Hill, thanks very much. We'll talk to you again in about 30 minutes.
Up next, the world in 360: going to take you on a trip inside Syria. They say they are a democracy. But, as you'll see in a moment, it sure feels like a dictatorship.
Also ahead, a five-year-old girl throwing a temper tantrum at school, ending up in handcuffs. Your e-mails have been pouring in on this one. We want to hear from you. Did the teacher in this case do the right thing? We're going to look closely at the tape in a moment, covering all the angles.
Also, a little later tonight, "Sleepless in America." Yep, that's me, trying to get a goodnight's sleep. Problem is, it may not be in your head. The problem is, might be in your bed. Can you buy your way to a perfect night's sleep? We're talking about mattresses and pillows. We go in pursuit of the dream mattress, ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: What you are seeing is a historic moment in the Middle East: Syrian soldiers pulling out of Lebanon. Twenty-nine years, that's how long they were there. Their influence, of course, remains. Now, I went to Syria last month to see firsthand how the president there, Bashar al-Assad, uses an iron grip to maintain his power.
Tonight, we take you to Syria's capital, Damascus, part of the "World in 360."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER (voice-over): Driving into Syria from Lebanon, you see pretty quick who's the boss. Dotting the highway, billboards of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his late father, Hafez, who ruled Syria for nearly 30 years. Bashar Assad, like his dad, maintains power through a vast intelligence network. Dissent isn't tolerated. The press is tightly controlled.
(on camera): The first thing have you to do when you get into Damascus, as a journalist, is go to the Ministry of Information and pick up your government minder. Could we tell them that we don't need a minder?
OCTAVIA NASR, SR. EDITOR, ARAB AFFAIRS: Let's try that, Anderson. Shall we? Let's try that. We'll be asked to leave. It's as simple as that. We just, you know, we do what we have to do. OK? COOPER: Our minder was a friendly young man who explained he was there to help us. Of course, he would also monitor what we did, whom would we talk to, and what they told us. So, it was no surprise to hear everyone give the current government rave reviews.
Syria says it's a democracy. Everyone on the street agreed.
You really believe Syria is more democratic than the United States?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, yes, I believe. I believe in...
COOPER: Yes, yes, she says. Syria has more democracy than any other country in the world.
Really? So, if you said something against the government here, you wouldn't be worried?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no, black is, black is the... (ph)
COOPER: No, she says. With all my heart and emotion, I salute the President Bashar. He's a wonderful leader. The people we talked to said they could criticize the president if they wanted to, it's just, he's so good, there's nothing to criticize.
What do you think about the government here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they're doing well.
COOPER: No complaints?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no complaints.
COOPER: When you talk to Syrians on the street, they all tell you pretty much the same thing. When the cameras are rolling, they say we love our president, we have no complaints. When the cameras are gone, however, and the government minder is not around, they will tell you a very different story. One man just said to us, "I can't say what I really think on camera. We live in a dictatorship. If I said that, the secret police would come and pay me a visit."
(voice-over): That, of course, is how it used to be in Iraq under Saddam Hussein, and until a few months ago Lebanese were afraid to speak out against Syria. Change has already come to those countries. The question now is when will it come here and how?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: The five-year-old girl handcuffed by cops. Tonight, a close look at the tape. Judge for yourself who went too far, the teachers, the cops, or the kid?
Temper tantrums. Punching and kicking. How should you deal with an unruly child? Tonight, the pros and cons of spanking, and other things you can do to calm your kids down. And tired of being tired? Maybe the problem is in your bed. But how to pick the right mattress and pillow? Tonight, we put high price, high tech to the test, to help you get a great night's sleep. 360 continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: We have been amazed by the reaction to that video released late last week. Stories about it have gone literally around the world. The girl, just five years old, having a temper tantrum. Then, as you see here, police coming in. Three police officers handcuffing her after this temper tantrum that went on for more than 30 minutes.
Now, today, it was reported the girl is moving out of state with her mother. She's threatened to file a lawsuit against police -- the mother has -- and possibly even the teachers.
Now, as you probably know on 360, we don't take sides; we like to look at stories from all different angles. And a lot of criticism has been leveled so far at police for what some people say was going too far. But tonight, we wanted to examine the tape with an educator and see how the teachers behaved when this little girl threw a fit. "Beyond the Headlines" now with Rudi Bakhtiar.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUDI BAKHTIAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It didn't take long after this unforgettable video of a five-year-old girl being handcuffed hit the airwaves, that questions came up about what role the educators may have played in the escalation of this crisis.
The five-year-old girl's family has already filed a complaint against the police officers, but they also objected to the way the school staff handled the situation.
JOHN TREVENA, FAMILY'S ATTORNEY: I'm concerned that the educators shadowed and hovered around the young girl. Certainly gives credence to the argument they may have been provoking her to act out more.
BAKHTIAR: Professor Robert Egley (ph) at the University of South Florida has seen the footage from beginning to end, and says the educators responded admirably.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jaisha (ph), we're not making a bigger mess. No, ma'am.
PROFESSOR ROBERT EGLEY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA: Here, the assistant principal and the other educator are giving proper verbal commands, and they are at eye level with the child, which is a very good strategy. The child stops and walks away.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BAKHTIAR: Now, before this particular incident, apparently there was a similar incident several weeks before the handcuffing incident we were just looking at, where a city police officer was called in to school because of another behavioral problem with Jaisha (ph).
Now, the police department has declined to comment on this case or the other case, citing this pending investigation going on. However, the spokesman, Bill Proffitt, did say that the department stood by the statement it made in mid-March, which was that the department policy allows the handcuffing of minors in certain situations, although they didn't elaborate on that.
COOPER: All right, Rudi Bakhtiar, thanks very much. I mean, that video is still startling no matter how many times you see it, and we've been getting so many e-mails about it. Thanks very much.
BAKHTIAR: People are concerned.
COOPER: Yeah. If you want to e-mail us, too, your thoughts on this video, we're going to try to play -- read some of those e-mails out a little bit later. The Web site address is CNN.com -- what is that -- 360 -- CNN.com/360, and then you click on the "Instant Feedback" link.
Clearly, despite all the attention on this story, so many questions remain unanswered. Every parent can certainly see something familiar in this story, in this tape, a child out of control, a tantrum that doesn't seem to end.
What should you do if your kid is having a meltdown? Ann Pleshette Murphy wrote about tantrums in her book, "The Seven Stages of Motherhood." She has five tips to help parents deal with out-of- control kids. I met with her earlier, and we began by looking again at that tape.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAISHA ATKINS, STUDENT: Do not touch me! Do not!
COOPER: You know, I watched this videotape, this five-year-old girl having a tantrum, melting down in this classroom. I mean, for me, it's enough to make me never want to have kids. Is this common, is this common behavior?
ANN PLESHETTE MURPHY, AUTHOR: Well, it is. I mean, I certainly think that at five, to have a lot of tantrums is something that I would suggest, if a mother said to me my kid's five and still having really terrible tantrums, the first thing would be to talk to a pediatrician about it. There may be something physical or emotional this child is dealing with.
COOPER: Even food allergies, you said.
MURPHY: Yes. You know, there could be all sorts of sensitivities that, you know, a pediatrician should be able to help get at the root of.
COOPER: Essentially, though, the tantrum is just, I mean, it's rage, it's anger, and kids don't know how to deal with it, and so they just explode.
MURPHY: Right, right, exactly. And so part of what you want to do yourself is to remain very calm. You know, you have to model the kind of behavior you want them to exhibit. And so if you are meeting their rage with more anger or yelling, it's not going to work.
COOPER: You say hold or rock the child?
MURPHY: Well, I found when my kids had tantrums -- and you know, believe me, when they get to be teenagers, they still sometimes have tantrums...
COOPER: Oy.
MURPHY: But when they are -- when they are young enough to hold, I found that actually physically putting my arms around my child and holding them and maybe rocking them a little bit and talking to them softly, I mean, sometimes about nothing, just keep talking, getting them to breathe, this is really important. Help them get a deep breath and breathe is often a really good way to get them to calm down.
COOPER: But again, that's a hard thing in a school setting for a teacher to do. It's something really apparent that...
MURPHY: Yes. Well, it's also sometimes hard with the parent, because they can be kicking and screaming, and you don't want them to hurt you. So in fact, if they are in a safe, quiet place, you can use a time-out, which is essentially giving them an opportunity to just let the steam out and get it over with. Ignore it. Just leave them alone, say, all right, I know you are having a really hard time, you're really angry, I'm going to leave you alone now.
COOPER: When a lot of parents hear that, you know, they roll their eyes and say, look, time-out doesn't work.
MURPHY: Well, you know what does work? Your taking a time-out. Again, if your child is safe, you can say, I'm so angry right now or you are making me so angry and frustrated, I need to leave the room. And do that. Because sometimes breaking that tension and not paying attention to the tantrum, basically not giving it kind of center-stage attention, is a really good way of changing their behavior.
COOPER: Get them -- get the child to help explain how you can help them?
MURPHY: Exactly. I mean, a five-year-old is old enough to be told during a calm moment, not in the heat of the tantrum, you know, we've been having some problems about this, and I am going to give you some ways of helping. And if you feel really angry, here are some things you can do. And again, teaching them to take a deep breath, punch a pillow if they're at home and when they really feel angry. You know, go in the closet and scream and say things that you don't want them to say to your face, but they're allowed to say it in their closet. COOPER: How do you change, though -- I mean, if you're on a plane or in a mall and your kid is having a tantrum, does all this go out the window?
MURPHY: I mean, parents get so uptight in public places, because they think, rightly, that everybody is judging them, particularly people who don't have children.
COOPER: And you point to me when you said that.
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: I'm very forgiving and understanding.
MURPHY: Horrible. That's good, because most people aren't. You know, most people are there going, if that were my child. Well, that's not your child. So, I really would recommend to parents that they ignore the other passengers and really focus on helping the kid. Because it's no fun having a tantrum.
COOPER: Ann Pleshette Murphy, thanks very much.
MURPHY: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: It's no fun having a tantrum. Certainly, true.
Coming up next on 360, to hit or not to hit. To spank or not to spank. Some parents say we've gotten too politically correct. In a moment we're going to take a new look at spanking, the pros -- on the pros and cons. We'll hear from both sides.
Also tonight, "Sleepless in America." Are you one of the millions of people not getting good night sleep? The problem may not be in your head, maybe on your bed or pillow. We'll try to give you some pointers on how to pick the right ones. Part of our special series "Sleepless in America."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You don't have the right to hit me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: That was the five-year-old girl in Florida acting out with her assistant principal trying to control her. Those pictures have elicited a flood of responses from you in the last few days. And tonight, a lot of e-mail's were getting on the subject tonight. And it's really our reason this evening for delving into the difficult questions of discipline for a small child. Should parents spank their kids?
Do you believe in spare the rod and spoil the child? Well, most Americans seem to or at least in not sparing the spank. A 2002 ABC News poll found that 65 percent of those asked approve of parents spanking their own kids, but only 26 percent thought that teachers should be allowed to administer corporal punishment.
In some states it is legal for teachers to punish students physically. Though parents, usually, have to give their permission first. A few years ago we met some parents who did not give permission however their child was still punished physically by a teacher.
Ed Lavandera, has the story tonight of Jared Waters.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bye. See you tomorrow.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jared Waters was looking forward to second grade at Harper Elementary School -- a new teacher and a new classroom. His parents hoped this new environment would help erase the memory of what happened in first grade.
VICKY WATERS, MOTHER: To see the look in his eye and how embarrassed and how upset and how scared he was to go back there, they violated his trust and they violated our trust.
LAVANDERA: Jared was sitting in class taking a test.
(on camera): So, you're doing a spelling test and you say...
JARED WATERS, STUDENT: Boring.
LAVANDERA: The test was boring? Then the next thing you know.
JARED WATERS: Ending up (ph) getting a spanking.
LAVANDERA: Did you know that was going to happen?
JARED WATERS: No.
JOE WATERS, FATHER: You have those butterflies in the stomach, you know, when you drop him off.
LAVANDERA: The principal called Jared's father to explain what happened. Joe Waters was furious.
JOE WATERS: I couldn't -- I couldn't believe what they had done. It just -- it just totally -- it appalled me in every manner possible.
LAVANDERA: When Jared got him his father took a closer look. The family says the principal's swat left this bruise on Jared's leg.
JOE WATERS: If I would have done what they did, I would -- probably wouldn't even have had my kids anymore. They'd have taken them from people.
LAVANDERA: Harper School officials denied our request for an interview, but in a letter to the family the school's superintendent, said the principal followed the policy and procedures of the Harper School District, and that excessive force was not used. But Principal Jay Harper did say publicly at the time, that he supported corporal punishment.
JAY HARPER, HARPER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: I never felt like it's harmed a child. In fact, we're here to educate the kids and, you know, do what's best for that child.
LAVANDERA: Part of the reason Joe and Vicky Waters are so angry, is because they say they asked the school not to paddle their child. On two different occasions school officials had called saying that Jared needed to be disciplined. Both times they asked if they could use corporal punishment, and his parents told school officials that they were definitely not allowed to touch their child.
JOE WATERS: My rights as a parent were stomped on. Someone else had the right to say whether or not my son deserves a spanking and to go ahead and give it to him without my knowledge or consent. It just -- it did violate me.
LAVANDERA: Jared's discipline problems have now been connected to a severe case of Attention Deficit Disorder. His parents say the spanking has had a lingering effect. For a while Jared was wetting his bed and was scared of the principal.
VICKY WATERS: They're not the ones that are here staying up all night with him. And they're not the ones that is telling him that everything is going to be OK. And they're not the ones that have to look in his face every time we take him up there. And he begs us not to leave him. They just ended it. They didn't go any further. They didn't care. And I think that's what really bothers us, because it's something that bothers him today.
LAVANDERA (on camera): Jared, do you think you'll ever be able to forget that, what happened?
JARED WATERS: No. Not in a million years.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): The irony is Joe and Vicky Waters used to spank their children every once in a while. But now they say they've learned a valuable lesson -- physical punishment might be quicker and easier they say, but teaching discipline is a lesson that will last a lifetime.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Harper, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, while surveys have shown that most people do not support spanking in schools, many more do support it in the home. Now as you know we don't take sides on 360. We look at all the angles on a story. So, we wanted to talk with two very -- two people with two very different viewpoints on parents spanking their kids.
Joining me tonight is the author of "The Healthy Child," Dr. Walt Larimore who's Colorado Springs, Colorado.
And in Columbus, Ohio Dr. -- Robert Fathman, president of The Center of Effective Discipline. Appreciate both of you being with us.
Let me start of with you, Robert.
As we heard before about two thirds of Americans approve of spanking in the home, if it's their kids. Why do you not think it's OK?
ROBERT FATHMAN, PRES. CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE: Actually the numbers are coming down. It used to be about 90 some percent approved of it. It's coming down. The latest surveys are showing about 50 percent of parents approve of spanking. More than that spank, but then they regret it afterwards. So, the numbers are dropping and that's the direction we want to see it go. It's not OK, because it's an act of violence. I mean, we used -- it used to be legal to hit your wife. Why is it not OK to hit your wife, to spank your wife, to spank your employees. To take a paddle or stick or wooden spoon and hit the elderly in a nursing home? Well, it's an act of violence. It's brutality. We protect adults, why don't we protect children in the same way.
COOPER: Let me put that -- let me put that to Dr. Larimore.
Dr. Larimore, is it an act of brutality?
DR. WALT LARIMORE, AUTHOR, "THE HEALTHY CHILD": You know, the evidence would say no, Anderson, for parents who use what the research and what I call appropriate spanking, as opposed to corporal punishment or physical violence. There's not only no evidence it's harmful to children, there's some evidence, I think significant evidence, that it may be helpful for parents who are dealing with children in that two, three, to six-year-old range.
FATHMAN: Absolutely wrong on that. The research consistently shows that children internalize parental values when they are raised without physical discipline. They'll be compliant, they might obey when they are afraid of being hit, but they don't really internalize those things we as parents want them to make their own. The research shows it's harmful.
COOPER: Dr. Larimore, I see you shaking your head.
LARIMORE: Yes, I do, because we have to dissect the research, and here's what I mean by that, Anderson. The research that looks at corporal punishment, that defines that not only as appropriate spanking, the one to two swats on a child that's willfully defiant, with the open hand, and combines that with slapping a child in the face or punching a child in the face or twisting a child's ear -- physical brutality. Corporal punishment is dangerous to children, emotionally, relationally, physically, in that way.
But, the studies that look at appropriate spanking -- that's spanking used by most parents in America -- do not show that it's harmful in any way. And that's what the scientific research shows. Now, we may not like spanking for ethical or moral or religious reasons, and that's fine. But we shouldn't blame our conclusions on the science. It's just not there.
COOPER: Well, Robert, do you make a distinction between a parent slapping their child on the behind with their open hand, you know, versus some of the other things the doctor was talking about, more brutal things?
FATHMAN: There -- certainly, Anderson, there are degrees of corporal punishment, from mild to moderate to severe, but none of it is necessary. And, he's absolutely wrong about the scientific research. The scientific research condemns it. The American Academy of Pediatrics condemns the use of corporal punishment.
COOPER: Let me just read out what the American Psychological Association says. As you point out, they don't approve of corporal punishment. They say, quote, "The use of corporal punishment by adults having authority over children is likely to train children to use physical violence to control behavior rather than the rational persuasion, education and intelligent forms of both positive and negative reinforcement."
Doctor, let me ask you, what is the message spanking your child sends? They're saying it sends a message of -- it's not teaching the child to deal with things properly. What do you think it actually achieves?
LARIMORE: People who say that, they could say that based upon a belief system, but they cannot say it based upon the science. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics had a consensus conference on spanking and came out with a unanimous statement that appropriate spanking, that one-to-two swats for a willfully defiant child, is an appropriate, even helpful, use of discipline. Is it the only use of discipline? Absolutely not. Should it be the last? Yes.
COOPER: Do you believe it works, Doctor?
(CROSSTALK)
FATHMAN: No, I totally disagree with that. If you go to the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site and look for the policy on corporal punishment, you are not going to find the quote Dr. Larimore just gave you. There are individual pediatricians who might think it's a good idea, but -- and there's no consensus, perhaps, among them. But, you talk to any child abuse professional in the country, they are going to tell you child abuse starts with slapping, spanking, hitting, it intensifies -- how in the world are you going to train an angry parent?
COOPER: So, Robert, are you saying -- we'll try to just move away from sort of battle of the experts, because, you know, everyone can quote studies and stuff.
But, Robert, just personally, your belief: you really think it does escalate, that one swat or two swats, and it escalates into more? It can't... FATHMAN: No, no, I don't say that about every parent. Not every parent does that. But, I will say no child has to be hit even one time. There's better ways to handle whatever disciplinary action.
COOPER: What are you saying, like, a time out, things like that?
FATHMAN: Sure, time out, rewards for good behavior. You know, atta-boys when they're doing things right, sticker charts to reward them, giving a little five-minute job to do, saying you have enough energy to be defiant to me. I'm going to put that energy to work for me. You did something destructive; I'm going to turn that into constructive behavior. Do this little five-minute chore.
COOPER: Dr. Larimore, what about that? I mean, you know, I can hear a lot of parents just raising their eyebrows saying, time-outs don't work sometimes.
LARIMORE: No, they don't. Every parent out there who actually has children in their house realizes that we need as many tools in our parenting tool chest as we can have. Now, our older child Kate was not a child that spanking was ever necessary for -- our younger child Scott was one that was a very helpful tool for us to have. And, the research shows that parents who do choose to spank, those children not only become more compliant, they need less forms of other punishment and direction.
And I think a damaging piece of research is that that shows that the parents are most likely to abuse children aren't parents who spank appropriately, but parents who never spank. And, let's not forget, parents can abuse children not only physically but with time outs -- can be abusive -- verbal abuse can occur, and that's never appropriate. I mean I think there's one thing both of us as guests would agree upon, is that we love children, we want the best for them. And for parents, wisely and carefully choosing decisions about how to raise their children is something that's critically important not only for the families but for our society.
COOPER: We're going to have to leave it there. Gentlemen, it was really interesting discussion. I appreciate both of your thoughts on this, Robert Fathman and Dr. Walt Larimore. Thank you very much.
FATHMAN: Good to be with you.
LARIMORE: Thank you.
COOPER: It's nice to have the discussion where people aren't yelling each other, isn't it? Just once in a while on cable TV.
So, what do you think? Is spanking the answer to students out of control? We're getting a lot of emails from you already. We'd love to hear from you. Log on now, CNN.com/360. You can click on the "Instant Feedback" link. Send us your thoughts. We'll try to read some of your e-mails on the air before the hour is up.
And it is just about three-quarters past the hour right. Erica Hill is tracking the headlines for us. Erica, what you got? HILL: Hey, Anderson, good to see you.
I have to tell you real quick, though -- I did appreciate the no yelling. I hate the yelling debates.
COOPER: Well, yes. I agree with that. No more yelling.
HILL: No more yelling. We're banishing it.
But we do have plenty of headlines for you, so you're in luck.
Together in Texas, President Bush and embattled House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. The president invited DeLay to his Social Security town hall meeting in Galveston and gave him a ride back to Washington aboard Air Force One, a very public show of support for DeLay, who has been accused of political misconduct.
Las Vegas, Nevada: in court, the woman who says she found part of a finger in a bowl of Wendy's chili. No, we can't get enough of this story. Police say she made the whole thing up. Anna Ayala has now agreed to return to California to face charges. Her lawyer, though, calls the case ridiculous. Still not clear at this point? Where the finger came from.
Phoenix, Arizona: the governor signs a bill banning junk food in the state's middle and elementary schools. That law takes effect next year. It was backed by health groups as a way to promote good nutrition. Under the measure, soft drinks, candy and other sugary snacks can't be sold during school hours.
And in Pikesville, Maryland, order on the court, please -- no, I said order, not buffalo. A herd of buffalo broke free from a farm and wandered their way around some upscale neighborhoods this morning, and then they got corralled in this tennis court, and then sent back to the farm.
And, that's a look at the headlines. That's something to wake up to this morning, though, huh?
COOPER: Yes, buffaloes on the tennis court. Do you know who I spend my weekend with?
HILL: Uh, buffaloes on the tennis courts?
COOPER: No, this guy. I want -- don't know if you can see the picture.
HILL: Hold on, let me look. I hope you didn't pick up any bad habits. .
COOPER: The smoking chimp. Yeah, we hung out this weekend.
HILL: I hear he's not the only one, by the way. Supposedly there's another one in China who's also picked up the habit.
COOPER: Aw, man, see this stuff is spreading. One -- see, that's how it starts -- one chimp starts to smoke, and then they all start to smoke, and pretty soon, they will take over the world. All right. Erica, thanks very much.
Coming up next on 360, tossing and turning: "Sleepless in America." Why the problem may be under your head, not in your head. We'll explain in just a moment as we search for the perfect mattress and pillow. So many choices.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Here's a question for you -- what begins with "s," takes place in a bed, and it's something many Americans simply cannot get enough of? Come on, folks, get your mind out of the gutter, we're talking about sleep here. The National Sleep Foundation reports that 82 million Americans do not get the right amount of sleep, 82 million. That is an extraordinarily high number. And 25 percent of people polled say that has a direct impact on their daily lives.
All this week, we're looking at sleep problems in our series, "Sleepless in America." We're going to help you get the sleep you need, or at least try.
Tonight we go on the search for the perfect bed. But we warn you, choosing the right mattress can be a real pain in the back. Ba- da-bam. Try the veal, as you watch CNN's Adaora Udoji.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dan Moran and Jen Weishaar are on a quest.
DAN MORAN, MATTRESS SHOPPER: I don't sleep well. I don't know if it's because of my bed or what.
UDOJI: Dan doesn't sleep well, which means Jen doesn't sleep well. So they are looking to buy one of the 41 million mattresses sold a year. There's a lot of hopes for a good night's sleep. And a lot of choices at places like 1-800-Mattress, from foam mattresses inspired by NASA technology, to this.
JOHN O'CONNELL, 1-800-MATTRESS: All of it's hand made. And it's all made with the finest natural materials.
UDOJI: A $10,000 bed carrying the seal of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. The way the commercials tell it, a good mattress is all you need for a blissful night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You deserve a good night's sleep.
UDOJI: Cornell University sleep expert James Maas says it helps.
PROFESSOR JAMES MAAS, CORNELL UNIV.: The most important thing is to have a good mattress and a good pillow. And to have the bedroom quiet, dark and cool. Basically, in that order.
UDOJI: When shopping for the right mattress, all the experts agree on one crucial step: Don't just sit on the bed, you have to nap.
Good Housekeeping Institute's Kathleen Huddy.
KATHLEEN HUDDY, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING INSTITUTE: Don't take the kids. Don't only have 10 minutes. You've got to go and spend some time. Lay down on the mattress for 15 minutes. Because in that time, you can feel if there's any hardness or aches or pains that might occur.
UDOJI: Another tip, the days of saggy mattresses are over.
STEPHEN PINO, DUXIANA: Every Dux bed is made with thousands of springs.
UDOJI: Today the average bed is made with more coils. If you want greater support, look for more coils.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look how the glass doesn't tip over as Kelly moves about. Amazing.
UDOJI: Some advertise they absorb motion.
MAAS: We can lose up to 20 percent of deep sleep, very important component of sleep, if we're sleeping on a mattress that does not have low motion transfer.
UDOJI: That means when your partner get gets in or out of bed, you shouldn't feel a thing.
Experts also agree never buy a mattress over the telephone, unless you have tested it first.
HUDDY: Be prepared to spend a good penny.
UDOJI: She says on average, most people spend $1,000 for a good queen set. Dan and Jen are on the hunt for one that will help Dan's back.
MORAN: I never knew any better. I thought soft was better, and then, you know, then there was like, oh. your back hurts because you need a stiffer bed.
UDOJI: Be careful, say some orthopedic surgeons. Mattresses, they say, do not perform miracles.
DR. JORDAN METZL, ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON: There really is no study which shows that a particular mattress can fix a particular kind of back pain. In general, I think it's good to experiment with different kinds of mattresses.
UDOJI: Then there's the pillows. Experts say pillows do matter. They say keep in mind, if you sleep on your side, get a firm pillow to keep your neck above your shoulders.
On your back, a medium density pillow so your head won't tilt back too far. On your stomach, doctors say change your position. It causes too much stress on your neck. If not, use a soft or flat pillow.
JEN WEISHAAR, MATTRESS SHOPPER: I'm excited.
UDOJI: Dan and Jen did find what they hope will be their perfect mattress.
WEISHAAR: Having a comfortable bed and something to sleep on that's really nice is worth it.
UDOJI: The bottom line, only you can determine what bed makes you feel good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanks very much, guys.
UDOJI: But like Dan and Jen, you have got to try a few out to get there.
Adaora Udoji, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Yeah, but what if you start on your side and then move onto your stomach? It's so complicated.
Our "Sleepless in America" series continues tomorrow with a look at parasomnias. That's what you're looking at right now, night terrors, to sleepwalking. We examine the bizarre behavior some people have when they sleep. Often dangerous sleep behaviors. We'll also meet a teenage girl whose violent sleepwalking spells led to a very serious injury. Some people actually eat while they sleep. We have some video of some people munching on potato chips. All that's tomorrow.
Let's find out right now what's coming up at the top of the hour on "PAULA ZAHN NOW." Hey, Paula.
PAULA ZAHN, HOST, "PAULA ZAHN NOW": Hi, Anderson. Thanks so much.
At the top of our show, we continue our focus on protecting your children from sexual predators. Tonight, we profile one of the America's most recognizable crime fighters, a man whose crusade started when his own son was tragically kidnapped and killed. John Walsh of "America's Most Wanted." Please join us at the top of the hour -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, about four minutes from now. Thanks, Paula.
Coming up next, though, on 360, what you think about wild children and the proper punishment? We're checking our e-mails and sharing your thoughts. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: We've been getting a lot of e-mails from you over the last hour and really over the last several days about this video we've been showing, the five-year-old girl who was really out of control, having a temper tantrum, and then later was handcuffed by police.
Janelle (ph) from Kansas writes: "The general public has no clue what us educators put up with, especially now that we cannot discipline the child properly. The public is so worried about the child's rights. What about the teachers' rights?
Dan from Canada has a different point of view. Dan says: "The parents should be responsible for disciplining the child. And because they failed to do so, it was up to the teachers and police to step in. If the mother is so upset with the disciplinary action taken by the school and police, then she should take the responsibility on herself instead of trying to shift the blame."
And as we pointed out, it does look like she is going to be suing at least the police, maybe even the school system.
Tom from Texas adds -- "What a crock! When I acted up in class, my teacher whooped my butt, the vice principal whooped by butt. When my father arrived to school, he whooped my butt, there and then again at home. Guess who didn't act up again in class?"
Send us your thoughts, anytime, CNN.com/360. We appreciate your e-mails.
I'm Anderson Cooper. Thanks for watching 360. CNN's prime-time coverage continues now with Paula Zahn. Hey, Paula.
ZAHN: Hi, Anderson. Thanks so much.
END
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 26, 2005 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST: Good evening, everyone. A mother and her son murdered. The question is, by whom? 360 starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER (voice-over): The mystery of Tyler Jones, a 10-year-old boy accused of shooting his mother, then shooting himself. Tonight, we sort through the evidence. Was this a murder/suicide, or something even more sinister?
The five-year-old girl handcuffed by cops. Tonight, a close look at the tape. Judge for yourself who went too far. The teachers, the cops or the kid?
Temper tantrums. Punching and kicking. How should you deal with an unruly child? Tonight, the pros and cons of spanking, and other things you can do to calm your kids down.
A solo ski trip turns into a life-or-death struggle. Eight days alone, trapped on a freezing Colorado mountain. Tonight, we take you to the windswept slopes and the remarkable rescue of Charles Horton.
And tired of being tired? Maybe the problem is in your bed. But how to pick the right mattress and pillow? Tonight, we put high price, high tech to the test to help you get a great night's sleep.
ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is "ANDERSON COOPER 360."
And good evening again. We begin tonight with a terrible mystery. Two people are dead, a 10-year-old boy and his mother. Both of them shot to death. The question is, by whom? The police say Tyler Jones shot his mother, then turned the gun on himself. They claim -- they don't even claim to know why.
Tyler's father stands by his boy, saying what police allege is impossible, that this boy, 10-year-old Tyler, wouldn't do that to his own mother and he wouldn't do that to himself. Tyler was laid to rest just three days ago, and the small town he's from is in shock.
CNN's David Mattingly investigates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The crime would be shocking no matter where it might have happened. But in the rural crossroads of Arcola, North Carolina, it is impossible to believe.
Glenda Pulley, single mother of two, and her youngest son Tyler, just 10 years old, both found shot to death in their home. No sign of a struggle, no sign of forced entry, no sign of a robbery.
MICHAEL PULLEY, GLENDA'S BROTHER: I reached up there, I kicked the door down, went inside and (INAUDIBLE).
MATTINGLY: Worried when no one answered calls on a Saturday morning, Michael Pulley broke down his sister's front door to get inside. He found his sister had been shot in the head, apparently in her sleep. A pillow, he says, may have been used to silence the blast. And at the foot of her bed on the floor his nephew, also shot in the head.
(on camera): When you first walked into the crime scene, what did you think you had at that time?
SHERIFF JOHNNY WILLIAMS, WARREN COUNTY, NC: We thought we had a homicide, a double homicide.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): Immediately the question in this tight- knit community was why?
According to friends and neighbors, Glenda Pulley was well-liked, described as as beautiful inside as she was out. Young Tyler was just as popular, a lovable child, they say, raised in a loving home. And in a community so small that there are no strangers, who could have possibly pulled the trigger?
(on camera): But the county sheriff says the answer is clear, and so startling that it could be as hard to understand as the killings themselves. He says that not only was the killer someone everyone knew, it was someone that no one could have suspected.
(voice-over): The crime, according to state and local investigators, was a murder/suicide, carried out by 10-year-old Tyler, who is believed to have taken a family 410 shotgun like this one, killed his mother, then himself.
Even though he was found with the weapon still in his hand, friends and family refuse to believe this little boy could kill the mother he loved.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just can't fathom that 10-year-old boy getting out a shotgun, putting a pillow to his mom's head, shooting her, put a note under her pillow, then reload the shotgun and then shoot himself. I just cannot fathom that.
MATTINGLY: It's so hard to believe, because Tyler was on the honor role at a small private Christian school, where the principal says he never showed any behavioral problems and was not known to be on any kind of medication.
The afternoon before the crime, Jamisha Davis (ph) picked Tyler up after school, and says he was excited about weekend plans he had with friends.
(on camera): When you heard that this happened, what went through your mind?
JAMISHA DAVIS, FAMILY FRIEND: There's no way Tyler could have did it. No way.
WILLIAMS: Everybody's got their opinion. But I have to look at the physical evidence.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): Warren County Sheriff Johnny Williams says the facts speak for themselves. Investigators from the State Bureau of Investigation, he says, believe all preliminary signs point to a murder/suicide.
There was even a suicide note that Tyler's father and brother find hard to believe.
DANIEL JONES JR., BROTHER: The first line is, "I'm sorry that I had to kill the best mom ever." And, you know, for a child to sit there and write that he know he's doing something like this, somebody (INAUDIBLE). I just don't understand it.
MATTINGLY (on camera): What else did he say?
DANIEL JONES, FATHER: The part that stays with me the most, when you get to the part that say, "Don't nobody cry for me, don't nobody love me. My daddy don't even love me."
MATTINGLY (voice-over): Divorced from Tyler's mother for years, Daniel Jones believes the words did not come from his son.
The sheriff says there was also a cryptic reference in the note suggesting an explanation for the killings could be found in the CD from the rapper 50 Cent. But when we listened to the CD, we found that it contained no themes of matricide or suicide. Twelve of the 22 tracks mention guns and gun violence. But strangely, Tyler's family says he didn't like guns -- so much so, he would frequently get emotional on hunting trips.
(on camera): What is it about that note that makes you think your son did not write that?
JONES: Just me knowing him, knowing how he is, knowing his ways, knowing his likes and dislikes and his fears. He was scared of guns. And I know he loved his mama with all his heart. He would do anything to protect her. I know in my heart that he's not responsible.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): Sheriff Johnny Williams says the mother's long-time boyfriend was at the house early in the evening before the killings, but he was interviewed and is not a suspect.
And with so many unanswered questions, state and county investigations continue into a crime few believe could be committed by an apparently happy 10-year-old boy.
David Mattingly, CNN, Arcola, North Carolina.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Such a strange story.
Coming up next on 360, a skier stranded alone for eight days in the ice and cold of Colorado. His leg broken, no food, no water. One man's life-and-death struggle to survive.
Also ahead tonight, we're looking at the video that has America talking. A five-year-old girl handcuffed by police after throwing a fit. Tonight, the tale of the tape. What really happened, what led to this moment, and what's the best way you can handle your child's temper tantrum. Some creative solutions.
Also ahead tonight, a far lighter note. If you aren't sleeping well, the problem may not be in your head, but in your pillow or your mattress. We're going to put all those high-priced pillows to the test and help you pick the perfect one and get the good night sleep you need.
First, let's take a look at your picks, the most popular stories right now on CNN.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Well, imagine heading out for a day of skiing and suddenly finding yourself trapped on a mountain, injured, without food or water or shelter. That's what happened to a man named Charles Horton. Now, he didn't tell anyone when he left for a day trip into the Colorado mountains, so when he broke his leg and didn't come back, no one even knew he was gone. That day trip became an eight-day test of survival, a test he passed, because, even while trying to stay warm, he forced himself to stay cool.
CNN's Keith Oppenheim has his story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Charles Horton went off on his own. On Sunday, April 17, the avid outdoorsman drove to a wilderness area in northwest Colorado to go cross-country skiing. On a moderate slope, he fell and broke his right leg.
CHULA WHEBY, SURVIVOR'S FRIEND: He didn't panic. He remained calm. He knew what he had to do, what kind of energy he needed to save.
OPPENHEIM: Chula Wheby would eventually find out what happened. Her family owns the home in Steamboat Springs where Horton lives. Horton is a certified massage therapist in town, and a week after the accident, Wheby and her family discovered his cat unfed, his phone messages unanswered.
WHEBY: We all got back on Sunday from our vacation and looked around, called friends -- they hadn't heard from him -- listened to his answering machine, and on there it said, where are you? I thought we had an appointment, and it was not like him to do that, so that's when we knew.
OPPENHEIM: Fortunately, the family also knew, generally, where Horton had planned to go skiing. More than eight days after Horton had left for his trip, rescue teams on snowmobiles found him alive. With a broken leg, he'd built a shelter to stay warm. At one point he tried to crawl three miles to his car, supporting himself on his elbows. When he was found, Horton was suffering from dehydration, hypothermia and frostbite.
DR. MICHAEL SISK, ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON: Eight days out in the woods, this time of year, is a long time, and unless you know what you're doing, I think the odds of success are very low.
OPPENHEIM: Now that Horton is in stable condition after surgery, his friends say his knowledge of what to do in a crisis made all the difference.
WHEBY: He's spent a couple weeks with Tom Brown Jr.'s wilderness class, and they learned how to build things from nothing except for what you have out there. I think that really helped him.
OPPENHEIM: Keith Oppenheim, CNN, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: It is about 12 past the hour right now. Erica Hill is tracking the headlines for us. Erica, what's the latest?
ERICA HILL, CNN HEADLINE NEWS: Hey, Anderson.
Terror on the rise big time. Congressional aides say a new government report shows the number of major terrorist attacks around the world more than tripled last year, the same year as the Madrid train bombing. Now, that spike is being blamed partly on a more aggressive monitoring effort, and violence over the disputed Kashmir region bordering India and Pakistan.
In La Crosse, Wisconsin, a man is accused of keeping his dead mother in a basement freezer. According to court documents, Philip Schuth claims his mother died of natural causes more than four years ago, but he feared police would blame him for her death. Police say Schuth had been living off of his mother's Social Security checks.
In Mathuun (ph), Massachusetts, buried treasure: two friends trying to dig up a tree in a backyard found a box with cash and gold and silver certificates. Now, some of it dates back more than a century. A coin shop owner says it is all worth more than $100,000.
Most Americans, we're also learning at this point, not really rich in the shape department. A new study published in the "Archives of Internal Medicine" found only three percent of Americans followed the health guidelines.
And, that's the latest from HEADLINE NEWS. Anderson, we'll turn it back to you.
COOPER: Erica, you know, I -- frankly, I couldn't hear anything you said after -- about the guy with his mother who he kept for...
HILL: Not really sure what you said because I can't hear you, I'm sorry.
COOPER: Oh, all right, never mind. Well, you see, she couldn't hear it either. Erica Hill, thanks very much. We'll talk to you again in about 30 minutes.
Up next, the world in 360: going to take you on a trip inside Syria. They say they are a democracy. But, as you'll see in a moment, it sure feels like a dictatorship.
Also ahead, a five-year-old girl throwing a temper tantrum at school, ending up in handcuffs. Your e-mails have been pouring in on this one. We want to hear from you. Did the teacher in this case do the right thing? We're going to look closely at the tape in a moment, covering all the angles.
Also, a little later tonight, "Sleepless in America." Yep, that's me, trying to get a goodnight's sleep. Problem is, it may not be in your head. The problem is, might be in your bed. Can you buy your way to a perfect night's sleep? We're talking about mattresses and pillows. We go in pursuit of the dream mattress, ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: What you are seeing is a historic moment in the Middle East: Syrian soldiers pulling out of Lebanon. Twenty-nine years, that's how long they were there. Their influence, of course, remains. Now, I went to Syria last month to see firsthand how the president there, Bashar al-Assad, uses an iron grip to maintain his power.
Tonight, we take you to Syria's capital, Damascus, part of the "World in 360."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER (voice-over): Driving into Syria from Lebanon, you see pretty quick who's the boss. Dotting the highway, billboards of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his late father, Hafez, who ruled Syria for nearly 30 years. Bashar Assad, like his dad, maintains power through a vast intelligence network. Dissent isn't tolerated. The press is tightly controlled.
(on camera): The first thing have you to do when you get into Damascus, as a journalist, is go to the Ministry of Information and pick up your government minder. Could we tell them that we don't need a minder?
OCTAVIA NASR, SR. EDITOR, ARAB AFFAIRS: Let's try that, Anderson. Shall we? Let's try that. We'll be asked to leave. It's as simple as that. We just, you know, we do what we have to do. OK? COOPER: Our minder was a friendly young man who explained he was there to help us. Of course, he would also monitor what we did, whom would we talk to, and what they told us. So, it was no surprise to hear everyone give the current government rave reviews.
Syria says it's a democracy. Everyone on the street agreed.
You really believe Syria is more democratic than the United States?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, yes, I believe. I believe in...
COOPER: Yes, yes, she says. Syria has more democracy than any other country in the world.
Really? So, if you said something against the government here, you wouldn't be worried?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no, black is, black is the... (ph)
COOPER: No, she says. With all my heart and emotion, I salute the President Bashar. He's a wonderful leader. The people we talked to said they could criticize the president if they wanted to, it's just, he's so good, there's nothing to criticize.
What do you think about the government here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they're doing well.
COOPER: No complaints?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no complaints.
COOPER: When you talk to Syrians on the street, they all tell you pretty much the same thing. When the cameras are rolling, they say we love our president, we have no complaints. When the cameras are gone, however, and the government minder is not around, they will tell you a very different story. One man just said to us, "I can't say what I really think on camera. We live in a dictatorship. If I said that, the secret police would come and pay me a visit."
(voice-over): That, of course, is how it used to be in Iraq under Saddam Hussein, and until a few months ago Lebanese were afraid to speak out against Syria. Change has already come to those countries. The question now is when will it come here and how?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: The five-year-old girl handcuffed by cops. Tonight, a close look at the tape. Judge for yourself who went too far, the teachers, the cops, or the kid?
Temper tantrums. Punching and kicking. How should you deal with an unruly child? Tonight, the pros and cons of spanking, and other things you can do to calm your kids down. And tired of being tired? Maybe the problem is in your bed. But how to pick the right mattress and pillow? Tonight, we put high price, high tech to the test, to help you get a great night's sleep. 360 continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: We have been amazed by the reaction to that video released late last week. Stories about it have gone literally around the world. The girl, just five years old, having a temper tantrum. Then, as you see here, police coming in. Three police officers handcuffing her after this temper tantrum that went on for more than 30 minutes.
Now, today, it was reported the girl is moving out of state with her mother. She's threatened to file a lawsuit against police -- the mother has -- and possibly even the teachers.
Now, as you probably know on 360, we don't take sides; we like to look at stories from all different angles. And a lot of criticism has been leveled so far at police for what some people say was going too far. But tonight, we wanted to examine the tape with an educator and see how the teachers behaved when this little girl threw a fit. "Beyond the Headlines" now with Rudi Bakhtiar.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUDI BAKHTIAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It didn't take long after this unforgettable video of a five-year-old girl being handcuffed hit the airwaves, that questions came up about what role the educators may have played in the escalation of this crisis.
The five-year-old girl's family has already filed a complaint against the police officers, but they also objected to the way the school staff handled the situation.
JOHN TREVENA, FAMILY'S ATTORNEY: I'm concerned that the educators shadowed and hovered around the young girl. Certainly gives credence to the argument they may have been provoking her to act out more.
BAKHTIAR: Professor Robert Egley (ph) at the University of South Florida has seen the footage from beginning to end, and says the educators responded admirably.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jaisha (ph), we're not making a bigger mess. No, ma'am.
PROFESSOR ROBERT EGLEY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA: Here, the assistant principal and the other educator are giving proper verbal commands, and they are at eye level with the child, which is a very good strategy. The child stops and walks away.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BAKHTIAR: Now, before this particular incident, apparently there was a similar incident several weeks before the handcuffing incident we were just looking at, where a city police officer was called in to school because of another behavioral problem with Jaisha (ph).
Now, the police department has declined to comment on this case or the other case, citing this pending investigation going on. However, the spokesman, Bill Proffitt, did say that the department stood by the statement it made in mid-March, which was that the department policy allows the handcuffing of minors in certain situations, although they didn't elaborate on that.
COOPER: All right, Rudi Bakhtiar, thanks very much. I mean, that video is still startling no matter how many times you see it, and we've been getting so many e-mails about it. Thanks very much.
BAKHTIAR: People are concerned.
COOPER: Yeah. If you want to e-mail us, too, your thoughts on this video, we're going to try to play -- read some of those e-mails out a little bit later. The Web site address is CNN.com -- what is that -- 360 -- CNN.com/360, and then you click on the "Instant Feedback" link.
Clearly, despite all the attention on this story, so many questions remain unanswered. Every parent can certainly see something familiar in this story, in this tape, a child out of control, a tantrum that doesn't seem to end.
What should you do if your kid is having a meltdown? Ann Pleshette Murphy wrote about tantrums in her book, "The Seven Stages of Motherhood." She has five tips to help parents deal with out-of- control kids. I met with her earlier, and we began by looking again at that tape.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAISHA ATKINS, STUDENT: Do not touch me! Do not!
COOPER: You know, I watched this videotape, this five-year-old girl having a tantrum, melting down in this classroom. I mean, for me, it's enough to make me never want to have kids. Is this common, is this common behavior?
ANN PLESHETTE MURPHY, AUTHOR: Well, it is. I mean, I certainly think that at five, to have a lot of tantrums is something that I would suggest, if a mother said to me my kid's five and still having really terrible tantrums, the first thing would be to talk to a pediatrician about it. There may be something physical or emotional this child is dealing with.
COOPER: Even food allergies, you said.
MURPHY: Yes. You know, there could be all sorts of sensitivities that, you know, a pediatrician should be able to help get at the root of.
COOPER: Essentially, though, the tantrum is just, I mean, it's rage, it's anger, and kids don't know how to deal with it, and so they just explode.
MURPHY: Right, right, exactly. And so part of what you want to do yourself is to remain very calm. You know, you have to model the kind of behavior you want them to exhibit. And so if you are meeting their rage with more anger or yelling, it's not going to work.
COOPER: You say hold or rock the child?
MURPHY: Well, I found when my kids had tantrums -- and you know, believe me, when they get to be teenagers, they still sometimes have tantrums...
COOPER: Oy.
MURPHY: But when they are -- when they are young enough to hold, I found that actually physically putting my arms around my child and holding them and maybe rocking them a little bit and talking to them softly, I mean, sometimes about nothing, just keep talking, getting them to breathe, this is really important. Help them get a deep breath and breathe is often a really good way to get them to calm down.
COOPER: But again, that's a hard thing in a school setting for a teacher to do. It's something really apparent that...
MURPHY: Yes. Well, it's also sometimes hard with the parent, because they can be kicking and screaming, and you don't want them to hurt you. So in fact, if they are in a safe, quiet place, you can use a time-out, which is essentially giving them an opportunity to just let the steam out and get it over with. Ignore it. Just leave them alone, say, all right, I know you are having a really hard time, you're really angry, I'm going to leave you alone now.
COOPER: When a lot of parents hear that, you know, they roll their eyes and say, look, time-out doesn't work.
MURPHY: Well, you know what does work? Your taking a time-out. Again, if your child is safe, you can say, I'm so angry right now or you are making me so angry and frustrated, I need to leave the room. And do that. Because sometimes breaking that tension and not paying attention to the tantrum, basically not giving it kind of center-stage attention, is a really good way of changing their behavior.
COOPER: Get them -- get the child to help explain how you can help them?
MURPHY: Exactly. I mean, a five-year-old is old enough to be told during a calm moment, not in the heat of the tantrum, you know, we've been having some problems about this, and I am going to give you some ways of helping. And if you feel really angry, here are some things you can do. And again, teaching them to take a deep breath, punch a pillow if they're at home and when they really feel angry. You know, go in the closet and scream and say things that you don't want them to say to your face, but they're allowed to say it in their closet. COOPER: How do you change, though -- I mean, if you're on a plane or in a mall and your kid is having a tantrum, does all this go out the window?
MURPHY: I mean, parents get so uptight in public places, because they think, rightly, that everybody is judging them, particularly people who don't have children.
COOPER: And you point to me when you said that.
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: I'm very forgiving and understanding.
MURPHY: Horrible. That's good, because most people aren't. You know, most people are there going, if that were my child. Well, that's not your child. So, I really would recommend to parents that they ignore the other passengers and really focus on helping the kid. Because it's no fun having a tantrum.
COOPER: Ann Pleshette Murphy, thanks very much.
MURPHY: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: It's no fun having a tantrum. Certainly, true.
Coming up next on 360, to hit or not to hit. To spank or not to spank. Some parents say we've gotten too politically correct. In a moment we're going to take a new look at spanking, the pros -- on the pros and cons. We'll hear from both sides.
Also tonight, "Sleepless in America." Are you one of the millions of people not getting good night sleep? The problem may not be in your head, maybe on your bed or pillow. We'll try to give you some pointers on how to pick the right ones. Part of our special series "Sleepless in America."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You don't have the right to hit me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: That was the five-year-old girl in Florida acting out with her assistant principal trying to control her. Those pictures have elicited a flood of responses from you in the last few days. And tonight, a lot of e-mail's were getting on the subject tonight. And it's really our reason this evening for delving into the difficult questions of discipline for a small child. Should parents spank their kids?
Do you believe in spare the rod and spoil the child? Well, most Americans seem to or at least in not sparing the spank. A 2002 ABC News poll found that 65 percent of those asked approve of parents spanking their own kids, but only 26 percent thought that teachers should be allowed to administer corporal punishment.
In some states it is legal for teachers to punish students physically. Though parents, usually, have to give their permission first. A few years ago we met some parents who did not give permission however their child was still punished physically by a teacher.
Ed Lavandera, has the story tonight of Jared Waters.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bye. See you tomorrow.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jared Waters was looking forward to second grade at Harper Elementary School -- a new teacher and a new classroom. His parents hoped this new environment would help erase the memory of what happened in first grade.
VICKY WATERS, MOTHER: To see the look in his eye and how embarrassed and how upset and how scared he was to go back there, they violated his trust and they violated our trust.
LAVANDERA: Jared was sitting in class taking a test.
(on camera): So, you're doing a spelling test and you say...
JARED WATERS, STUDENT: Boring.
LAVANDERA: The test was boring? Then the next thing you know.
JARED WATERS: Ending up (ph) getting a spanking.
LAVANDERA: Did you know that was going to happen?
JARED WATERS: No.
JOE WATERS, FATHER: You have those butterflies in the stomach, you know, when you drop him off.
LAVANDERA: The principal called Jared's father to explain what happened. Joe Waters was furious.
JOE WATERS: I couldn't -- I couldn't believe what they had done. It just -- it just totally -- it appalled me in every manner possible.
LAVANDERA: When Jared got him his father took a closer look. The family says the principal's swat left this bruise on Jared's leg.
JOE WATERS: If I would have done what they did, I would -- probably wouldn't even have had my kids anymore. They'd have taken them from people.
LAVANDERA: Harper School officials denied our request for an interview, but in a letter to the family the school's superintendent, said the principal followed the policy and procedures of the Harper School District, and that excessive force was not used. But Principal Jay Harper did say publicly at the time, that he supported corporal punishment.
JAY HARPER, HARPER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: I never felt like it's harmed a child. In fact, we're here to educate the kids and, you know, do what's best for that child.
LAVANDERA: Part of the reason Joe and Vicky Waters are so angry, is because they say they asked the school not to paddle their child. On two different occasions school officials had called saying that Jared needed to be disciplined. Both times they asked if they could use corporal punishment, and his parents told school officials that they were definitely not allowed to touch their child.
JOE WATERS: My rights as a parent were stomped on. Someone else had the right to say whether or not my son deserves a spanking and to go ahead and give it to him without my knowledge or consent. It just -- it did violate me.
LAVANDERA: Jared's discipline problems have now been connected to a severe case of Attention Deficit Disorder. His parents say the spanking has had a lingering effect. For a while Jared was wetting his bed and was scared of the principal.
VICKY WATERS: They're not the ones that are here staying up all night with him. And they're not the ones that is telling him that everything is going to be OK. And they're not the ones that have to look in his face every time we take him up there. And he begs us not to leave him. They just ended it. They didn't go any further. They didn't care. And I think that's what really bothers us, because it's something that bothers him today.
LAVANDERA (on camera): Jared, do you think you'll ever be able to forget that, what happened?
JARED WATERS: No. Not in a million years.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): The irony is Joe and Vicky Waters used to spank their children every once in a while. But now they say they've learned a valuable lesson -- physical punishment might be quicker and easier they say, but teaching discipline is a lesson that will last a lifetime.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Harper, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, while surveys have shown that most people do not support spanking in schools, many more do support it in the home. Now as you know we don't take sides on 360. We look at all the angles on a story. So, we wanted to talk with two very -- two people with two very different viewpoints on parents spanking their kids.
Joining me tonight is the author of "The Healthy Child," Dr. Walt Larimore who's Colorado Springs, Colorado.
And in Columbus, Ohio Dr. -- Robert Fathman, president of The Center of Effective Discipline. Appreciate both of you being with us.
Let me start of with you, Robert.
As we heard before about two thirds of Americans approve of spanking in the home, if it's their kids. Why do you not think it's OK?
ROBERT FATHMAN, PRES. CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE: Actually the numbers are coming down. It used to be about 90 some percent approved of it. It's coming down. The latest surveys are showing about 50 percent of parents approve of spanking. More than that spank, but then they regret it afterwards. So, the numbers are dropping and that's the direction we want to see it go. It's not OK, because it's an act of violence. I mean, we used -- it used to be legal to hit your wife. Why is it not OK to hit your wife, to spank your wife, to spank your employees. To take a paddle or stick or wooden spoon and hit the elderly in a nursing home? Well, it's an act of violence. It's brutality. We protect adults, why don't we protect children in the same way.
COOPER: Let me put that -- let me put that to Dr. Larimore.
Dr. Larimore, is it an act of brutality?
DR. WALT LARIMORE, AUTHOR, "THE HEALTHY CHILD": You know, the evidence would say no, Anderson, for parents who use what the research and what I call appropriate spanking, as opposed to corporal punishment or physical violence. There's not only no evidence it's harmful to children, there's some evidence, I think significant evidence, that it may be helpful for parents who are dealing with children in that two, three, to six-year-old range.
FATHMAN: Absolutely wrong on that. The research consistently shows that children internalize parental values when they are raised without physical discipline. They'll be compliant, they might obey when they are afraid of being hit, but they don't really internalize those things we as parents want them to make their own. The research shows it's harmful.
COOPER: Dr. Larimore, I see you shaking your head.
LARIMORE: Yes, I do, because we have to dissect the research, and here's what I mean by that, Anderson. The research that looks at corporal punishment, that defines that not only as appropriate spanking, the one to two swats on a child that's willfully defiant, with the open hand, and combines that with slapping a child in the face or punching a child in the face or twisting a child's ear -- physical brutality. Corporal punishment is dangerous to children, emotionally, relationally, physically, in that way.
But, the studies that look at appropriate spanking -- that's spanking used by most parents in America -- do not show that it's harmful in any way. And that's what the scientific research shows. Now, we may not like spanking for ethical or moral or religious reasons, and that's fine. But we shouldn't blame our conclusions on the science. It's just not there.
COOPER: Well, Robert, do you make a distinction between a parent slapping their child on the behind with their open hand, you know, versus some of the other things the doctor was talking about, more brutal things?
FATHMAN: There -- certainly, Anderson, there are degrees of corporal punishment, from mild to moderate to severe, but none of it is necessary. And, he's absolutely wrong about the scientific research. The scientific research condemns it. The American Academy of Pediatrics condemns the use of corporal punishment.
COOPER: Let me just read out what the American Psychological Association says. As you point out, they don't approve of corporal punishment. They say, quote, "The use of corporal punishment by adults having authority over children is likely to train children to use physical violence to control behavior rather than the rational persuasion, education and intelligent forms of both positive and negative reinforcement."
Doctor, let me ask you, what is the message spanking your child sends? They're saying it sends a message of -- it's not teaching the child to deal with things properly. What do you think it actually achieves?
LARIMORE: People who say that, they could say that based upon a belief system, but they cannot say it based upon the science. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics had a consensus conference on spanking and came out with a unanimous statement that appropriate spanking, that one-to-two swats for a willfully defiant child, is an appropriate, even helpful, use of discipline. Is it the only use of discipline? Absolutely not. Should it be the last? Yes.
COOPER: Do you believe it works, Doctor?
(CROSSTALK)
FATHMAN: No, I totally disagree with that. If you go to the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site and look for the policy on corporal punishment, you are not going to find the quote Dr. Larimore just gave you. There are individual pediatricians who might think it's a good idea, but -- and there's no consensus, perhaps, among them. But, you talk to any child abuse professional in the country, they are going to tell you child abuse starts with slapping, spanking, hitting, it intensifies -- how in the world are you going to train an angry parent?
COOPER: So, Robert, are you saying -- we'll try to just move away from sort of battle of the experts, because, you know, everyone can quote studies and stuff.
But, Robert, just personally, your belief: you really think it does escalate, that one swat or two swats, and it escalates into more? It can't... FATHMAN: No, no, I don't say that about every parent. Not every parent does that. But, I will say no child has to be hit even one time. There's better ways to handle whatever disciplinary action.
COOPER: What are you saying, like, a time out, things like that?
FATHMAN: Sure, time out, rewards for good behavior. You know, atta-boys when they're doing things right, sticker charts to reward them, giving a little five-minute job to do, saying you have enough energy to be defiant to me. I'm going to put that energy to work for me. You did something destructive; I'm going to turn that into constructive behavior. Do this little five-minute chore.
COOPER: Dr. Larimore, what about that? I mean, you know, I can hear a lot of parents just raising their eyebrows saying, time-outs don't work sometimes.
LARIMORE: No, they don't. Every parent out there who actually has children in their house realizes that we need as many tools in our parenting tool chest as we can have. Now, our older child Kate was not a child that spanking was ever necessary for -- our younger child Scott was one that was a very helpful tool for us to have. And, the research shows that parents who do choose to spank, those children not only become more compliant, they need less forms of other punishment and direction.
And I think a damaging piece of research is that that shows that the parents are most likely to abuse children aren't parents who spank appropriately, but parents who never spank. And, let's not forget, parents can abuse children not only physically but with time outs -- can be abusive -- verbal abuse can occur, and that's never appropriate. I mean I think there's one thing both of us as guests would agree upon, is that we love children, we want the best for them. And for parents, wisely and carefully choosing decisions about how to raise their children is something that's critically important not only for the families but for our society.
COOPER: We're going to have to leave it there. Gentlemen, it was really interesting discussion. I appreciate both of your thoughts on this, Robert Fathman and Dr. Walt Larimore. Thank you very much.
FATHMAN: Good to be with you.
LARIMORE: Thank you.
COOPER: It's nice to have the discussion where people aren't yelling each other, isn't it? Just once in a while on cable TV.
So, what do you think? Is spanking the answer to students out of control? We're getting a lot of emails from you already. We'd love to hear from you. Log on now, CNN.com/360. You can click on the "Instant Feedback" link. Send us your thoughts. We'll try to read some of your e-mails on the air before the hour is up.
And it is just about three-quarters past the hour right. Erica Hill is tracking the headlines for us. Erica, what you got? HILL: Hey, Anderson, good to see you.
I have to tell you real quick, though -- I did appreciate the no yelling. I hate the yelling debates.
COOPER: Well, yes. I agree with that. No more yelling.
HILL: No more yelling. We're banishing it.
But we do have plenty of headlines for you, so you're in luck.
Together in Texas, President Bush and embattled House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. The president invited DeLay to his Social Security town hall meeting in Galveston and gave him a ride back to Washington aboard Air Force One, a very public show of support for DeLay, who has been accused of political misconduct.
Las Vegas, Nevada: in court, the woman who says she found part of a finger in a bowl of Wendy's chili. No, we can't get enough of this story. Police say she made the whole thing up. Anna Ayala has now agreed to return to California to face charges. Her lawyer, though, calls the case ridiculous. Still not clear at this point? Where the finger came from.
Phoenix, Arizona: the governor signs a bill banning junk food in the state's middle and elementary schools. That law takes effect next year. It was backed by health groups as a way to promote good nutrition. Under the measure, soft drinks, candy and other sugary snacks can't be sold during school hours.
And in Pikesville, Maryland, order on the court, please -- no, I said order, not buffalo. A herd of buffalo broke free from a farm and wandered their way around some upscale neighborhoods this morning, and then they got corralled in this tennis court, and then sent back to the farm.
And, that's a look at the headlines. That's something to wake up to this morning, though, huh?
COOPER: Yes, buffaloes on the tennis court. Do you know who I spend my weekend with?
HILL: Uh, buffaloes on the tennis courts?
COOPER: No, this guy. I want -- don't know if you can see the picture.
HILL: Hold on, let me look. I hope you didn't pick up any bad habits. .
COOPER: The smoking chimp. Yeah, we hung out this weekend.
HILL: I hear he's not the only one, by the way. Supposedly there's another one in China who's also picked up the habit.
COOPER: Aw, man, see this stuff is spreading. One -- see, that's how it starts -- one chimp starts to smoke, and then they all start to smoke, and pretty soon, they will take over the world. All right. Erica, thanks very much.
Coming up next on 360, tossing and turning: "Sleepless in America." Why the problem may be under your head, not in your head. We'll explain in just a moment as we search for the perfect mattress and pillow. So many choices.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Here's a question for you -- what begins with "s," takes place in a bed, and it's something many Americans simply cannot get enough of? Come on, folks, get your mind out of the gutter, we're talking about sleep here. The National Sleep Foundation reports that 82 million Americans do not get the right amount of sleep, 82 million. That is an extraordinarily high number. And 25 percent of people polled say that has a direct impact on their daily lives.
All this week, we're looking at sleep problems in our series, "Sleepless in America." We're going to help you get the sleep you need, or at least try.
Tonight we go on the search for the perfect bed. But we warn you, choosing the right mattress can be a real pain in the back. Ba- da-bam. Try the veal, as you watch CNN's Adaora Udoji.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dan Moran and Jen Weishaar are on a quest.
DAN MORAN, MATTRESS SHOPPER: I don't sleep well. I don't know if it's because of my bed or what.
UDOJI: Dan doesn't sleep well, which means Jen doesn't sleep well. So they are looking to buy one of the 41 million mattresses sold a year. There's a lot of hopes for a good night's sleep. And a lot of choices at places like 1-800-Mattress, from foam mattresses inspired by NASA technology, to this.
JOHN O'CONNELL, 1-800-MATTRESS: All of it's hand made. And it's all made with the finest natural materials.
UDOJI: A $10,000 bed carrying the seal of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. The way the commercials tell it, a good mattress is all you need for a blissful night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You deserve a good night's sleep.
UDOJI: Cornell University sleep expert James Maas says it helps.
PROFESSOR JAMES MAAS, CORNELL UNIV.: The most important thing is to have a good mattress and a good pillow. And to have the bedroom quiet, dark and cool. Basically, in that order.
UDOJI: When shopping for the right mattress, all the experts agree on one crucial step: Don't just sit on the bed, you have to nap.
Good Housekeeping Institute's Kathleen Huddy.
KATHLEEN HUDDY, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING INSTITUTE: Don't take the kids. Don't only have 10 minutes. You've got to go and spend some time. Lay down on the mattress for 15 minutes. Because in that time, you can feel if there's any hardness or aches or pains that might occur.
UDOJI: Another tip, the days of saggy mattresses are over.
STEPHEN PINO, DUXIANA: Every Dux bed is made with thousands of springs.
UDOJI: Today the average bed is made with more coils. If you want greater support, look for more coils.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look how the glass doesn't tip over as Kelly moves about. Amazing.
UDOJI: Some advertise they absorb motion.
MAAS: We can lose up to 20 percent of deep sleep, very important component of sleep, if we're sleeping on a mattress that does not have low motion transfer.
UDOJI: That means when your partner get gets in or out of bed, you shouldn't feel a thing.
Experts also agree never buy a mattress over the telephone, unless you have tested it first.
HUDDY: Be prepared to spend a good penny.
UDOJI: She says on average, most people spend $1,000 for a good queen set. Dan and Jen are on the hunt for one that will help Dan's back.
MORAN: I never knew any better. I thought soft was better, and then, you know, then there was like, oh. your back hurts because you need a stiffer bed.
UDOJI: Be careful, say some orthopedic surgeons. Mattresses, they say, do not perform miracles.
DR. JORDAN METZL, ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON: There really is no study which shows that a particular mattress can fix a particular kind of back pain. In general, I think it's good to experiment with different kinds of mattresses.
UDOJI: Then there's the pillows. Experts say pillows do matter. They say keep in mind, if you sleep on your side, get a firm pillow to keep your neck above your shoulders.
On your back, a medium density pillow so your head won't tilt back too far. On your stomach, doctors say change your position. It causes too much stress on your neck. If not, use a soft or flat pillow.
JEN WEISHAAR, MATTRESS SHOPPER: I'm excited.
UDOJI: Dan and Jen did find what they hope will be their perfect mattress.
WEISHAAR: Having a comfortable bed and something to sleep on that's really nice is worth it.
UDOJI: The bottom line, only you can determine what bed makes you feel good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanks very much, guys.
UDOJI: But like Dan and Jen, you have got to try a few out to get there.
Adaora Udoji, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Yeah, but what if you start on your side and then move onto your stomach? It's so complicated.
Our "Sleepless in America" series continues tomorrow with a look at parasomnias. That's what you're looking at right now, night terrors, to sleepwalking. We examine the bizarre behavior some people have when they sleep. Often dangerous sleep behaviors. We'll also meet a teenage girl whose violent sleepwalking spells led to a very serious injury. Some people actually eat while they sleep. We have some video of some people munching on potato chips. All that's tomorrow.
Let's find out right now what's coming up at the top of the hour on "PAULA ZAHN NOW." Hey, Paula.
PAULA ZAHN, HOST, "PAULA ZAHN NOW": Hi, Anderson. Thanks so much.
At the top of our show, we continue our focus on protecting your children from sexual predators. Tonight, we profile one of the America's most recognizable crime fighters, a man whose crusade started when his own son was tragically kidnapped and killed. John Walsh of "America's Most Wanted." Please join us at the top of the hour -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, about four minutes from now. Thanks, Paula.
Coming up next, though, on 360, what you think about wild children and the proper punishment? We're checking our e-mails and sharing your thoughts. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: We've been getting a lot of e-mails from you over the last hour and really over the last several days about this video we've been showing, the five-year-old girl who was really out of control, having a temper tantrum, and then later was handcuffed by police.
Janelle (ph) from Kansas writes: "The general public has no clue what us educators put up with, especially now that we cannot discipline the child properly. The public is so worried about the child's rights. What about the teachers' rights?
Dan from Canada has a different point of view. Dan says: "The parents should be responsible for disciplining the child. And because they failed to do so, it was up to the teachers and police to step in. If the mother is so upset with the disciplinary action taken by the school and police, then she should take the responsibility on herself instead of trying to shift the blame."
And as we pointed out, it does look like she is going to be suing at least the police, maybe even the school system.
Tom from Texas adds -- "What a crock! When I acted up in class, my teacher whooped my butt, the vice principal whooped by butt. When my father arrived to school, he whooped my butt, there and then again at home. Guess who didn't act up again in class?"
Send us your thoughts, anytime, CNN.com/360. We appreciate your e-mails.
I'm Anderson Cooper. Thanks for watching 360. CNN's prime-time coverage continues now with Paula Zahn. Hey, Paula.
ZAHN: Hi, Anderson. Thanks so much.
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