Does the absence of the father in the home combined with the laws against spanking your children result in higher crime rates? With single mothers usually raising the kids and working probably at least 1or maybe 2 jobs to support the family, with her out of the home and the kids under minimal supervision, what repercussions do you see? Does a single mother need to enforce discipline in a way a couple might not have to do or else run the risk of raising a deviant child? Do you think many single mothers tend to be too easy on their chidlren, not supplying them with the discipline they need?
http://www.sptimes.com/News/121700/TampaBay/Under_12__Under_Arres.shtml
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/iptc.htm
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/iptc.htm
Thank you for your help!
Barb
Barb
19 comments:
I don't think that the absence of a father, or the laws, alone have too much of an affect on future crime rates. I think that single moms who do have to work full-time or multiple jobs, should definitely make sure that their children are properly supervised and are not latch key kids. I do think that kids who are left alone, unsupervised for great lengths of time every day, could potentially get into more trouble than a kid who had supervision, but I think each kid is an individual and may or may not be good or bad. I don't think a single mom has to do anything different in the way of discipline. I think she has to be consistent, and keep her eyes and ears open twice as much because there are not two adults to supervise the kids, but does she have to provide stricter punishment to enforce compliance? No.
Stacie Carlson
From Debra Porter:
I agree with Stacie, the absense of a father has nothing to do with future crime rates. My mom raised me and my sister completely by herself and I've never gotten into any kind of trouble with the police. She kept the same job the whole time we were growing up, and money was tight, but we got through it. I don't think it makes a difference if there is one parent or two, and if that one parent is a mother or a father, you don't need two parents to raise a child. Of course, you always hear about single mothers and everyone is supposed to feel sorry for them, but I don't see why. Other than that it's harder to raise kids by yourself, but I think my mother has successfully done this and anybody else that really puts their heart and mind into raising their child(ren) alone, can do it too. I think that if the single parent really puts their heart and mind into raising their kids alone, they can be just as good, if not better, than having two parents. Plus, there's not the possibility of the two parents fighting, divorcing, or having violence between themselves, which could explain violence in children.
I don't see anything wrong with single parenting. I don't believe that it affects future crime rates. I think that there are other factors that affect crime rates, that have to do with single parenting, but there are deviant children that come from having both parents. I think if a single parent needs to go to work, they should consider day care. There are places that provide day care for free. I think its more about how you raise your children, single or not, and the upbringing, not really just single parenting alone.
Caitlin Parker
In my criminal justice class I have been taught that by the fourth grade the government
"powers that be" decide the amount of police, court, and jails that will be necessary when these students become adults. Isn't that a scary thought?
I really believe that parents are dropping the ball whan it comes to parenting. I feel it is because they don't have a clue where to turn for resources. And that the resources that are available have such negative connotations, they are adverse to use them.
I don't think it is an issue of single-verses married/together. I think it is a skill; that if not learned, that is where the problem lies.
Thanks Pam Whisman
NO. My cousin ddint have her father in her i life, and she goes to UIC and isnt violent at all. I think sometimes the kids who do the crime and blame it on not haveing a mother or father, those are just excuses. That kid knows right from wrong; but if the single paret doesnt teach the child right from wrong, then you can say it has some what an affect. But as long as that single parent sticks to his or her child; snd tech them some discpline then everthing should be ok
No I dont think so I think its on how the parent raise the child. If the parent lets the child do whatever they want then most likely that child is going to be commiting crimes. yes i do think some parents need to enforce some rules because they let there kids get away with so much. yes single mothers are to leint on there kids they basically let them get away with murder.
Ediwge Philizaire
I believe that the absence of the father in the home is definately a result in higher crime rates. The mother is supposed to be the nurturer for her child. With her out working, trying to make a living, and playing the role of both parents, it is difficult to give her child/ren the nurturing care because she is tired, stressed, worried, deppressed, or busy.
A child needs to be nurtured. No matter how old one gets, everyone wants to feel loved. When that needed love is absent, one tends to act out or seek to find it for themselves.
Proper discipline takes time and effort. In most cases, single moms have so much on their plate, it becomes overwhelming to discipline her children. instead she lashes out, causing the child to rebel and resent her.
Not only is the absence of the father hard on the mother, it is hard on the chilld as well. The mixed feelings and emotions towards the absent father and the busy mother, can also cause the child to act out.
I don't believe the laws on spanking have anything to do with kids ating out because there are many ways of disciplining a child. Spanking is the easy way out. Besides, most parents who decide to spank their children disregard the laws and so it anyway.
Richauna Williams
I agree with some of the others in the post that I dont see single parenting directly affecting higher crime rates. Polls do show that crime rates are higher in single parents families than two parent families. Having said that, if the current two parent family is abusive to one another then, that can also increase problems at home as well. The problem is just what you have mentioned, single mothers having to work 2 jobs to support the family with no one home to guide the child. That is where things start to break down. Children need discipline, everybody has rules and if no one is there to help guide the young mind in the directions of right and wrong, wrong can happen more often than not. In single parent families, the single parent does seem to be more leniant out of maybe the feeling that the child is being " shortchanged in life" by only having one parent. It doesnt always happen that way, however when I was a single dad and my kids were younger I feel I probably gave in more out of guilt or the "shortchanging" I mentioned before. I do however stand behind the theory that one good, caring single parent I better than one or two abusive parents anyday.
Dave Crain
I think some people can raise a child alone just fine, but i dont think its the best situation for a child to grow up in. they need to see a good example of what a relationship should be like, and how parents should act. i think they'd be much more likely to be a single parent themself if they grew up with only one parent. I dont think single parenting by itself is leading to crime though.
the last comment was Blake Diehl.
I dont think it has anything to do with your father being gone and spanking your children. I think kids will be kids and try anything to see what they can get away with and what they cant get away with. I think it makes a single mother have a lot of stress by raising a kid herself and not be able to have that "father figure" present for your kids life. I think a single mom has a lot to worry about, she has to work a lot to be able to support for her children because the man isnt around to be able to do it. I think they will probably get into some trouble while the mom is at work, but most families the kids are home while both parents are at work, i think you are taking a chance. I think the mother will have to be more strict and the mean one all the time, becasue you dont have anyone to help with the discipline and it is just you. I bet it would be hard becasue most kids will listen to their dads, usually the dad is the one who is stern and does the discipline. I think some single moms take it very easy on their kids and let them do a lot more, stay out later and hang out with whoever they want whenever they want, and i think that is because they are so stressed out with everything else going on they dont really have that much time to worry about disicpline.
Stephanie Einck
The absence of a father can lead to future crime because the single parent usually has much more stress but it could also keep the child from crime by removing a bad example in the home if the father is abusive or has criminal tendencies. I feel that it is too much generalization to just say that single parenting leads to higher crime rates. There are too many variables such as environment, health, support, ect. There are as many variables at there are people. In most cases where there is a loving, suppporting environment, children will tend to thrive and become well adjusted adults but that is not always the case due to other factors such as mental disorders, peers, etc. In other cases, children from abusive, neglectful environments have also managed to become well adjusted, productive adults.
From Big Beazy:
I believe that being a single parent while raising a child can have an affect on crime rates. If we take a look at most teenagers who are in gangs, the majority of them have been raised by a single parent or do not have a father figure in the household. With being a single parent one is not able to supervise their child as well as a parent and his/her spouse could. Take, for instance, a child under the age of 5 who is in a single parent household, there is something on the table and the child wants it so he/she grabs it not thinking twice about it, all the while it belongs to someone else; if the parent is not there to tell that child "NO!" "That isn't yours, put it down!" the child will not know the difference between what is his/hers. In turn possibly leading to being a theif in the future. It's quite a miniscule and minute event, but the difference in being there to say "NO!" and not being there to say anything at all can have an enormous affect on the child in the future.
We all know the saying, two heads are better than one and in this case that saying holds true. However, the parent raising the child must be strongly aware of who their child is befriending as well. The friends a child has can strongly influence them into doing many different actions, including the wrong ones, if the parent is not there to inform the child of what he/she is doing is wrong then that child could grow up to be some sort of a criminal. It all boils down to if the parent is in fact a good parent. A good parent will always be there for their child and have no excuses. Excuses are like assholes, everybody's got one........just some are bigger than others.
In regards to Debra, my parents divorced when I was 3 years old, they fought verbally and I am not a violent person.
In regards to Stacie, a child isn't just born good or bad, it is the parents responsibility to make certain that their child is behaving in a way that is suitable in today's society.
All in all, being a single parent or not having a father figure in the household can have an affect on crime rates.
I do not think that an absence of the father and spanking your child raises the crime rates. I think they they will be a problem child for the parents, but i dont think they'll go out and kill someone or steal something, now actually maybe still because if they are a little on the poor side then they'll want what is best for them. I think a single mother should try to enforce discipline but it won't be as affective if there isn't a man figure saying do it or else. I do think that single mothers are too easy on their child because they want the child to like them. They want to have that close relationship with the child as they would with their father. I think that many families the child is closer to the father because they are their "security" they feel more safe than not being around them. I think being a single mom is hard, but you get through it...i know my sister has.
Sonja Paul
honestly i dont beleive that the laws or an absents of a father should stop the mother from raising her children right. that law has been in place for years and my mother will still pop me if i get out of line. yes i believe that the law does (even though it shouldnt) put a damper on how people disipline their children and yes i do believe a lack of disipline is the main cause of the crime rates going up. i believe this becuase if little jon knows he is not supose to do something but he wants to do it and he also knows that the punishment will be time-out he is going to think that it is worth the punishment and do it anyway. now if it was the same senario but little jon know that the punishment will be a foot in the a** he might just think twice. yes i do believe that with a father in the childs life it will be alot easier to raise him but i also believe that as a mother you should think before you have the child about the possibility of it not having a father becuase anything can happen (car accident, he could walk out)that could force you to have to take care of a child without a father and knowing that should make you question yourself if you are willing and able to raise a child by yourself and if you come to the conclusion that you are not strong enough to stand alone then its not the right time in your life to have a child and that goes for fathers too. both parents should be willin and able to stand on their own 2 feet when it comes to taking care of themself and a child at the same time.
last comment by MARVIN HOLMAN
I dont think that being a single parent will necessarily cause your child to be deviant...I think that if you instill good morals and values into your child when you're raising them, they will turn out fine. I have friends who are single mothers and between work and school, they still have time to teach their children right from wrong. whether you work two jobs or four, what matters is how you discipline them when you are home.
Ashlee Meredith
I think the absence of a father figure has anything to do with a youth's inability to stay out of trouble of the law. I think if one parent is strict enough and is able to let the kid know right from wrong, than there shouldn't be as many problems. Also, the kids have to know whether or not they are doing something wrong. They should be held accountable more than anybody else. I don't think a single mom has to do anything different, except be extra aware of what your kids are doing in and outside of the homes. Finally, i feel that the area the kids grow up and what kind of school they go to has a big part of how the kids are brought up these days.
Luke Brown
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