First let me say that I am asking this question and I am not trying to judge anybody. Also let me say that I am young and I am not married and I do not have children, and I am just a person who very much enjoys studying and reading about marriage and talking about these issues with other people. My question is: Do you think that all of the bad marriages in our country are causing our kids to have some of the behaviors that are illustrated in today's public schools?

Now I know that all children are going to be somewhat rowdy that is natural, but the behaviors I am talking about are a little more obvious. For example, I coached football for five years and it seemed like by the last two years there was a sense of entitlement among most of these students. Also there is behavior in a lot of schools where students are blatantly direspectful and lazy. Again, I know there will be exceptions to every rule but I am interested in how the breakdown of marriages and families has played into this. Here is my opinion:

1. Putting my child ahead of my marriage. I think this has caused the sense of entitlement among children, because they are used to their parents putting everything down for them. I believe that if we as a country put our marriages first then we would also be teaching our children responsibility. For example, a lot of married couples complain that they dont have time to spend with each other, but if you would assign chores to children and made sure they were complete with effective disciplining then you could spend time with your spouse during those chores.

2.The main point. I feel that many children have witnessed their parents showing no respect to each other, and as a result they do not respect themselves or others.

p.s. The government cannot solve this. People in my generation need to step up and resolve to value family before power, prestige, and materialism.
Let me know what you think.

As one who works in the public school system. I can tell you it is totally screwed up because of what is happening at home.

I honestly don't know which would be the chicken versus the egg. But there are huge problems. There is a sense of entitlement that is beyond normal and people absolutely don't want to take responsibility for their actions.

I witness it when their child gets in trouble and the parents bail them out or gripe to the school that this, that or the other is stupid.

I believe that because so many people are strapped for money because they are out buying everything under the sun, it creates stresses in homes, which creates bad situations, which builds and feeds upon itself.

This is a HUGE problem. I have no clue as what solutions are out there, except one family at a time. I choose to stand for my M and show my kids what FAITH, trust in G-d and commitment is all about. Not to mention that when the worst can happen, G-d will turn it into good if you let him.

As one who works in the public school system. I can tell you it is totally screwed up because of what is happening at home.

I agree. I work within the public school system (while finishing up my 3rd degree at University) and the children that have the majority of the problems are the ones that are not being parented at home.

So many of our students are left to their own devices while the parents are embroiled in their own dramas. Dads and Moms are catting around, and the children are raising themselves. It's a mess.

I have seen some of the most studious kids go in the absolute opposite direction when the parents are busy going through their own personal little dramas. The children get ignored to the point that they will act out at school.

I have been point on with so many of them....I can generally notice a change within days of something hitting the fan in their homes.

I ALWAYS notify our counselor/social worker and she will make contact with that child to see what is happening.

When new children enroll, I can generally tell by looking at the emergency contact card...and when I see that they have been in five different schools this one school year...all within a 20 mile radius.

Drama, drama, drama, and they don't seem to give a good rat's _____ about the kids. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

It is INFURIATING. I wanna grab them and just shake them...not the student, the PARENT....who are so immature it isn't funny.

You want to ride the drama train...fine...just let the kids off at the next stop. They don't need it!

Vent over....

committed

My husband is a high school teacher and yes, I can tell you that it has contributed.

He was attacked by a student last year for taking his cell phone away from him. When the principal called the parent to tell her what the kid had done the mom said "Where's my phone at?".

She didn't care that her kid had just attacked a teacher!!!
Only about the cell phone!

He also had a kid that was acting out in class. Come to find out that the mom had a nervous breakdown and was having an affair with some guy for like five years. They would get into fights and do things like stab each other. The father knew about the affairs and just tolerated it. One day she dropped the kid off at Walmart and said "Call your dad to come get you" and she left town with the OM!

That happens in elementary school as well.

It's amazing.

I wonder what can we do, I know. Heal our own families, work for G-d and have FAITH in his work that we are his servants to carry the message and maybe one family at a time it will begin to make a difference.

If these are indeed the causes then I find it ironic that our society looks to these government programs as solutions. In a way it is almost as if teachers are left to baby sit and deal with the problems of immature parents.

I am SO taking the 5th on THIS ONE STATEMENT....