Module 8-2

Although I personally disagree with several of the itemized points in this article, I was able to wade through presentation to see the main point of the writing: the traditional American family is in peril. This writing directly points to a belief that a child should be raised in a home with a male and a female.  While I do agree that this is the ideal situation, there are several modern communities such as the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgendered community who would oppose.  Further more, the idea that, "Boys  (in the absence of a father) will grow up with no consistent male figure on which to model their behavior. They will not learn basic things such as attitude toward work and women, and personal qualities such as honesty and favorable attitudes toward self and others.They are handicapped when it comes to dealing with life," is preposterous. (Hoffer, p.1)  Again, as a married mother of a son, I personally agree that the ideal situation for raising children would be to have both the wife and husband positively active in the child's life, however, my husband is an amazing,confident, hard working, honest, loving father who grew up without a father. According to the previous definition, men like him and President Obama for that matter wouldn't exist. 

I will say that while the best option would be a loving father to be a young boy's icon, there are other options for a "stable male role model".  This is where I feel the school could come into play more. There are several existing programs whose mission is centered around the same cause.  Instead of trying to invent another form of artillery, we could utilize one already created. One option for schools would be Big Brothers Big Sisters.  The organization is the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network.  They make "meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6 through 18, in communities across the country. (They) develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people". (Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, 2014)  By local schools reaching out to their area BBBS, they would be supporting their students in ways that would not be so easily done otherwise. Another outstanding program is the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.  The BGCA's mission is, "to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens." (Boys and Girls Clubs of America, 2014).  They offer A safe place for children to come, ongoing relationships with caring adults, and life-enhancing programs and character development experiences.  Both of these organizations are constantly looking for ways to reach children.  What better way to kick off this initiative than to open the doors of the school for volunteerism and in-school mentoring projects?  I do like the idea of family music nights at school as well.  Something as simple as playing a concert for parents or having parents sit in on an evening rehearsal.  Maybe afterwards light horderves could be served.

As far as the government and legislation is concerned, I am not sure what the best solution is (which is why I wouldn't run for office), but I do feel that there could be some sort of accountability measures placed with in local areas.  For example, in Georgia students must attend some type of school.  If they have excessive absences the parent s could actually be in legal trouble.  I remember being a student when this law was first introduced.  There were some who thought that they shouldn't be responsible for their teenager who refused to go in the school when they got off the bus.  On the contrary, I remember going to school with a boy whose mother rode with him on the bus and personally escorted him to class for this very reason!  Laws like this, and one perhaps requiring students to have a school approved community mentor for a period of at least one full year before graduating would be great starts to putting an end to this epidemic. If we truly believe that attitudes are not taught, but rather they are products of our nurturing (or lack thereof), then legislation and programs like the ones mentioned would be very helpful in this cause.