Chesapeake parents take stand over teen's grades

After seeing what Mr. General (my former boss, by the way) did to his son, my son, who had a report card like Tre's, is now 1 point away in 1 class from having an honor roll report card. He didn't want to be out there with a sandwich board!

"comments are full of "shame.. .." subtext",

Shame on me! LOL!

If someone feels shame from my comments, then that comes from within. I'm just restating what many years of research has already said. I didn't expect that people who disagree with me would feel any shame because they believe what they want to believe. But now that you mention it, maybe people should be ashamed of themselves if they don't educate themselves a little instead of mocking the importance of self esteem in child development because it's easy and the popular thing to do. I would think that they'd care enough about their own children to put more weight on actual research rather than the incorrect opinions of the average redneck.

Your comments are full of "shame, shame, shame" subtext, too, against those who disagree with you.
I really wish everyone around didn't use shame on other people. It rarely changes behavior. However, these folks in the article are the parents and perhaps they know their son better than we do???

"I have a teenager of my own and if his next report card looks like this one did, then on April 25th, you'll see him on the corner of Princess Anne and Dam Neck Roads, sandwich board in hand."

So what you're really saying is, "even parenthood can't break the pattern of laziness that was first apparent when I was in school."

Shame is only effective in breaking them down. Low-class solutions like this are indicative of the parent's laziness and ultimate failure than the child's. They are what YOU made them.

Why not actually do some homework yourself and seek some more constructive ways to handle your kids that will actually work?

When I was his age (20 years ago), I did the same thing. IF I did the homework, I would often not turn it in. My grades suffered for it. When asked why I did it, I replied with the answer that has confounded parents for years, including myself, "I don't know." I saw a few different doctors and was never diagnosed, thankfully, with having ADD or ADHD. I should have been diagnosed with being a hard-headed teenager who needed a swift boot to the rear. I have a teenager of my own and if his next report card looks like this one did, then on April 25th, you'll see him on the corner of Princess Anne and Dam Neck Roads, sandwich board in hand.

Why would an otherwise normal student not turn in homework that was already done? It doesn't make sense. I would hope these parents ruled out learning disabilities or AD/HD with a professional before subjecting the kid to humiliation or shame-based punishment which, incidentally, is proven not to work. But, don't take my word for it, feel free to look it up.

Those of you who agree with this "punishment" without question have, most ironically, ignored medical research done by doctors who probably made good grades. The immediate knee-jerk reaction based entirely on a cultural meme with no basis in fact and perpetuated by ignorance is indicative of the very "laziness" that you think this kid should be punished for.

You have passed harsh judgment before you even did your homework. Maybe the lot of you need to be standing on the street with your own signs?

I didn't say they shouldn't have the authority to do *anything* in response to his grades. I am talking about the specific thing that they are doing. Do they really think that when someone doesn't succeed, the specifics of their failure should be posted publicly? Then they shouldn't be hypocrites. If they realize that it wouldn't be helpful or healthy for the specifics of their own failures to be posted publicly, they should realize that the same applies to this young man.

As an aside, I hope they're prepared to *never* see their grandchildren. I wouldn't blame him a bit if he never wants to have anything to do with his parents ever again.

You just showed us the classic argument for bucking authority, in all its splendor. It goes, "You can't be an authority in my life because you are also a fallible human being . . ." Problem is, we need authority in our lives, esp when we are young and . . . everyone else *is* a fallible human being. So . . . turns out sometimes we just need to obey our parents or do what our boss asks just because it is the right thing to do, not because we think they are perfect people. The world goes around pretty well that way!

Why would a "normal" student not turn in homework that was already done? It doesn't make sense. I would hope these parents with "academic" degrees ruled out learning disabilities or AD/HD with a professional before subjecting the kid medieval-style public humiliation.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see a few brats I know subjected to the same thing but the fact is that this kind of punishment doesn't work and can make things worse, especially if the kid has an undiagnosed condition. "Academic" people wouldn't just dismiss years of real scientific research so the kid must be a d-bag and really deserve it.

The problem is that clergy only know how to raise daughters properly. Any guy who's dated one for an hour knows exactly what I mean... Oh, my.. GOD!

If this doesn't work I suggest the stocks and handing out rotten tomatoes to people who pass. Let the community participate!

Maybe the parents should wear signs declaring the amount of their debt or their waist sizes or some other failure.

I think this punishment is a wonderful idea. From what it sounds like, the kid has just been lazy in school and is not putting forth the effort to get better grades. I hate how some of our young people think it's cute to fail their classes, or that getting bad grades will make them more popular. Let's see how popular you feel outside the walls and limited views of high school. More students need to realize that slacking isn't nearly as cool in the real world.

Oh come on...We all grew up with the switch and an occcasional slap across the face..We turned out fine...How about letting the parents be parents for a change..At least they are taking an interest in their sons live...How many of you out their have latch-key kids!! I commend the parents for taking a stand - if this is child abuse, pretty soon we will all be in jail for making our children eat their peas...As for the Christian thing...give it up ...God helps those who help themselves..Stop being so hypocritical...

Oh what a shame this poor child had to stand out in public and be humiliated by holding a sign that showed the exact grades that HE himself made. However when he flunks out of school and winds up on the street doing God only knows what. It would be alright for his parents to be humiliated when they are asked why didn't you raise him better? Sometimes a harsh wake up call is what is needed.

It wasn't that long ago that I was in JR High and routinely I had to stand in the hallway looking at a dot on the wall for an hour because of my attitude. That was the 80's. Fast forward to now, I'm back in Collage for my BS and already have my Associates Degree, I have a wife, two kids, and make a great living in computers and information administration. It made me responsable for myself and made me learn that no matter what, everyone is looking. They see me when I do great, they see me when I do wrong. And in today's world if I fail at my job my boss is not going to come over and give me a hug and tell me everything is going to be okay.

This talk of "Self Esteem" is too funny. Yeah, I'm sure that everyone who wore a Dunce Cap turned out to be mass murders and armed robbers. Show your stats? Can't? Wonder why...

First I will just say I'm not a parent, so I can't claim I know "correct punishment" for bad grades. Having graduated last May (08'), I understand the drive and motivation one needs to succeed. Of course, I never received punishment for bad grades; realizing I needed to work harder and study more was a better incentive for what the future may hold for me.

In my case, putting me out on a corner with my grades posted on me, would have done little to no good. For some "kids" this may work, but if they are to become an adult, they need to learn to take control of their "situation" and push through.

Child abuse?, far from it and I bet that teen would even agree with that. There used to be a word called parenting and teaching lessons... seems certain individuals misinterpret it and replace it with abuse.

RULE 1--Life is not fair - get used to it. RULE 2--The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself. RULE 3--You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice president with car phone, until you earn both. RULE 4--If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure. RULE 5--Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping they called it Opportunity. RULE 6--If you mess up,it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them. RULE 7--Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills,cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room. RULE 8--Your school may have done away with winners and losers,but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer.

I'm a born again Christian, too, and I don't believe in calling myself a better Christian than anyone else on here, including a pastor who decided to use a unique form of discipline with his son. By your standards, only you are a true Christian??? And what would you do with all of the kids you would want taken away from their parents because their Christianity, forms of discipline, etc. are supposedly inferior to yours? Would you adopt them all?

I find it interesting that the last comment made stated that this poor high school freshman was suffering "child abuse" at the guilty hands of his parents.
I wonder how this man would react if it were his child coming home to hang up his hair nets and name tag after again being fired for not listening at work, not meeting deadlines, not showing up on time, not getting paid for his entire shift because he only worked half of it, yet demanded to be paid for the full shift? How about the poor father's angst at having to see his son work two $9.00 per hour jobs in order to feed his family, yet never have time to see his wife and children, because he is working 16-hour days and has to get at least six hours of sleep to still function at his burger-flipping job?

Work hard now...play hard later, kid.

And, one more question for the dad who fears "child abuse." What are you going to do when your son comes home and asks to move his unwed girlfriend into your basement, because he got her pregnant? Are you going to "abuse" your child and send him and his new wife and coming grandbaby to the curb like Goodwill donations?

I worked in Corporate America for ten years. I watched these

I find it interesting that the last comment made stated that this poor high school freshman was suffering "child abuse" at the guilty hands of his parents.
I wonder how this man would react if it were his child coming home to hang up his hair nets and name tag after again being fired for not listening at work, not meeting deadlines, not showing up on time, not getting paid for his entire shift because he only worked half of it, yet demanded to be paid for the full shift? How about the poor father's angst at having to see his son work two %9.00 per hour jobs in order to feed his family, yet never have time to see his wife and children, because he is working 16-hour days and has to get at least six hours of sleep to still function at his burger-flipping job?

Work hard now...play hard later, kid.

And, one more question for the dad who fears "child abuse." What are you going to do when your son comes home and asks to move his unwed girlfriend into your basement, because he got her pregnant? Are you going to "abouse" your child and send him and his new wife and coming grandbaby to the curb like Goodwill donations?

I worked in Corporate America for ten years. I watched thes

I disagree with the comment below me. In no way is this child abuse, yes the child might be embarresed, but he was the one who earned those grades, he is soley responsible. ITs good to see parents getting involved and from previous expierence in high school getting an E is not easy, its more of a lazy don't turn in your work rather than an intelligence issue. Taking this kid out of his home would make a mountain out of a mole hill. It would turn one bad report card into a life changing issue. Apparently he has enough on his plate, don't put the emontional stress of being seperated from your parents on him also.