Failing high school? This could be your fate
Tasha Henderson, of Edmond, Okla., was distressed by her 14 year old daughter’s poor grades in school, her being late for class and mouthing off the teachers, and came up with a rather unique punishment.
She made Coretha stand at a busy Oklahoma City intersection Nov. 4 with a cardboard sign that read: “I don’t do my homework and I act up in school, so my parents are preparing me for my future. Will work for food.”
“This may not work. I’m not a professional,” said Henderson, a 34-year-old mother of three. “But I felt I owed it to my child to at least try.”
In fact, Henderson has seen a turnaround in her daughter’s behavior in the past week and a half. But the punishment prompted letters and calls to talk radio from people either praising the woman or blasting her for publicly humiliating her daughter. . . .
Tasha Henderson said her daughter’s attendance has been perfect and her behavior has been better since the incident.
Coretha, a soft-spoken girl, acknowledged the punishment was humiliating but said it got her attention. “I won’t talk back,” she said quietly, hanging her head. — Associated Press
It’s definitely unusual, and it seems to have worked. What’s the problem? Are we too afraid to punish our children for bad behavior anymore?
How dare you suggest that punishing our children?!? That could hurt their self esteem. Every child has to be the best at everything, even if they aren’t, so that they will feel good about themselves. Heaven knows what would happen if kids were instilled with a sense of personal responsibility or taught that their actions have consequences!
Comment by Blaine Moore — November 18, 2005 @ 1:33 pm
@Blaine Moore: Here here!
As long as her daughter was being watched (to prevent kidnappings [oh and on that note, OH BOY WOULD THAT SET HER STRAIGHT!], of course) then I don’t see the problem.
It was a very very very good point to be made, and that is one smart mom right there.
Some of the ego bitchy kids today need to learn a thing or two.
Hell, even some of the ego bitchy “kids” of the previous generation could use a good deflation.
Great article.
Absolutely great.
Comment by Jason — November 18, 2005 @ 2:19 pm
I personally appold thouse people, and I’m probley the most likely to be that kind of punishment.
Comment by Holly Jonker — December 10, 2005 @ 3:46 pm
if it taught the kid a lesson, i don’t see the harm in it. the only thing i don’t know if i like is that, at the end, she seemed like she wasn’t even happy about it. it was like she was more afraid of the punishment than her future. you can punish a kid, sure; but it’s pointless if they aren’t seeing exactly what you are trying to teach.
just sayin…
Comment by Jay Jones — December 3, 2009 @ 5:28 pm