Mom Gives Public Punishment To Son, 12, Accused Of Bullying

I don't understand a mother doing this, but I really don't understand all of these people condoning it! Yes, the child needed to be punished, if the mom thought the school punishment was too lenient then punish him at home, but don't humiliate him!
Yes, parents should hold their kids accountable, but this is tantamount to child abuse, emotional abuse is child abuse.

More power to her - if spanking was an option for discipline I guarantee there would be less children getting into trouble. Between the spanking at school and at home I feared doing anything wrong. Yes, some take it too far but children know they have the upper hand since "child abuse" can be screamed by the children and there is nothing a parent can do.

Ehm underdog305, I sincerely hope that was a joke.

RIGHT ON!!!!!!! MY KIDS, BOTH GROWN LEADING PRODUCTIVE LIVES, WOULD NEVER HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR EITHER!!!!

I agree. I think the Mom is doing her best. Too many parents out there make excuses for their kids and never let them be punished for their crimes. Public humiliation is severe, but better than getting your mug shot on CNN, and doing time in prison later.

I RAISED 7 CHILDREN, I AGREE WITH THE MOTHER, I MYSELF HAVE STOOD IN A LINE AT THE JUSTICE CENTER TO VISIT ONE OF MY CHILDREN. I LISTEN TO EXCUSES MADE FOR EVERY TEEN BY PARENTS WHETHER IT BE DAD OR MOM MISSING OR A HARD NOCK LIFE. BUT THE TRUTH IS THE CHILD HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHOICES HE MAKES, IF THE MOTHER DOES NOT HOLD HIM RESPOSIBLE THE JUDGE EVENTUALLY WILL, I GIVE HER A PAT ON THE BACK, SHE LOVES HIM ENOUGH TO TEACH HIM THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR HIS CHOICES,AN TO DO EVERYTHING IN HER POWER TO TEACH HIM RESPECT FOR THE LAWS IN WHICH WE LIVE. I WHICH HER THE BEST,NEVER GIVE UP.

I am totally 100% behind the discipline this mom choose to give her child! I think it's fantastic that she's not making an excuse for his behavior, as WAY too many parents do these days... or trying to sue the school for making him cut the grass! KUDOS to this true, loving parent!! I hope that when my child arrives in January, that I can be as strong as my parents were and as this parent is in raising my child. My brother and I got the belt a few times growing up, but most importantly, if we did something at school, we were made to apologize. We were taught respect and I thank God every day that my parents were so strong! I even had my car taken away in college... that's right, IN COLLEGE, because I was letting a boyfriend drive it after my parents had told me not to. They were paying for it and they took it away and drove me to school and work! And I plan on raising my children in the same manner! No punishment will ever be done without thinking it through, but when it is done, it will certainly teach a lesson!!

It is no ones business what this mother deems is appropriate discipline for her child. A child that clearly did something mean, undeserving and hurtful to another child, another human being.

If we wish to continue nurturing apathy, than this mother should indeed do nothing, or rather, ignore the problem that she is faced with – what to do in order to make an impressionable impact on her son, just as her son's hurtful comments made an impressionable impact on the child he humiliated.

Discipline is different for every parent, every child, and every situation, and most importantly, should be up to the parent!

Mrs. Campos-Duffy certainly has no right, especially as a mother, to criticize another mother for what she feels was the right thing to do in this particular situation.

I commend this mother for taking the necessary steps to ensure that she raises a decent, kind and caring citizen. Her actions speak a thousand words and I am happy to know that there is a parent in this "politically-correct" society that is still willing to be the 'bad guy,' or 'bad women' rather, and not the 'friend."

Children have plenty of friends what they need is a parent. A parent to guide them and a parent with the courage to do what they feel is right and just.

That is the difference between being a parent...and a responsible parent.

Bravo to the MOM!She's taking the right steps to see that her son is a productive member of society.All this controversy over how to discipline our children.When I was growing up I lied, my father didn't negotiate with me, I got binged and guess what? I never lied again.My mother found out I stole some gum balls,she made me go back in and apologize to the store owner and , I got binged , I never stole again. I'm college educated,served our country ,and am a productive member of society.When I'd ask for something I'd hear "do you have something money" That!, was the end of it.I also heard "because I'm the parent" on several occasions which also, was the end of it.There was no whining,sniveling,negotiating,or acting up at all when we heard something form our parents that we didn't like.My sister and I both turned out O.K. without psychological trauma.This country is made strong by the backbone instilled in our children.

In a world where no one wants to single out anyone or embarras children, this was refreshing. Children should be embarrassed when they do something wrong. Good job mom, I don't know if I could have gone that far, but who knows.

I agree and my mom was the same with me. I took a little toy from an Easter basket when I was very young and after we left the store saw it and asked where I got it. I told her and we went back into the store and to the manager and I gave it to him and apologized...and I have never stolen anything! Not to mention the bad karma that brings. I think that woman did the right thing for her son to learn that it is NEVER right to steal.

I agree. It wasn't done to this "poor child" 100% of the time. Some of you need to grow up. I am a 21 year old and I may not have any children yet, but BOY! I have seen some unruely children. I am majoring in elementary education. Kids aren't the perfect angels you think they are. ESPECIALLY when their parent(s) don't do some form of GOOD dicisipline! I'm definitley going to have to work on my patience because my parents raised me up right and I expect parents to do the same
-Kelli

crystal, you are going to have to learn A LOT of patience. From one teacher to a future one, it is a constant battle. You will have many frustrations with parents. Know this: if you can reach one parent (very patiently and non-judgementally) and help them to become a better parent, you are going above and beyond your job...and helping a child more than any teacher can.

I make it my passion to make a good all around environment for children and parents. Parents come to me for help and suggestions when they are frustrated with discipline (or lack their of). Inside, you can feel frustrated and annoyed; outside, don't let them see you judge them. You'll go so far! Understand the DEVELOPMENT of the children. Unfortunatly, many education programs don't go into depth enough in child development, but your success lies in truly understanding this and being able to express that development to others.

I'm with you on this...we don't know the child, the context or his situation, but his mother does. This was a CRIME, not just bad behavior. While public punishment is obviously not for a child who doesn't behave in church, maybe this was just what he needed to help him remember to make better decisions in the future. Wearing a sandwich board on the street corner sounds a lot better than jail.

First, are you a parent? Do you have siblings? Were you ever spanked? And, in the USA previous acts are not allowed as evidence. You're going to be or are already, one of those parents that" My Child can do no wrong" ; until you're adddressing them through bars!!?

The mom didn't say he was "dumb" She said the D represented that the actions that he took were dumb. I think that she did what she felt was best. Sometimes humiliation is the best thing. She wants to make sure that he is able to be humbled and that he realizes that trying to act tough in front of his friends really isn't worth the consequences that he will have to face if he goes down the wrong path. Also I didn't see any of his so called friends standing out there with him. So that is another thing that she can drive home to him. If they were real friends they would be out there ringing the bell and standing on the corner with him.

As a parent of two kids, now ages 19 and 21, I have to say that I disagree that we should separate the actions of the child from what we call the child. What this kid did was indeed dumb. When my kids were little, I told them that they ARE what they do. If you lie, you're a liar. If you cheat, you're a cheater. If you steal, you're a thief, and if you kill, you're a murderer. That's seeing ourselves for what we are. When my son was 5, he killed a lizard and I told him he was mean. He cried and said, "I'm not mean!" and I said, "Yes, you are. If, however, you don't want me to continue to think you're mean, then you'll have to change my mind. Show me that you can be nice, and maybe I'll think differently of you. Until then, if you do mean things, you ARE mean." He is now a sweet, polite, and helpful young man. He fixed an old woman's tire for her and refused to take any money. Folks, we are what we do, like it or not, no excuses. I'm tired of parents saying, "Fred's a good boy. He just shot somebody because he got in with the wrong crowd." No way; if Fred killed somebody, he's NOT a good boy. Period.