SmackDown: Would You Publicly Punish Your Child?

I have to agree with you, wholeheartedly! I embarrassed my son, the first time unintentionally, and it worked like a freaking charm. Then, he started to get out of line a few months later, and I'm talking, this kid was,
at the time, only about 16 or 17 (he's 21yo now, and so much different, thank goodness lol), so I knew he would eventually grow out of his rebel ways, and he did. But, some teenagers need an ass-whooping (so to speak, not physically), to really learn about respect and good manners... Lo and behold, my son has impeccable manners! lol

Lazy kids are normally the result of lazy parents. Stay involved and know what the kids are doing. Teaching doesn't end with the school day, it is supposed to continue at home until the home work and studying is done. I wonder what the mothers gpa is? Actions speak louder than words so a low gpa I assume.

Amen Ted.

he should..

I can't believe that this mom feels it is the right thing to do and I see that her son is a good son because he is actually doing what she wants by standing on the corner with that stupid sign! Yes he has low scores but doing what she did to him will not increase anything, especially his will to do better. Where did you go wrong MOM! I have two kids and at one point one of them thought it was "funny" to get lower grades then what they were capable of doing. I threatened to quit my job and go to school with them every day to make sure they were there in class paying attention. I was told that I would never do that to them and I replied "Watch Me". Needless to say that was enough of a threat and the grades improved. Perhaps Mom should go back to school with him to see exactly what the problem is although I think the problem may be in the home and the relationship or lack of relationship with Mom.

Sue....so you think this Mom shouldn't use embarassment about his grades and lack of caring to improve them in order to be successful in life a good way to get his attention that she is serious about him "shaping up"? But you were going to quit your job and walk your kid from class to class to make sure he did his work and got good grades? Don't you think that would have embarassed your kid to death in front of his peers? That his Mother has to take him by the hand and walk him to his classes? Give me a break..that would be soooo much more of an humiliation and embarassment than this kid is going through! If she gets through to him then a little embarassment will have been worth it...getting help from the schools is a joke and most families don't have the money to put the kid in "therepy" to fix his lack of initiative....sometimes you have to do what it takes to get through to your teenager...taking away privileges, restriction, using every avenue open to you through your school system (which, in a lot of them, is not much) and yes, even, a little embarassment.

You know, this mother had to have a fairly strong relationship with her son because he didn't just throw the sign down on the sode of the road, call his buds on his cell, and ditch her.

Absolutely label the kid...No way around it...just diagnose a problem, get a little pill into him and that fixes everything. Everyone is way off here. My gosh, if people would quit worrying about what mental illness he has and get with the reality of how our system is no longer working because there are such restraints on discipline at school and at home..maybe our whole country would get better. What is wrong with a little consequence for poor behavior? Good gosh, everyone is acting like she tarred and feathered him. It's a SIGN FOR GOSH SAKES!!! If he is embarrassed, get with the program and get the FREE EDUCATION that is offered. Get off your soap boxes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The sad part too.. a 22 yr old that learned how to use the system and be lazy as hell. NO job, no want a job, no want to bathe, or anything. Mom was told had to give in to what he wanted from cps! of course. so he grew up knowing he could do what wanted and get what wanted and just doesnt have to do a thing! So guess what? We have a society of kids that know they can do as please and the parents and society have to bow to them. We have to do something before they are all saying they are crazy and taking my social security! What a joke we have become...and another thing...why are we allowing people to come over here from other places and take our money????

The issue being, does this method work? Because it sounds like you're just reveling in the revenge. I'm questioning the intelligence of anyone here who just automatically accepts discipline without thinking of the consequences. Does it even MATTER to you if it ends up not working at all?

It does matter to me if it works. I truely would like to see his grades improve over the next 6 weeks for the rest of his life. Being lazy is no way to go through life. Maybe this will be the kickstart he needs so he will never be in the same position again.

I have been a teacher in the poorest performing high school in my city. I have raised three kids with very differnt outcomes. I have also used my education to be a volunteer reading specialist. This child is without a doubt being abused, and one can only imagine what he endures in the "privacy" of his home. When a child is told he is no good, he internalizes and fulfills that idea. Ideally this child would be removed from his sick home, but there are very few places he can go. If anyone out there cares, volunteer with your public library or school district.

Horray for the mom!!! If her son cannot handle a small amount of embarrassement that people will soon forget, then how will he ever handle the trials & tribulations out in the real world? At least this shows that she cares, and wants her son to make a good life for himself by getting an education. Parents need to stop coddling their children and start preparing them for adulthood.