5 easy questions for today*****

The students in this class have formed a progressive experimental community that has been given permission to try all sorts of social experiments in an effort to create an optimally harmonious society. Recognizing child abuse and neglect as a significant social problem, all the members of the community have agreed to explore ways in which the community can support parents in raising their children.

Initial discussions revealed several major conflicting interests:

•   The traditional right of parents to raise their children as they see fit.

•   The acknowledgement that children affect community life in many ways and the expectation

  of the community that children be raised to respect others and to become contributing

  members to the society.

•   The humanitarian requirement of civilized people to help those in need.

  Further discussions resulted in a list of suggested ways that the community could provide help for parents and children. These suggestions have been distributed to all the community members and are to be the subject of a public meeting. Here they are:

•   Parents must meet guidelines concerning the proportion of income to expenditures, to ensure financial stability and avoid draining community resources. In calculating the income/expenditure ratio, parents may include income from all sources, including relatives, friends, and such public resources as are readily available for that purpose. Financial status will be periodically reviewed, and if guidelines are not met, parents must accept assistance from the community and put forth a plan to regain financial stability.

•   Parents must agree to periodic review of their child’s physical, mental and emotional health by outside experts in each field, to ensure ongoing proper care of all children, including early identification of special needs and appropriate responses to meet those needs. Parents must agree to abide by decisions regarding their child’s care as a result of these periodic reviews.

•   A major change in parents’ financial or social circumstances will trigger an immediate review of the situation by financial and/or child development experts. Examples of changes include divorce, unemployment, prolonged illness of any kind (physical, mental, or emotional), death of the partner, legal problems or liabilities, or other catastrophe. If a review indicates that help is needed, the community will provide it for as long as necessary.

•   Prospective parents must satisfactorily demonstrate physical, mental and emotional competency to care for children and guide their healthy growth and development. Such satisfactory demonstration may be accomplished in a variety of ways, including interviews, site visits, and/or testimony of experts such as teachers, physicians, therapists, and other health professionals. Prospective parents who fall short of the standards will be provided with instruction and assistance until they can demonstrate competency.

ENGL 123 The Situation (1014)