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DISCUSSION ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
The student will complete 4 Discussions in this course. The student will post one thread of at
least 400 words by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday of the assigned Module: Week. The student
must then post 2 replies of at least 200 words by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of the assigned
Module: Week.
This course utilizes the Post-First feature in all Discussions. This means you will only be able to
read and interact with your classmates’ threads after you have submitted your thread in response
to the provided prompt.
Case Study 6.2 Child Abuse?
Child abuse is inexcusable. In no instance should any adult harm or put a child in a situation
where they may be harmed. Ethics of justice, critique, care and profession combined could never
excuse an instance of criminal child abuse. In the essence of the ethic is justice, there are specific
laws and guidelines set forth regarding dealing with instances of child abuse and child abuse
prevention.
Ned Parker’s dilemma in Case Study 6.2 is not one that any school administrator would like to
find themselves in. However, with the climate of society today, this is one that is particularly
sensitive and deserves exploration from a Christian perspective. If one were to take the situation
found in this context and move it into a setting not even fifteen years earlier the ethical and moral
implications would be quite different than they are in our world today. The background of the
study states that Parker has the professional ethics and is aware of the rules and guidelines
surrounding child abuse and its reporting. The case study also provides insight into the history of
Frank and his son, Robert.
While, Parker is placed in an awkward position as far as his profession responsibility goes as it
relates to his ethical relationship and legal role as principal of the school where the incident
occurred, he also needs to exercise critique and think about the best interest of the child. As
Shapiro and Stefkovich mention when there an absence of a clean line to define the professional
paradigm to follow in a decision-making situation or the standards clash or overlap, adults are
justified in choosing what is in the best interest of the child. (Shapiro & Stefkovich, 2016, p. 27).
American columnist, speaker and author on parenting, John Rosemond penned a short news
column that was published in the Naples Daily News on Sunday, January 1, 2017, “Your kids
should not be the most important in the family”. In this short column, Rosemond stated that most
of the problems that people are having with children today is due to treating them as if their
marriage, and family exist because of the kids, when in fact, it’s the other way around.
(Rosemond, 2017). He goes on to say that the real issue at heart is that people his age understood
when they were kids that the parents were the most important people in the family, and they
respected them and other adults in that manner. According to Rosemond, “the most important
thing we can do for our children is prepare them to be responsible citizens so that the community
and culture around them is strengthened.” (2017).
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Some may consider Rosemond to be harsh. I would contend that he is not harsh at all but speaks
the truth that a modern society does not want to hear. All it takes it looking at social media posts
of teens or turning to the news and hearing stories about adolescents gone wild and Rosemond’s
case is made.
Discipline is not a synonym for spanking. While some may say that biblically Proverbs 13:23
says “whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.”,
they are taking this scripture out of context. It is the role of a parent to teach, guide, correct and
love their children.
Part of discipline is establishing boundaries, and boundaries are comforting for everyone.
They’re especially comforting to children who are trying to figure out the world and testing
limits and authority. It’s helpful to think of your parenting role as that of a shepherd, guiding
your children’s paths and protecting them.
One of the strongest statements about discipline is in Proverbs 23:13-14, which states, “Do not
withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him
with the rod you will save his soul from Sheol.”
Many people get stuck on the “rod” in this passage but the focus here should be on discipline.
Scripture makes it clear that discipline is done as loving guidance, correction and teaching, not
punishment.
Personally, discipline teaches us to avoid sinful behavior, its dangers, its emptiness and its
natural consequences. Instead, we’re to pursue true fulfillment and satisfaction through a
relationship with Christ. Corporately, discipline keeps ours from being a selfish, lawless,
dysfunctional society.
References
Rosemond, J. (2017). Your kids should not be the most important in the family. Naples Daily
News. January 1, 2017. Naples, FL.
Shapiro, Joan Poliner and Jacqueline A. Stefkovich. (2016). Ethical leadership and decision
making in education. New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN: 9781138776272
Trent, I enjoyed reading your insights on this week’s discussion forum. Practical experience
always puts situations into different perspectives. I would agree with you that it would be
extremely difficult to speculate on the outcome of a situation until one actually finds oneself in a
situation when a decision such as the principal in the case study here finds himself.
Ned Parker does indeed find himself in a situation where he has to relay on the information you
have pointed out. There is the professional ethics that he is bound by due to his position as school
principal. He also much consider the ethic of justice. What are the rules and legal ramifications
of the situation at hand? Also, as you have so deftly pointed out, he must institute the ethic of
care. As Shapiro and Stefkovich drive home when they discuss the ethic of care,“The first job of
the schools is to care for our children” (Shapiro & Stefkovich, 2016, p. 16)
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I would also interject that in his position of authority he is also challenged with a moral ethic of
telling the truth out of love. One of the greatest moral issues that we all struggle with is that of
telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The book, The Day that America Told
the Truth, states (p. 45) that 91 percent of us lie regularly (cited by Alistair Begg, “Cedarville
Torch, Fall, 1994, p. 15). “Of the people interviewed, 92 percent said the main reason for their
lying was to save face, and 98 percent said the reason they told lies was so as not to offend
people” (p.16).
The Bible is brutally honest in exposing the failures of some of the great men and women of faith
when it comes to lying. Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Aaron, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Rachel, and
David all lied, along with Peter in the New Testament. If these saints struggled with being
truthful, then none of us is exempt! So we all need to take Paul’s exhortation to heart (Eph. 4:25):
“Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are
members of one another.”
While Parker does need to consider the context, he is also in a position of leadership and must
consider the standard to which a person in leadership is held. His decision on dealing with this
matter is not one that will be taken lightly and not one that I envy.
References
Shapiro, Joan Poliner and Jacqueline A. Stefkovich. (2016). Ethical leadership and decision
making in education. New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN: 9781138776272
Glorielba, I really appreciate the time and care you took in crafting your response to this week’s
discussion board forum. As I read your presentation of the case study information, I found it very
informative, and it was easy to follow the narrative for your suggestion that making a decision on
whether to report this instance as child abuse or not as being a difficult decision. I would concur
with your argument. There is no clear logical pathway in the case study that presents an outcome
on how Mr. Parker should handle the situation.
According to Shapiro and Stefkovich, “The ethic of care is important not only to scholars but
also to educational leaders who are often asked to make moral decisions.” (Shapiro &
Stefkovich, 2016, p. 16). In the case of Parker, the ethic of care is certainly one that he must rely
heavily on in rendering his decision. The case study outlines that he is fully abreast of his
professional and legal obligations. As you touch on in your response, Parker certainly is aware of
the possible outcomes of his reporting the incident as well and understands the gravity of the
implications.
While I agree with your statements that there is a biblical mandate for parents to discipline their
children, I would have to interject that there are many times that people misuse the verses from
the Proverbs. I would suggest that one takes a stronger look at verses like Deuteronomy 6:6-7:
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your
children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie
down and when you get up.” Throughout Scripture, God is pretty clear about the responsibility
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He places in the hands of parents. Reflecting God’s image is what children need to learn as part
of discipline.
While Parker does not have a simple decision to make in this instance, he does seem to have the
ability to employ the ethic of justice, care, critique and profession along with his morals in
making a decision. Hopefully, his final choice on whether to report the incident or not will be
based on what is in the best interest of the child.
References
Shapiro, Joan Poliner and Jacqueline A. Stefkovich. (2016). Ethical leadership and decision
making in education. New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN: 9781138776272
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