I Love This Dad!!

Updated on March 13, 2012
C.O. asks from Reston, VA
18 answers

YAHOO!!! This dad is GREAT!!! I'm sure there are people out there who won't agree with it. But the kid admits his behavior is wrong!!

I LOVE THIS DAD!!!! We need more parents like him!!!

Would you do this to your kid? I think it mine were bad enough - yeah. I would. It would make a point. Peer and social pressure can be a great thing sometimes!!!

ETA - sorry Meagan - I think you got to read it before I was able to attach the link. He had his son wear a sign on a street corner for failing three classes and being the class clown.

ETA: Jo - you are right - for Juvi - however the dad was making a point. The kid wanted to be the class clown, so he could stand on the street corner and be a clown, right?

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So What Happened?

let's see if this link works: http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/failing-student-w...

Featured Answers

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Meh...I don't confuse humiliation with discipline.
All the Wonder Dad is really doing is humiliating his son. Dad will feel better for a nanosecond, but, realistically this will most likely accomplish nothing but that.

Too little too late, imo.

It's also kind of sad that the father is NOW trying to get a point across to this kid by going to these lengths. Where's he been until now, I wonder?

I also wonder if the kid has a learning disability of O. kind or another...

Most likely, this boy will grow up to resent this father and mother as much as kids who are beat with sticks and belts ultimately resent their parents. Same thing IMO, desperate acts by bad parents.

6 moms found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I don't think I would do that. I really don't believe in public humiliation. When my DD was acting up in school, I went to school with her - made her hold my hand, made her have lunch with me, etc. That was humiliating enough for her.

I will say, however, that this student seemed to take it all in stride and who knows, maybe it will work. Only time will tell.

4 moms found this helpful

More Answers

J.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

i think its J. more reason to rebel and hate his parents and justifies hs behvaiour to his friends. The more extreme reactions my parents took the deeper I fell into self pity and not caring. Granted i never did anything that bad but if my parents did this to M. I'd probably become humiliated and depressed and them act out or rebel even more. I think from a parents POV its cool but from a passionate hormonal teen's POV could be deadly.

6 moms found this helpful
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J.S.

answers from Columbia on

What a terrible dad!

Where was he WHILE the boy was failing?

5 moms found this helpful

P.E.

answers from Atlanta on

I don't know if I would do this for bad grades. Seems a little extreme.

By watching the video, the son has learned a lesson. AND admits he could've done better. So maybe it worked.

4 moms found this helpful

C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Cheryl, I'm with you. This dad is making a statement in a way that is sure to get his teenaged son's attention. Nothing wrong with that! Also, I noticed in the video that the dad was standing right by his son. This is a dad who obviously deeply cares about his son's future (and he is right to be worried about 3 failing grades!). The son admitted that he can and will do better next time, so the punishment worked. I am a big believer in making the child's whole entire world stop when they do something colossally terrible - this dad and I are on the same page there!

3 moms found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

Cheryl my dear, this video took us to the bus crash accident that happened this morning. Was there another video perhaps that was supposed to be attached?

ETA: Yes, the second link worked. If other forms of punishment didn't work then yeah, I would probably do the same thing. I think grounding, the summer school would have been my first reactions. I think it's great that the dad cares so much.

3 moms found this helpful
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D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Wow. I thought public humiliation went out with the puritans. It's a shame it apparently didn't.

3 moms found this helpful

M.D.

answers from Dallas on

Great Dad!!! The last thing a teen wants is to be embarrassed.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from San Francisco on

I have threatened my 14 yo daughter with going to her school dressed in a girl scout cookie costume and sing and dance and kiss her on the face in front of her friends if she doesn't keep her grades up. Unfortunately, she's a good student so I probably won't get my chance. She knows I'll do it cuz she's seen me dance at the company christmas party (she knows I love to dance and it's not always pretty) and I wore the costume at her cookie booth last year. I think it's a fine threat but I don't know that I could actually do it. But I'll never tell her that!!

3 moms found this helpful

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

I saw the story on Yahoo earlier today and tried to watch it and took me to that bus accident video also. I just tried to watch your link and there (still) is no text story--only a video. And I hate to wait thru the "commercials" at the beginning of those things.

I wonder if the video gives any background on what the father had done up until this point, or what the son did/didn't do... I mean.. if he just struggles and can't do it that's different. But if he slacks off, cuts up, doesn't turn in assignments or writes smart-a**ed notes on his papers then sure...send him out with a sign. Now, it also depends on what the sign says. If is is factual only, then good for Dad. If is calls the son names, then that is another story altogether.
Does the sign say "I cut class because I didn't think school mattered" or something like that? Or did it say "I'm a loser because I failed 3 classes". There is a difference. I know my husband comes down hard when our son doesn't do well. But ONLY when he CAN do better and just doesn't bother to do what he should, or if doesn't say "Hey, I need some help" when he needs help...as if his grade will magically get better if he ignores it.

Oh how I wish stories weren't just videos online. I HATE watching them. I love to READ. Note to Yahoo! Print text and tell the story. It isn't that hard!

2 moms found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I went into the school once and completely embarrassed my now 23 yo. So much so that my now 16 yo cringes when I say to her I could just come to school, :o)

I don't think I would publicly humiliate them on a street corner though.

2 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

True to form for this site it is opening up the wrong link. :(

The second link works.

He just copied off the mom who made her son wear the theif sign. I just fear this will become a parents way to get their fifteen minutes of fame. I can see it for a boy going in and out of juvi but not for grades.

2 moms found this helpful

D.S.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi, Cheryl:
I think the Dad was really worried about his son. I am amazed that the son did it. Drastic behavior needs drastic accountability.
The Dad was proud of his son for going through it because Dad put his hand on the Student's neck like he still loved him.
The video was a support for parents who are have difficulty with their unruly teens.
Thanks for the video.
D.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Washington DC on

The kid said "I don't like it but it's my own fault I'm in this position".

Sounds like dad is doing a lot of right things with his son if the kid will stand there and admit he CHOSE this path.

The sign didn't call the kid any names just said "I want to be a class clown. What's wrong with that?" on the front and on the back stated that the kid was in 7th grade and was getting an F for the semester, then asked "is that so wrong?" honk if you think it's wrong.

It was used as a last resort and had the desired result, getting the kid to realize he needed to change his behavior. So I say .. good on ya dad.

2 moms found this helpful
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B.

answers from Augusta on

I am with you , hun.
I would do this if I thought my kids needed this type of punishment!

2 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

The article is also on CNN

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Lake Charles on

What Dad, and what did he do?

1 mom found this helpful
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