Poor Parenting

Title Page

Student:
Candidate Number:
Subject:
Tutor:
Theme of portfolio:
Sub-theme of portfolio:

Trishana Richardson
CAPE Communication Studies
Mrs. Laurence
Poor
Poor Parenting
Parenting
Is poor parenting the root cause of the many socio- economic
problems in society?

Table of Content

Introduction
Children live what they learn.
Anonymous

Sub-Theme: Is poor parenting the reason for the socio-economic problems in the Jamaica?

Theme & purpose of portfolio: The theme, Poor Parenting, is a social dilemma that impacts the socioeconomic structure of Jamaica in a negative way. Evidence of moral deterioration, unemployment and a high
level of teenage pregnancy are resulting factors of poor parenting. This portfolio was done to examine the

effects of poor parenting and how it perpetuates the many challenges that Jamaica faces.
How theme relates to academic interest: The candidate is currently studying sociology which deals study of
society and it members. A sociological analysis of the problem of poor parenting, will allow the researcher to

examine this problem from a standardized perspective in sociology.

How theme relates to candidates work-related interests: The candidate, having aspirations of being a

sociologist choose this topic has it was deemed relevant to the desired field of work. Poor parenting is a topic
How theme relates to candidates personal interests: The candidate having seen the negative impact of poor
parenting on the development of children, strongly believe that this problem must be addressed by members of
society, in order for the future of Jamaica development to be brighter.

Exposition
Is poor parenting the root cause of the many socio- economic problems in society?
Jamaica is faced with several social problems because of large amount of juvenile delinquents that live there.
Whitney Houston stated in one of her most revered songs that the children are the future but if these many juvenile
delinquents are the future, then the future of Jamaica does not look bright. It is said that many parents in Jamaica

have failed to instill proper values in their children from a tender age and now many of these children have grown up
to become unproductive members of society; engaging in counter-productive activities; but how accurate is this
statement?
This dilemma faces the country of Jamaica to a great extent; leading Psychologist like Dr Leahcim Semaj and other
sociologist; to look into the ill-effects of poor parenting; however others social scientist like Cody Kulla are now
claiming that a increasing amount of delinquents are those coming from good families with strict parents who love
and care for them; so what could be the root cause of a problem that so desperately needs solving? As a young person
the problem of juvenile delinquency worries me deeply, as children some whom who have not even left high school
as yet are now terrorizing our society, putting the noble name of Jamaica into disrepute.
The country of Jamaica is plagued with the problem of crime and violence; many homes of our nation are
nurturing criminal and individuals with serious behavioural problems. These social problems according to Dr
Leahcim Semaj can be linked to poor parenting, he stated at a forum, held at the Jamaica Observer's North Street,
central Kingston offices.
"In Jamaica, a lot of persons go straight from childhood to parenting," he said, noting that more than three-quarters
of children in the country are born to couples who will not have a long-term relationship.
"Many Jamaican children don't even know their puppa (father)," he added, also noting the continued absence of the
father's name from the children's birth certificates. He said people who take on parenting responsibilities in many
cases cannot provide for themselves, let alone a child. "Our society is just totally short of what is required for
parenting," he said. "Just because a fertile man and a fertile woman get together and breed, that don't make you a
parent!" he exclaimed. However Dr Semaj himself stated that parenting today is growing more increasingly difficult,
taking into consideration the large amount of external negative influences that sometimes affect our children, he said
"Parenting is about moving children towards pro-social activities and to a large extent the media in Jamaica
supports antisocial behaviour in Jamaica," he commented ."What parents had to compete with 20 or 30 years ago,

the average parent cannot compete with what the media influence is now." So is Dr Semaj being too judgmental of
the parents of juvenile delinquents.
Some parents of the delinquents are in many instances those who really try to make the best of a bad situation
and try to instill proper values in their child but their efforts somehow prove futile. An article published on Yahoos
contributor network, on the Nov 8, 2006 by Journalist, Cody Kulla she expressed her views, that poor parenting was
not main reason for rising rate of juvenile delinquency; she said in the article I believe that one's social class play a
big part in his or her behaviour. Being in a low social class, it is obvious that these people are not equipped with the
same opportunities as the rest of us. They are just making it by and they are not "cool" enough to fit in with the
innocent people of their age group. This causes them to find comfort in other people like them, who are more times
than not, Growing up in a happy home, it is hard for me to imagine that these aggressive behaviours are a direct
result of the parents' mannerisms delinquents themselves
In evaluating the sources, all of the sources in my estimation are reliable and are authorized to give information,
with some having experience on the subject matter or others having intellectual knowledge based on research and
statistics. The first source consulted was Dr Leahcim Semaj; he is a psychologist by profession; this psychologist
believes that by working with our ideas (human capital) and each other (our social capital) we can change the world.
It is with this ideal that Dr. Leahcim Semaj takes on the mantle of motivational speaker, career developer and a
professed agent of social change. With all this said I have no reservation in deeming him a credible and reliable
source, having the credentials to speak on the topic of poor parenting. The information given in Dr Semajs speech is
valid and reflects the current situation in todays society and is reasonable and correct based on common sense
reasoning, despite of the five year lapse in time, the information is still reliable, due to the fact that much as not
changed since the last 5 years. The medium for which this information was collected was via the Jamaica Observer
news paper. The second source Cody Kulla is a lecturer of journalism at the Greensburge university in Pennsylvania,
and would be considered a valid source however, Cody Kullas isolation from the circumstances of the lower class
and the negative effects of poor parenting does not make her opinion the most credible source, however she does

make a excellent point when she states that poorer children do not have the means to fit in with children of the upper
class. It is a known fact that children of the upper class have parents who can afford to send them to the best schools,
buy them the best learning materials and afford them opportunities that a poor child can only dream off. This puts
children of the lower class at a disadvantage, and some fall to the vicious cycle of poverty. The Yahoo! Contributor
Network allows writers, photographers, and videographers to share their knowledge and passion with hundreds of
millions of people worldwide. Find your audience and earn money by publishing your unique perspectives on Voices
and other Yahoo! sites. Requisite
The problems I faced in doing this research paper is finding credible opposing arguments on this topic.
In my conclusion use the definition of Claudette Crawford-Brown/ 1999 stated that parenting involves the
encouragement of socially approved patterns and the discouragement of other habits

Preface of Reflection
The following reflective piece will take the form of a drama piece and the purpose of it is to highlight the
negative effects of poor parenting practices (such as poor socialisation of children, neglect, and child abuse) on a
child social development. The fictional characters of the reflective piece will demonstrate the effects of poor
parenting through their interaction with each other.
This reflective piece is intended for audiences above the age of thirteen, as some of its contents may not be
suitable for children under the required age limit and is only for viewing by adults. However; the candidate in
preparing this reflective piece had two target groups in mind and they are:1. Parents and
2. Prospective parents
Parents:
Parents: This group was selected as a target audience because, the morals of this story; written by the candidates,
informs parents of what are poor parenting practices. It is the hope of the candidate that on reading this story
parents will be sensitized on what are inappropriate ways of socializing children and deviate from them.
Prospective parents:
parents This group was also selected as a target audience because this reflective piece will sensitize
prospective parents on what are poor parenting practices and instill the importance of practicing proper family
planning methods, so that they will be able to provide for their children in the future both socially and financially.
This reflective piece can be made into a play or movie to be used parenting seminars or just for general viewing.

Reflection
A Broken Childhood

Characters
Monique - Daughter of Nicky, friend of Miss Joy.
Miss Joy - Mentor of Monique, Teacher of Wolmers girls school.
Nicky - Mother of Monique, Mario and others

Scene1- The search for food

Scene: [Monique walks through the streets of March town in search of something to eat after her mother (Nicky)
leaves her and her younger siblings hungry, to attend a dance, she looks over a fence to see a woman busy in her
kitchen]
Monique: A wonda if I ask har fi some food, if shi wud gimme? Afta all I duh know this woman, what if shi run
mi away?
[Miss Joy then leaves the kitchen, Monique then enters the yard put then stops on seeing a sleeping dog, who is
apparently sick. She then continues walking and then makes her way in the kitchen, she then makes her way to the
stove and opens the pot and begins taking food out of the pot and starvingly feed herself. Then Miss Joy enters the
kitchen and then grabs Monique by the shoulder.]
Miss Joy: What you doing in my house little girl?! Thats the reason why unu poison ma dog, so unu can come in
here and thief!
[Monique tries to break free from Miss Joy firm hold]
Monique: Let mi go ouman, mi wid cum outta u place, just kool an let mi go nuh!!
Miss Joy: Is that how you speak to an adult little girl, [in a stern voice] After all you are the one that broke into
my kitchen, I have every right to ask you what you doing here.
Monique: Well, [in a humbled voice] mi did jus hungry an a look a ting fi mi eat.
Miss Joy: So if you were hungry, dont you think the right and proper way was to ask me for my food.

[Monique looks at her in silence and then holds her down to eat the chicken again and looked at Miss Joy in
intervals to see if she is making her upset.]
Miss Joy: What is your name child?
Monique: Mi name Manique.
Miss Joy: So Monique where is your mother?
Monique: [ pauses a while ]Mi nuh know.
[Miss Joy looks at Monique with discernment on her countenance. She then moved to the kitchen cupboard and
took out plastic dish with a lid and then began to share out some of her food in the dish]
Miss Joy: Listen mi young lady, the next time you want something to the eat call at the gate and then wait for my
acknowledgement, ask nicely and I will give you something to eat [She then hands Monique the bowl of food and
immediately Monique reaches out to take it with much anticipation. Miss Joy then withdrew the plate] What must
you say?
Monique: [reluctantly] Thanx.
[Miss Joy then escorts Monique out of the yard and stop to ask]
Miss Joy: A nuh you poison ma dog, little girl?
Monique: No a nuh me.
Miss Joy: Oh o.k. then, dont let me see you in my yard again uninvited, you hear mi?
Monique: Yes Miss [Monique leaves to go home, to her younger siblings]

Scene 2 Becoming friends

Scene: Days after, Miss Joy and Monique meets again on the street.
Miss Joy: What school you attend, Child?
Monique: March town primary.
Miss Joy: [worriedly] So how come youre not at school today?
Monique: Mi nuh have nuh money fi go [holding her head down, sweeping the gravel with her bare feet,
sensing Miss Joy pity]
Miss Joy: [lefts Moniques head to gain her attention] So what you want be when you grow up?
Monique: [doubtingly] A doctor.
Miss Joy: So how you plan on becoming a doctor by breaking into peoples houses?

[Monique holds her head down in shame. Miss Joy nods her head in pity and then invites Monique into her house
and they become good friends, Monique continues to visit Miss Joys house every day, much to Nickys disgust]

Scene 3 Monique passes for high school

Miss Joy: I am so proud of you, you passed for Wolmers
Monique: I cant believe it myself; it would not have been possible without you Miss Joy, cause my mom nuh
business wid mi, Shi not even now how mi go school.
Miss Joy: Ah Child, your mother will come around eventually when she learns what a bright girl you are;
speaking of your mother did she hear the good news?
Monique: No, Miss Joy.
Miss Joy: Well what are you waiting for go and tell her.
[Monique looks at Miss Joy and then heads out to tell her mother the news, on her way she sees her mother on the
road, in high spirits and Walks to her mother and her mother reaches out to hug her]
Nicky: Si mi bright daughta yah weh pass har GSAT, oounu look pon har good a my star dis.
[The people on the road, greets Monique with cheers of congratulations, the curtains on set falls]

Scene 4 Two years later, an abusive mother

[Monique walks home from Miss Joys house to be greeted by her very upset mother]
Monique: [remorsefully] Good evening Mummy,
[Nicky then grabs Monique by the hair and pulled her in the house, while Monique screams]
Nicky: yuh spen whole day a that deh ouman yaad a clean it an nuh si say fi u house duty, yuh tink yuh betta dan
this yah house yah, Miss stushy, yuh tink yuh betta dan me?!! [Nicky then throws Moniques face in the wall of the
house breaking her nose]
Nicky: Clean up this damn house gal and dont mek mi haffi mash yuh up in yah, yuh damn nassi !!!!
[With tears running down her face and blood dripping from her nose, Monique sweeps the house]
Nicky: Idiat gal tap nassi up di blasted place, a wah do yah fool fool gal yah man? A soon mash up yuh wid yah
damn cup yah. Tru yuh start chat English now and a go big high school now yuh think yuh a smaddy an yuh better
dan mi in yah. Mi nuh know wah u mek that deh ouman a full up yuh head wid caz yuh is nobody. !!!!!
[Monique hearing the words of her mother throws the broom down and runs out of the house]
Nicky: [shouting] Come back here!!!!!

[Monique falls to the ground under a tree and continues to cry bitterly]
Monique: I will proof to my mother that I am somebody and I wont grow up to be a prostitute and a horrible
mother like her, cause your right mom I am better a better human being than you![The curtains fall]

The End!!!!

Analysis of Reflective Piece

In the reflective piece; A Broken Childhood, the interactions between the characters brings out several
elements of communication. However, only two will be analysed and they are dialectal variation and communicative
behaviour.
Throughout the reflective piece different dialectal variation was used by the characters. Miss Joy spoke mainly
the acrolect variation (standard English) and one can deduce that Miss Joy spoke that way because her level of
educational attainment as seen in this example: Is that how you speak to an adult little girl? It should be noted that
Miss Joy used the dialect variation when they were angered as seen this example of Miss Joys speech: Thats the
reason why unu poison ma dog, so unu can come in here and thief! Miss Joy used creole as it is more emotive than
the acrolect variation. Nicky spoke only in basilect variation (deep patois) which illustrates that she as a low
educational attainment and poor mannerism as seen in this example: Idiat gal tap nassi up di blasted place.
Examples of communicative behaviours were illustrated by the characters in the drama piece. Vocalics was used
by Nicky when was calling her daughter as illustrated in this example: [shouting] Come back here!!!!! Vocalics
is used to denote emotions by the use of pitch, volume and tone. Proxemix was show by Monique when she ran out
of the house crying. Monique used space to show that didnt want to be around her mother. Monique also used body

language to show emotions when her mom was cursing her, gestures such as crying, screaming, throwing down the
broom and running out of the house shows her emotional hurt and resentment towards her mother.