If parents were raised improperly, can we expect them to raise their children properly?

Question

When thier children perform poorly in school we blame the parent. I too agree that it is the parents job to 'raise' the child and not the school's job. However, it seems to me that in the US we currently have an overabundance of parents (and even grand parents) whom were not given proper guidance and education during their own childhood to lead a successful and fulfilling life. Can we realistically expect these parents to instill values, ethics and positive attitudes that they don't even posess themselves? As a society, does it seem necessary for us to take action to end this vicious cycle?

Answer 1

Depends on a variety of extraneous factors. A misraised person may be intelligent enough to know (s)he has been misraised, and to do best not to repeat that kind of mistakes with own offspring. If said person has been lucky to find a parent substitute who could pass on a proper sense of values... all the better.

Of course, such a positive perspective is going to work only for a stunningly small minority.

Trouble with the concept of taking measures "as a society" is that first must be determined just what branch of society should take action, and how? Don't trust school, it seems really on a downward slope, and the effort in means and personnel to reverse it would probably get the taxpayers in an effort reversing huff. Churches... would be the most traditional organ for instilling values, but with the fact that many churches tend become so liberal as to forget values, and that the rest are dominated by calvinist/evangelical outfits whose true believers are essentially religious nuts, and unfit to instill values in reasonable people... that sets churches out too. Since parents are already disqualified, who des that leave?

Answer 2

Children rear er in usual situation turn out OK

Lawyers grow up in single parent house holds doctors come from abusive families.

A child who had a stay at home mom goes to Harvard then goes to jail for insider trading.

An uneducated parent rears a judge

Nothing is certain I remember and episodes of Dateline several years back of kids who came from what would be called backgrounds of privilege and they were in jail for various crimes while children who came from nothing succeeded.

It's about the person.

My uneducated grandparent who worked in the fields managed to raise 15 college educated teachers and they could not help with homework and they spent very little time at home cause they had to work

Answer 3

Now I dont think so , I mean I was just released from jail, spend 5 yrs. with me Pa he still there, and mom dont care as long the fridge is full. Hell I dont know how to get it this time around, but me an my brothers 5 of em will come up with somting.Now dont ya worry little lady I'll fix his wagon.

Answer 4

It takes a village to raise a child. Perhaps if there were less violence on tv and less indifferance in society things would be different

Answer 5

I sympathise with your question
but Hitler TRIED that , AND was questionably
successfull .

One can only HOPE that the "off-spring"
SOMEHOW have more IQ , AND a Sense
of Humor (which will benefit them) ...

Sadly , from what I see , it is a vicious CYCLE
......

"As a Society" ? ... NAH