Should we require the 16 year old children of generational welfare Mom's get part-time jobs and graduate H.S.?

Question

In order to receive family "assistance" (that they think they are owed) should we not require some EFFORT by these mother's to raise the next generation to have a WORK ETHIC?

I had to have a part-time job at 16 and I worked full-time during the summers. A LOT of the poor kids around HERE hang around at the MALLS all day. Shouldn't they have a job?

Generational welfare Mom's don't do much - except breed to get more money - shouldn't they be held accountable for the education and job training of their CHILDREN?

Answer 1

RLP: if that's your real photograph, you appear to be an intelligent, provocative (and attractive) woman from a white, middle-to-upper class background. I'd like to recommend that you read Ruby K. Payne's book published in 1998. It's an exhaustive and thorough study that strives to explain generational poverty.
I'm a retired newspaper publisher that grew up in what some might a call white, middle-to-lower class background. Had I gone to public grade schools, I would have attended a school that was run-down, had less-efficient educational instruction, and enjoyed fewer accommodations that the public schools in upper-class neighbors took for granted.
My grandparents afforded me and my three sisters the opportunity to attend parochial schools, which allowed us a better education than we would have received at the public school.
It's easy to say, "When I was a kid, I worked part time..." I had to go to work to support my family when I was 13 because my father was an alcoholic and my mother held down two jobs to try and make ends meet. And if there were opportunities out there for kids in today's generational poverty, I'd bet they'd take advantages of any available jobs. Unfortunately, there aren't as many opportunities out there as there are kids who are searching for them.
I teach Junior Achievement classes to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. As a volunteer, I come in contact with a lot of kids who - for whatever reasons- don't get the same opportunities other kids get. I remember one little girl who participated in an exercise about what her favorite day was. While all the other kids picked their birthday or Christmas or Saturdays for typically shallow reasons, this little girl said she liked Tuesday bests. When I questioned her about it, she said, "I like Tuesdays because that's the only day I get to see my daddy."
Generational moms might not "do much" in your eyes, but I know some single-parent homes where money is tight (or practically non-existent) and yet those mothers are among the most successful people I know. They have raised their families under the most dire of circumstances, without help from a father and with minimal help from our society.
If our government can afford to spend TRILLIONS of dollars on an unconstitutional, illegal, unjustified, immoral 'war' that's all about OIL and WAR PROFITEERING, it can certainly afford to shell out a few billion to keep poverty-stricken children from going hungry.
I believe that - given the opportunities - many of these children of poverty would enthusiastically take on the responsibility of working and building their self-esteem. It's just that opportunities are not as bountiful among those who live in the ghettos, receive sub-standard education, and have less availability to transportation and other facilities necessary to even avail themselves of the few opportunities they do get.
Please read Ruby's book; I'd like to hear your comments, whether you agree or disagree with me. -RKO- 06/10/07

Answer 2

The problem is that they are both underage. Neither can make enough to support a child so ultimately the grandparents are going to have to do it. If the father's parents refuse then you will have to go to court. It depends on local laws. If the father has to some kind of job then he'll have to pay but it sure won't buy much. It's sad because her parents will have to raise the child because a 16 yr old can't. It's a terrible situation especially since birth control information is so available & getting it is so easy.

Answer 3

Where have you been, most states already have similar requirements in place.
I work for and agency that is funded by grants from the Government to assist low income families in paying their monthly rent. Children of those families that are 16 and over are required to work in summer programs, that are made up of local businesses. We also have a program that requires our "Generational welfare Mom's" the choice to go to college or take a certificate program, that will ensure their future will not be a series of minimum wage jobs, forcing them to stay on welfare, and continue to be the major debate of reform ists today. "Generational welfare Mom's" exist because opinions such as "Generational welfare Mom's don't do much - except breed to get more money" allows us to separate the conscience with thee unconscious.

Answer 4

i can't disagree that young people need adult direction. however, i do disagree with you tying it to welfare moms. i am not a big fan of our welfare system. i believe it is misused by both the gov't and the people of america. it's intended use was good, but gov't as usual began to use it to much to make political points. let's not forget reelection. some people are just lazy and want a free ride. as usual the gov't does a bad job of culling these people out.do young people need a good education and a job future---yes. regetablly america is in the process of trying to grow up itself. what to do will take more than light conversation on a computer.

Answer 5

Well in reponse to one answer, I'm a Democrat, and have been working my a** off for years doing contractual law, so don't imply such sweeping statements.

In answer to question, well for once I'll agree with you RLP, to an extent. But you have to remember teachers here. If you force pupils to keep studying when they don't want to that causes resentment and can be a distraction to other students in the classes.

Answer 6

It's nice whether your on welfare or not, for a child to go on the program. It helps them to have their own money and teach; them the value of money. They can pay for things themselves , you may have to sign for them to get a car but they pay the payments, I think it just gives a better outlook on life and more responsibility. The school has to okay this program and any child that isn't getting decent grade they can't sign on for this program. I worked at Safeway starting at 1:00 checking groceries, I bought my own car, clothes that I wanted rather than have to ask my parents for money. I turned out okay. I went college and got Accounting degree a CPA license and I am now a programmer for a large Oil company making fantastic money. It didn't hurt me , it helped me.

Answer 7

There might be a point to making them graduate from high school -- if they learned anything besides the lyrics to hiphop, wearing their pants at half mast and hanging out at the mall. If they don't graduate, they can work at McDonalds. If they go to college they can become government school teachers. At least if they work at McDonalds they're productive.

Answer 8

That's the problem. They've never had to be held accountable for anything. If they can't even take personal responsibility for their own lives, they surely won't do it for anyone else - including their own children. That's why we have generational welfare families now. Instead of teaching their children a responsible work ethic and proper education for gainful employment, they're teaching them that the American Dream is standing in line for food stamps to fill a fridge for free in a unit in the projects.

That's why I agree with you. I think anyone in a welfare family old enough and capable enough to work damn well should be.

Answer 9

I consider myself mostly liberal, but I can take your side to an extent. But you cannot deny food to the starving children, there has to be a way to promote education. Maybe tie FULL benefits unless a high school degree is obtained and help them pay for it....INVEST IN CHILDREN, DON'T BEAT THEM. If you simply ignore them, you will be creating more of a problem...Do you want to see children in America on garbage heaps like you see in South America

Answer 10

I agree with you. They should be required to finish school and have AT LEAST a part time job to get gov assistance. Great question!