by Jennifer Wagner

Created on: January 13, 2009

The problem with children these days is that they have been given permission not to take the blame for anything. Bad behavior is blamed on ADHD or hyperactivity. A foul mouth is blamed on television and movies. Promiscuity is blamed on celebrities and media coverage. And bad, or failing, grades are blamed on teachers or parents.

Do we really want to raise our children to not take responsibility for their own actions? Unless there is a legitimate learning disability involved, a child should be held accountable for their own failing schoolwork. If bad grades are a result of not turning in homework, the student should have to make up that homework. If an "F" has been received because the child didn't study, then he or she should be studying. By giving a child the opportunity to always blame someone else for their failures, we are only setting them up to learn to be a victim. In adulthood these same children will have a difficult time accepting responsibility for anything! Not only should children be held accountable for their own behavior, they should be required to rectify any failing grades as well. Sometimes getting a bad grade isn't any punishment at all. But having to make up the work, retake a test, etc., will have a long lasting impression.

Sadly, there are some parents that support this way of thinking. Many parents play "the blame game" by failing to accept their child's failures and wrongdoings, and pass the blame off on someone else. Parents do this simply because they don't want to face the truth, or because it's easier than arguing with the child. Some of the best intentioned parents are raising some of the most spoiled children. By failing to set goals for their children, or requiring them to live up to certain expectations, they are training their children to be irresponsible. Not just in childhood, but in adulthood as well.

It important to note, that everything must be taken into consideration before placing blame on the child. There are exceptions to every rule. For example, if many children in the same class are failing then, obviously, that would be an indicator that there is a lack of proper instruction and/or a poor teaching technique is being used. If that is the case, than the child should NOT be blamed for his or her poor grades and the teacher should be replaced. Blaming the child in this circumstance could cause long lasting self esteem issues.

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