The composite of different articles in Disrespecting Childhood have provided a number of examples
and legislation regarding the protection of children that in fact isolate and in some ways target other
populations of teens. Because there are so many topics to choose from I’ve decided to pick one that
stands out with me the most and extrapolate on a phenomenon and series of historical events that
have lead up to the phrase we hear as helicopter parenting. One of the articles sections talks about
minors being charged as an adult for specific crimes which in turn, has placed over 21,000 kids under
the age of 18 in adult correctional facilities (Dudley-Marling, Jackson, & Stevens, 2006 p.105).
Rather than taking an active approach to try and change, educate, or correct this behavior in a minor,
our judicial system has taken it upon themselves to simply “fix” the problem by isolating the behavior.
and legislation regarding the protection of children that in fact isolate and in some ways target other
populations of teens. Because there are so many topics to choose from I’ve decided to pick one that
stands out with me the most and extrapolate on a phenomenon and series of historical events that
have lead up to the phrase we hear as helicopter parenting. One of the articles sections talks about
minors being charged as an adult for specific crimes which in turn, has placed over 21,000 kids under
the age of 18 in adult correctional facilities (Dudley-Marling, Jackson, & Stevens, 2006 p.105).
Rather than taking an active approach to try and change, educate, or correct this behavior in a minor,
our judicial system has taken it upon themselves to simply “fix” the problem by isolating the behavior.
This section in particular is fascinating to me because it shows a radical shift from trying to protect our'
children from bad people to we must protect our children from the other children.
I personally believe this shift took place during the 1980s when “stranger danger” (Kutner, 2016)
became the new slogan in the news and media and made everything outside the home seem foreign
and dangerous. Because this was also the era where the internet and media began to really take
hold, news was able to reach all across the nation within seconds. I believe because of this instant
outreach, news across the country began to feel like news within one’s hometown.
Furthermore there were a few child abduction cases (i.e. Jacob wetterling, and a young
girl Megan Lewinsky which will be discussed further) who were kidnapped at the time and photos
of their missing child reports began to show up on milk cartons, cereal boxes etc. (Kutner, 2016)
This rapid outreach eventually lead to the 1994 - Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and
Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act (Office of Justice Program, n.d.) Which made it mandatory
that police had an updated registry of people who had committed some kind of violent sexual act.
In my personal opinion this act made a lot of sense because if a child went missing, authorities
could quickly check for alibis to ensure it wasn’t done by someone already convicted of a sexual crime.
children from bad people to we must protect our children from the other children.
I personally believe this shift took place during the 1980s when “stranger danger” (Kutner, 2016)
became the new slogan in the news and media and made everything outside the home seem foreign
and dangerous. Because this was also the era where the internet and media began to really take
hold, news was able to reach all across the nation within seconds. I believe because of this instant
outreach, news across the country began to feel like news within one’s hometown.
Furthermore there were a few child abduction cases (i.e. Jacob wetterling, and a young
girl Megan Lewinsky which will be discussed further) who were kidnapped at the time and photos
of their missing child reports began to show up on milk cartons, cereal boxes etc. (Kutner, 2016)
This rapid outreach eventually lead to the 1994 - Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and
Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act (Office of Justice Program, n.d.) Which made it mandatory
that police had an updated registry of people who had committed some kind of violent sexual act.
In my personal opinion this act made a lot of sense because if a child went missing, authorities
could quickly check for alibis to ensure it wasn’t done by someone already convicted of a sexual crime.
However, shortly after this act was put in place the mother of Monica Lewinsky got involved and
pushed for these registries to be open to the public. This manifest itself into the second act which
was the 1996 - Megan's Law (Office of Justice Program, n.d.). Once these registries became open
to the public, parents everywhere started freaking out. Soon after this it seemed as though the
government was playing a game of who can emplace the strictest laws on sexual perpetrators.
In doing so, names of people who simply sent a nude photo, had sex with their girlfriend who was
only a year younger than them, or kids who streaked at a football game went on these registries.
pushed for these registries to be open to the public. This manifest itself into the second act which
was the 1996 - Megan's Law (Office of Justice Program, n.d.). Once these registries became open
to the public, parents everywhere started freaking out. Soon after this it seemed as though the
government was playing a game of who can emplace the strictest laws on sexual perpetrators.
In doing so, names of people who simply sent a nude photo, had sex with their girlfriend who was
only a year younger than them, or kids who streaked at a football game went on these registries.
Disclaimer: I am highlighting some con sides of these acts however it should be noted these have greatly improved
investigative strategies for finding criminals and that I am not some heartless human who disapproves of them.
investigative strategies for finding criminals and that I am not some heartless human who disapproves of them.
Long story short, these registrees began targeting minors in the same way they would target a
pediofile who had raped and killed children thus isolating a population of teens and putting them in the
same category as adults who had actually committed sexually violent crimes. Similarly to my
statement earlier critiquing our system on not properly educating these teens who are being charged
as adults, (although that education is also just part of an entirely more complex problem that should
be dealt with way sooner in life) rather than fixing the problem of not having anymore victims,
we have in turn made everyone seem as though they are a predator. It is because of these laws
and cultural phenomena that I believe all the other sections of Disrespecting Childhood have
become such an obvious issue.
pediofile who had raped and killed children thus isolating a population of teens and putting them in the
same category as adults who had actually committed sexually violent crimes. Similarly to my
statement earlier critiquing our system on not properly educating these teens who are being charged
as adults, (although that education is also just part of an entirely more complex problem that should
be dealt with way sooner in life) rather than fixing the problem of not having anymore victims,
we have in turn made everyone seem as though they are a predator. It is because of these laws
and cultural phenomena that I believe all the other sections of Disrespecting Childhood have
become such an obvious issue.
Anecdote
If anyone does decide to look more into this, it is quite staggering how these two laws alone have
forced homelessness onto people who are coming out of prison for being convicted of sexual crimes.
It is because of all this ^^ that it is so easy to get convicted for sending nude photos, not getting
consent, or having sex with a minor. Think about that… also look into the laws that were put in place
during the Obama administration that required a vision stamp to be put on anyone's passport who
has been convicted of (a more serious) sexual crime. It should be noted that this is not required for
any other kind of crime like murder, mass killing, nothing, zip nada. Yes, I understand this anecdote
is slightly tangential and controversial but food for thought!
forced homelessness onto people who are coming out of prison for being convicted of sexual crimes.
It is because of all this ^^ that it is so easy to get convicted for sending nude photos, not getting
consent, or having sex with a minor. Think about that… also look into the laws that were put in place
during the Obama administration that required a vision stamp to be put on anyone's passport who
has been convicted of (a more serious) sexual crime. It should be noted that this is not required for
any other kind of crime like murder, mass killing, nothing, zip nada. Yes, I understand this anecdote
is slightly tangential and controversial but food for thought!
Refereces
Dudley-Marling, C., Jackson, J., & Stevens, L.P. (2006). Disrespecting childhood. Phi Delta Kappan.
23. (pp. 104-108) doi10.1177/003172170608701009.
23. (pp. 104-108) doi10.1177/003172170608701009.
Kutner, M. (2016). How ‘stranger things’ captures ’80s panic over missing kids. Newsweek Magazine.
Retrieved from https://www.newsweek.com/stranger-things-missing-children-netflix-488605
Retrieved from https://www.newsweek.com/stranger-things-missing-children-netflix-488605
Office of Justice Program. (n.d.). Legislative history of federal sex offender registration and notification. Retrieved from https://www.smart.gov/legislation.htm
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