What Makes a Good Parent?

Quickwrites Spend 5 minutes answering the following question: In your opinion, what makes a parent a good parent? Why do these qualities or traits make a parent a good parent? Quickwrites

Quickwrites Spend 5 minutes answering the following question: In your opinion, what makes a parent a not so good parent? Why do these qualities or traits make the parent not so good? Quickwrites

Quickwrites Spend 5 minutes answering the following question: What kind of parent do you think you will be? How do you think you will raise your future children? Quickwrites

Directions On a separate piece of binder paper: Read each scenario from the handout. Write the letter of scenario, and rate each one based on your opinion of whether it is good or bad parenting. Underneath your ranking, write why you ranked it the way that you did Directions

Although Bill and his friends are only fifteen, they are able to get into “R” rated movies at a local theater without any questions asked. Bill’s parents find out. They tell him he has been “breaking the law” and that he cannot accompany his friends to any more “R” rated movies. Scenario A

Andy has a big history test for which he has not studied Andy has a big history test for which he has not studied. So that he may study and take the exam later, his parents call the school and say he is sick. Scenario B

Sue has just started attending a different high school Sue has just started attending a different high school. Her parents do not approve of several new friends she has brought home because they “act disrespectfully, use bad language, and ride motorcycles.” Her parents say they are afraid of what will happen if Sue gets involved with the “wrong crowd” and tell her they not want to see her with these “friends” again. Scenario C

Four-year-old Jeffie always screams and cries when he has to go to nursery school. His mother tells him that if for a whole week he does not cry about going to nursery school, she will buy him a new toy. Scenario D

Jenny works very hard to get B’s in all of her classes Jenny works very hard to get B’s in all of her classes. Her parents tell her she should try harder and be more like her older brother, who always makes A’s. Scenario E

Patty’s parents will not allow her to smoke cigarettes Patty’s parents will not allow her to smoke cigarettes. She argues that since she is sixteen she should be allowed to smoke. Each of her parents smokes two packs a day. Scenario F

Joe breaks a neighbor’s window while playing baseball Joe breaks a neighbor’s window while playing baseball. His father “grounds” him for three weeks. Since Joe does not have enough money to pay for the damage, his father makes him work in the yard and around the house to earn the money. Scenario G

Steve is driven home by the police because they caught him shoplifting Steve is driven home by the police because they caught him shoplifting. The police tell his parents that they will not arrest him this time but that he should be aware of the seriousness of what he has done. His parents decide not to punish him because “boys will be boys.” Scenario H

Marianne would be happy wearing inexpensive jeans to school Marianne would be happy wearing inexpensive jeans to school. Her mother, a single parent, does not make much money, but she insists on buying Marianne very expensive, stylish clothes because she wants to be sure her daughter is in the “most popular group” at school. Scenario I

Is Atticus a Good Parent? Towards the end of Part 1, we have stared to see some criticism of the way that Atticus raises Scout and Jem, but in chapter 9 he tells Aunt Alexandria “‘Sister, I do the best I can with them!’” (pg 108). In your opinion, what do you think of Atticus as a parent? Do you think he is doing the best he can? Why or why not? Be sure to support your answer with examples from the novel. Is Atticus a Good Parent?