C H A P T E R 7 :
RESPONSIBILITY -- WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY?
69
Competing Voices
"My child's success or lack thereof depends mostly on my child's efforts.
There is a limit as to what the teacher can do. The child must learn to accept
responsibility for their education." (Mother of 8th grade boy)
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". . . Parents should take more responsibility in their children's lives. . ."
(Father of 2nd grade girl)
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"Learn that teaching is not a job it's a responsibility."
(Father of 8th grade boy)
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"Because I am in charge of how I wanna live my life and only I can
dedicate myself." (8th grade boy)
Overview
Teens and their parents demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility for different
areas of students' lives, including getting a good education, learning about different
jobs and careers, as well as their safety, health and happiness. Teachers feel most
responsible for students' learning about different jobs and careers and school safety,
but not for other aspects of students' lives. In addition to feeling responsible for areas
of their own lives, many students feel responsible for larger social issues including,
keeping schools safe, having people get along with each other, improving school edu-
cation, keeping the environment clean and helping the poor.
Responsibility for Teens' Lives
Most parents of secondary school children (83%) strongly feel that people need to
take responsibility for their own lives (Exhibit 7.1). Secondary school students are
less likely to hold this view, although a majority of students (69%) do strongly agree.
Exhibit 7.1
"I Think People Need to Take Responsibility for Their Own Lives"
% "Strongly Agree"
