Should children fear their parents? Discussion points and questions.

SHOULD CHILDREN FEAR THEIR PARENTS?

Ask the students if have heard of Amy Chua the Tiger Mom.

Here are her rules:

Here are some of the things my daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were never allowed to do:

• attend a sleepover

• have a playdate

• be in a school play

• complain about not being in a school play

• watch TV or play computer games

• choose their own extracurricular activities

• get any grades less than an A

• not be the #1 student in every subject except gym and drama 

• play any instrument other than the piano or violin

• not play the piano or violin

What are some rules you have for your children, or some rules your parents have for you?

Maybe mention this:

I just wasn't cut out to be a Chinese Tiger Mom. I'm more of an Irish Setter Dad. Here are some of the things my daughters, Muffin and Poppet, and my son, Buster, were never allowed to do:

• go to church or school naked

• attend a sleepover at Charlie Sheen's house

• mix Daddy a martini using sweet vermouth

• play the violin within earshot of me

Ask the students if they are tiger parents.  Ask the students if their parents are Tiger parents (or perhaps Irish Setter Dads).  Would you fear such a parent - Tiger Mom? (*What does fear mean in this case?)

Do/did you fear your parents?  Why?  How do you feel when they get mad at you?  Do you get mad at your parents?  Are you allowed to complain?  Can you say so or do you "bite your tongue"?

How should we fear our parents?

Do your children fear you?  Do you want them to fear you?

Do modern children fear their parents as much as previous generations of children feared their parents?

Should parents be strict?  Easy-going? Should parents word be the law?  Or should parents merely offer suggestions?

Do you respect your parents?  (*maybe define respect.*) Why?  Why not?  Do your children respect you? 

Can we love and fear our parents?  Why?  Can we love and not respect our parents?

(*Moving on to fear in general society...*)

Do you look at your past and now see that you should have heeded what your parents wanted?

Should workers fear their bosses?  Should students fear teachers?  Do students fear teachers?

What people in life do you fear?  Why?