Issues Faced by Students whose Parents are in Jail
Parents and guardians should support their students in order to achieve their academic goals. Every disabled child should also get the best attention and care from his or her parents. Students whose parents have been imprisoned will encounter numerous economic strains.
This situation makes it impossible for such learners to get quality education and social support. The students encounter numerous health challenges. The children “also encounter difficulties whenever associating with other people because of underdeveloped social skills” (Dale, 2008, p. 29).
Many children of incarcerated parents tend to have underdeveloped behaviors. They also encounter different problems whenever associating with their peers. This situation affects the lives of such students.
The students also experience a wide range of risks. They might copy unacceptable behaviors that eventually result in juvenile delinquency. The learners will also abuse different drugs. The “absence of positive child-parent relationships during early childhood will definitely affect the educational outcomes of such students” (Behnke, 2009, p. 62).
This problem becomes complex for disabled students. Educators should consider several ethical principles whenever working with individuals with disabilities. This should be the same case for educators who support different students whose parents have been imprisoned. Teachers should respect the worth and dignity of these students.
They should also “observe their rights to self-determination, confidentiality, and privacy” (Behnke, 2009, p. 63). Social workers and societies should intervene in the lives of these students. The government should use appropriate policies to strength the relationships between such students and their parents.
This strategy will “promote the healthy development of the targeted children” (Dale, 2008, p. 72). The learners will also achieve the best academic goals.
Issues Faced by Students under the Care of Elderly Guardians
Many students are usually under the care of elderly parents. Some of these elderly caretakers include parents, grandparents, and guardians. Studies show that such students encounter a wide range of challenges. To begin with, the students will lack the best support from such caretakers.
This is the case because such guardians are usually physically unfit. They also “encounter coordination problems and health issues” (Christian, 2009, p. 3). Such issues make it impossible for them to support the needs of the targeted students. The learners will also lack the best emotional support from their caretakers.
Such elderly parents do not have the required financial strength to support the targeted students. This situation will make it impossible for them to achieve their potentials. Many elderly guardians do not have the strength to empower such disabled students. This fact explains why new policies are required to support these students.
The elderly face numerous problems because of their age. Such caregivers are also unable to empower these students. Many learners are using various technologies and devices in order to achieve the best educational goals. It is appropriate for such students to get the best feedbacks and ideas from their guardians.
Such students will not benefit from modern technologies. The elderly do not have the time to mentor and coach these students (Christian, 2009). This gap encourages them to engage in unacceptable behaviors and practices. The individuals will start to take various drugs. The students will also lack the best care from these elderly caregivers.
Teachers should gather the right information from every stressed family. This information will make it easier for them to support the changing needs of such students (Dale, 2008). They should also develop positive relationships with these elderly caregivers. The practice will ensure every student achieves his or her academic goals.
Reference List
Behnke, S. (2009). Disability as an ethical issue: A law school symposium offers an opportunity for psychologists to reflect on the role of stigma within our own field. American Psychological Association, 40(6), 62-64.
Christian, S. (2009). Children of Incarcerated Parents. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/documents/cyf/childrenofincarceratedparents.pdf
Dale, N. (2008). Working With Families of Children with Special Needs: Partnership and Practice. New York, NY: Routledge.