from the Kennebec Journal
QUESTIONS REMAIN
No complaints from those who switched to Somerset County center
Vote on 1 may hurt some in election
Steeple at center of debate in Whitefield
VETERANS REQUIRE ASSISTANCE: Homelessness takes center stage
J.P. DEVINE: Overcome sadness with hope
BASKETBALL: NBA Hall of Famer Barry doles out advice at Thomas College
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: Maranacook sophomore Mace dominates Class B field
All of today's:
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from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
A year later, families await answers on fatalities
Owner of topless coffee shop on the comeback trail
Officials report cheaper, better service after switch
Two people in critical condition
Young Marines stick to program
Issue of homeless veterans at center stage
GIRLS SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Winslow falls to York in Class B
Bard hits her marathon stride
All of today's:
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from the Morning Sentinel
This letter is in response to the Aug. 6 story "These children need a place." As a social worker, involved with troubled adolescents for the past 10 years, I can attest to the plight of those mothers. Among a growing number of young men with no fathers at home, the crime rate has increased dramatically throughout the past decade. The combined effects of testosterone, an increasing violent culture (15 homicides in Maine already this year) and the lack of a positive male role model in the home can create angry, aggressive young men. Acceptance and validation is often provided by older adolescent males seeking to recruit for their "gangs." The younger male is then required to "car shop" (rifling through open vehicles for anything they can find), assault innocent people and engage in property destruction to gain initiation into the gang. This is occurring frequently and will ultimately overwhelm our already inadequate correctional facilities.
There are answers. One is to increase the state's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Corrections responsibilities to intervene on the behalf of parents unable to provide adequate support for their children. There are quality residential facilities in this state such as Good Will Hinckley, Spurwink, Sweetser and Phoenix House to name a few. These facilities provide a supportive environment to help kids redirect their energies towards school, sports, developing meaningful relationships with others and healthy self-esteem. This helps reduce their vulnerability to negative influences. Kids in trouble deserve this chance. If we don't invest now in these children by providing supportive environments, we'll invest much more later to incarcerate them.
Bill Lord
China Village
Reader comments
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A good many divorced fathers would absolutely love to be more involved with the lives of their children. However, in a great many situations, the child is used as a weapon against the father. In these situations, the father is nothing more than an ATM for the kid. Yet, when kids, male children specifically, begin to act out, the outcry usually is, "Where's the father?"
For decades, gender feminists have been decrying the value of the male in the family. Mow, we're starting to reap what we sow. Out of wedlock births coupled with easy divorce is helping to create the situation the writer is referring to. We're starting to see that children really do need both parents in their lives. This single mommy game is merely fueling the government need to add more programs such as welfare, child support agencies, and family courts.
I'm also sure that some single mommies will write on here about how their ex husband or the father of their child is a this or a that. I'd like to know why some of these women continue to repeatedly choose such men.report abuse
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