Sample Exercise Answers
and Jeanne's Comments

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Latest update: February 8, 1999
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Well- done exercise, answers in student's own words. Look for my comments in throughout. jeanne

The child saving moment was instituted by middle-class housewives, who used their skills to provide social programs to juviniles. These women used th misfortune of juviniles to advance themselves.

Jeanne's comments: Yes, but it was part of the attempt for women to gain more access to the public sphere. They had their own personal agenda, but also had an agenda for helping the children.

In Minows' view helping children is a good thing, but one should always look for improvements, instead of accepting the law as is which is bad law.

Jeanne's comments: The law is not always bad. Careful of such terms. But the law does use categorical thinking, which does not fit the complex reality of the narratives of real people. Minow understands that complexity.

Freires' view is that the children have no say regarding their predicament. To ignore them means we remove ourselves away from the sphere of compassion for their welfare. The rights of the child should be taken into consideration.

Jeanne's comments:Yes, that's right. But Freire says even more than that. Freire says that if, in our attempt to help the disempowered we do not listen to them in good >faith, then we are no longer helping. We are merely imposing our perspective on them. Freire speaks less in terms of compassion than in a >profound recognition of the right of each voice to be heard in good faith.

Platt presents a left perspective because the "child-saviors" directed their endeavors to the children of lower -class society. All children are dependent. It is a gross error to turn this into fact because it is not the norm for all children, especially the poor and underprivileged.

In regards to due process, yes it is an issue,

Jeanne's comments: Here, I either have to guess, or go look up the question. Please try to make your answers complete in and of themselves so I don't have to go look for the question.

because no voice is given to the children. Instead decisions are been made for them, >without them being a part of the process.

Jeanne's comments: I'm sorry. You were telling me what the issue was - I was just going too fast. I suspect you are talking about the rights of due process, where the children are given a chance to be heard. Make the connection clear. You did. Sorry, I was very busy when this came in. jeanne