Family Values
Christopher A. Schulz “The Value of Families” Society and family value have
changed into an institutionalized process. A transformation has taken place
within communities altering the “traditional” family ways. The system in which
one parent worked, while the other parent tended to the children has almost
become obsolete. This change triggered the formation of a discombobulated
society where greed motivates both parents in the work force, leaving their
children to be raised by institutions consisting of under-qualified personnel.
In his article, “The Value of Families,” Amitai Etzioni examines this change and
the consequences suffered as a result of it. Etzioni opens his essay by
comparing parenthood to an “industry.” He states how the childcare industry has
lost a large percentage of its employees to greed. He claims that this is due to
an increase in the amount of women leaving their children home, or in childcare
centers while they pursue careers. The insatiable desire for parents to earn
more income, as opposed to spending quality time with their children, has been
proven to cause a decrease in the maturity level of these neglected children at
a later age. Throughout the article, Etzioni stresses the importance of
parent-child interactions. He quotes Barbara Dafoe as saying “Maybe there is
indeed such a thing as a one-minute manger, but there is no such thing as a
one-minute parent” (Etzioni108).
He uses Dafoe to prove his point that “that
quality time occurs within quality time.” (Etzioni108). Quality time spent with
children is crucial for their well being. “The value of Families” Eventually, Etzioni takes a sarcastic tone, as he brings up an old channel eleven
commercial. In the commercial, a mother calls her son to inform him that she
left ten dollars on the counter for dinner. Due to a lack of parental
supervision and guidance, the child hangs up the phone, rolls up the ten-dollar
bill, and uses it to sniff cocaine. Etzioni utilizes this commercial as a means
to illustrate the necessity for parents to spend quality time with their
children despite their desire to become successful in the work force. Etzioni
goes on to tear apart the modern day childcare systems within the United States.
He states that the day-care centers do not employ a sufficient amount of
qualified personnel, as the people who are qualified frequently change jobs due
to low incomes. This has a direct impact on the children, as it leaves them
without a stable person in their lives. Along with illustrating the fact that
the child-care systems in the United States lack stability, he also offered
solutions. He stressed that parents get involved. By spending a few hours a week
with their children, the parents are able to “get involved,” while leaving the
children with a sense of stability. In Israel, where the author was raised, the
people leave their children in a kibbutz. A kibbutz is a daycare center, in
which, unlike ours, the people who rise the youth of their country are well
rewarded for their profound work. Perhaps this type of system would benefit that
of the United States.
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