Young children are often affected directly and/or indirectly by their family’s circumstances. While some may suggest that they leave their problems at the door, young children are rarely developmentally ready to do so. When families are in a crisis, it is increasingly important that teachers provide additional support for the child’s social-emotional needs. This often includes extending support beyond the child and onto the family.

For this discussion, reflect on one of the following circumstances described in your textbook chapters: divorce and/or remarriage, children with special needs, families with infants, abuse, and neglect).

For this discussion:

1) Identify the circumstances you have selected.

2) Provide an analysis of the circumstance and how it can impact education.

3) Describe a minimum of two community resources you would provide for an educator working with a child and family experiencing your particular circumstance. For example, when working with families of divorce, you could share the NASP’s website: Divorce: A Parent’s Guide for Supporting Children

4) Discuss the importance of supporting families in particular circumstances. What are the benefits to the child and family? How can this circumstance affect the learning environment?

5) Support your ideas by referencing the course text and at least one additional outside resource.

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.

God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Impact of Divorce on Children and the Role of Educators

Circumstance: Divorce and Remarriage

Divorce can significantly impact a child’s emotional, social, and academic development. Children may experience a range of emotions, including sadness, anger, and confusion. These emotions can manifest in various ways, such as behavioral problems, difficulty concentrating, and changes in appetite or sleep patterns.

Impact on Education:

  • Academic Performance: Divorce can negatively impact a child’s academic performance, as they may struggle to focus and concentrate.
  • Social-Emotional Development: Children may experience difficulties forming and maintaining relationships with peers and adults.

Impact of Divorce on Children and the Role of Educators

Circumstance: Divorce and Remarriage

Divorce can significantly impact a child’s emotional, social, and academic development. Children may experience a range of emotions, including sadness, anger, and confusion. These emotions can manifest in various ways, such as behavioral problems, difficulty concentrating, and changes in appetite or sleep patterns.

Impact on Education:

  • Academic Performance: Divorce can negatively impact a child’s academic performance, as they may struggle to focus and concentrate.
  • Social-Emotional Development: Children may experience difficulties forming and maintaining relationships with peers and adults.
  • Behavioral Problems: Divorce can lead to increased behavioral problems, such as aggression, defiance, and withdrawal.

Community Resources for Educators:

  1. The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP): NASP provides resources and support for educators working with children experiencing divorce. They offer guidance on how to create a supportive classroom environment and how to help children cope with emotional distress.
  2. Child Welfare Information Gateway (CWIG): CWIG provides information and resources on a variety of child welfare topics, including divorce and its impact on children. They offer practical tips for educators and parents on how to help children adjust to divorce.

Importance of Supporting Families in Divorce:

  • Emotional Support: Providing emotional support to children can help them cope with the stress and anxiety associated with divorce.
  • Consistency and Routine: Maintaining a consistent routine can help children feel more secure and stable.
  • Open Communication: Encouraging open communication between parents and children can help alleviate anxiety and confusion.
  • Positive Relationships: Building positive relationships with both parents can help children feel loved and supported.

By providing support and guidance to families experiencing divorce, educators can help children develop the resilience and coping skills they need to thrive.

Reference:

  • National Association of School Psychologists. (n.d.). Divorce: A Parent’s Guide for Supporting Children. Retrieved from

    https://www.naspcenter.org/

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