Culture, Nature & Freedom: Treating Juvenile Offenders. :: essays research papers

Culture, Nature & Freedom Treating Juvenile Offenders.GronemanArgiro, T.W. Civ. 205December 12,1996In Kansas, Juvenile offenders atomic number 18 sent to youthfulness Centers. These are hardlyChild prisons, lockdown facilities for kids. This style of treatment goesagainst every image of growth put forward in this class. In this paper I will tryto unloosen the use of residential treatment schemes through the ideas found inseveral of this semesters authors including T.Huxtley, Rousseau, DuBois, Freud,A.Huxtley, and Mill. The Ideals set forth by these intellectuals should be thebasis for all treatment, to better the individuals and society.First, We mickle look to DuBois. He believes that people can change their ownconsciousness. He shows this through his Immersion narrative. This cant workin a youth center. The only heathenish ideal here is the Master/slave dialecticbetween staff and youth. The sides work apart. The two cant join because onedoes not experience the other. There is no way to be above the soft palate of theirstatus. In a residential treatment modality, Relationship building is key tosuccess. The youth need to feel the veil has been lifted. It allows them toexplore gumshoely and see the world in a greater view. The view as other is removedand a true balance displaces the outdo / slave one.Next, we can look at Mills Ideas on culture. He would like to elevate the chastes of the human mind. To do this, we must continually outpouring the standard. Newideas must be able to circulate freely. We must weigh how all actions effectothers. This can not be done in these Youth centers as well. They have veryspecific codes and any questioning is reprimanded. Cultural influx is at astandstill and Censor ship is at its highest assertable level. A residentialtreatment modality gives all ideas a free shot. Self Government, A system usedby the youth assures a safe environment to share all feedback and new ideasopenly, to non judgmental ears. it looks at ho w ones action are related toothers and provides a safe place for all expression. Allowing ideas to stayfresh and moral stability and growth to flourish.This leads us directly to the dehumanization described by T.H. Huxtley. First,we have the effects of Social-Darwinism. We are using our own projections ofnature for a model. These children are being culturally pushed aside forprogress, stuck in mini prisons. Where, rather than fix problems, we push theminto suffering so that we may achieve gains. Then there is the idea of thegospel of wealth. Why help these kids?