Based on the series Trial of Gabriel Fernandez, I firmly believe that child services and county sheriff’s departments failed to carry out their duties accordingly. Despite the numerous complaints raised by Gabriel’s teachers and family members, they did not take any legal action (Bergman, 2020-2021). When the sheriff’s department came to Gabriel’s house, they never asked to see him. Instead, they choose to believe Pearl (the victim’s mother), who told them that everything was fine.
In my opinion, I blame the system for what happened to the eight-year-old boy. According to the series, Gabriel was taken in by another family member when he was young after his mother left him at the hospital. Unfortunately, she never showed any interest or love to the young boy. Instead, she allowed her boyfriend to abuse him repeatedly (Bergman, 2020). In addition, she was a drug addict, a victim of sexual assault, and diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Thus, the child protective services department should have taken time to investigate the victim’s guardians and take the appropriate legal actions.
There are a few institutional problems that led to the tragic demise of Gabriel. For instance, ineffective law enforcement significantly contributed to the extended period Gabriel suffered at his guardian’s hand. Furthermore, the department of child services never took appropriate action against the guardians. Despite the numerous complaints and failed investigations, it was clear that Pearl was not fit to be the primary caretaker of Gabriel. A few things can be done to prevent child abuse, such as; creating programs for mentoring young-needy mothers, providing forester homes for children who might be abused, and more punitive measures taken against those found guilty of abuse.
The Movie, Paper Tigers
What surprised me in the Movie Paper Tigers is the adverse effects of childhood trauma on the physical health of adults. I did not imagine that childhood experiences could have significant impacts causing chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, cancer, and heart disease. In addition, there are numerous noteworthy lessons that I learned from the film. For instance, I recognized teachers’ prominent role in shaping the students exposed to neglect and abuse (Redford, 2016, 0:37:17). The film also expressed how exposure to adverse childhood experiences may lead to irresponsible behaviors, specifically among teenagers. Finally, I learned a few methods to serve the community by actively engaging with children affected by adverse childhood experiences to empower them.
There are numerous things that teachers and schools administration should implement to prevent student misbehavior and dropout. For example, teachers should be trained extensively to identify students who are exposed to child abuse. They should also have adequate skills to create healthy relationships and develop methods of appropriately handling troubled students. In addition, the school administration should set up counseling sessions to get to the root of their problems. Further, the administration should establish partnerships with child protective services and other agencies advocating for children’s rights. This would ease the process of reporting abuse among students and firmly stand against American child abuse.
Understanding trauma is essential because it helps create an environment that students exposed to trauma feel safe. This plays a significant role in nurturing trust with those students. Moreover, it enables the development of approaches for interacting and helping the students exposed to trauma. Finally, understanding trauma assists in recognizing the effects of trauma on students’ ability to learn.
The Movie, Born into Brothels
What I found surprising in the film Born into Brothels is Zana’s unrelenting dedication to rescue children raised in a brothel. She goes out of her way to engage herself with prostitutes’ children, determined to raise awareness about their plight. Other than Zana’s vigorous efforts to make impactful change in these children’s lives, I learned that; creating cognizance of human rights violations can also be used as a measure against the abuse of those rights (Briski & Kauffman, 2004, 0:29:27). In addition, I learned the role played by children’s background and education in shaping their physical and mental development. Another lesson was the power of an individual in encouraging defenseless and hopeless children in forging a brighter future.
Zana’s methods for advocating for children’s rights were unique and effective. She immersed herself in their natural environment to understand them and found ways of helping them. Rather than just recording the children, she also actively involved them in fighting for their rights by sharing their stories through art. In addition, she utilized her connections to share their art with the world. The leadership qualities she portrays enabled her to raise awareness of their plight.
In my opinion, she did not get over-involved while trying to save the children. The unique challenge she sought to embark on required an exceptional approach to obtain the desired output. Hence, she spent several years with the kids inspiring and documenting their life in the crusade of her message. The most significant drawback of fighting a system bigger than an individual is that the intended change may take a long time to impact significantly. Despite raising the awareness of human suffering to ignorant audiences, the exposure does not resolve the issues of those in distress.
References
Bergman, L. (Executive Producer). (2020-2021). The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez [TV series] Luminant Media & Common Sense Media.
Briski, Z., & Kauffman, R. (2004). Born into Brothels [Film]. THINK Film & Home Box Office.
Redford, J. (2016). Paper Tigers [Film]. KPJR Films.