The question of a mother’s liability for her son’s actions, particularly in cases involving serious crimes such as murder, raises complex legal and ethical considerations. In instances where a mother suspects that her child may be involved in violent behavior, the extent to which she can be held legally accountable for their actions becomes a subject of intense debate.
This article examines the implications of maternal liability in cases where there is prior suspicion of potential wrongdoing by a child, focusing on the intersection of legal duty and parental responsibility.
Read the article and share your thought about this issue.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/sep/08/georgia-school-shooting-suspect-mother
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “to seek bail” mean? “Their attorneys declined to immediately seek bail during their first court appearance on Friday.” Give a similar expression and use this phrase in a sentence.
- What does “taunting” mean? “The Georgia teenager had struggled with his parents’ separation and taunting by classmates, his father told a sheriff’s investigator last year when asked whether his son posted an online threat.” Give 2 synonyms and use this word in a sentence.
- What does “disproportionate rate” mean? “Their killings renewed the American public debate about safe storage laws for guns while also prompting parents to ponder how to talk to their children about trauma and school shootings, which occur in the US at a disproportionate rate.” Use the phrase in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- Which detail/s in this news caught your interest? Talk about it/them.
- Do you think a parent is responsible for their child’s criminal behavior? Explain your opinion on this.
- What might be done to prevent this kind of horrible incidents from happening again in the future?
- What problems do you see among teenagers and their behaviors in your country these days?
- Give an example of a sensational case involving a teenager or teenagers in your country.