From: wdo@IEDV4.acd.com ( Bill Overpeck (TE)  )
Subject: Re: Clarifications, further comments (LONG)
Organization: Applied Computing Devices, Inc., Terre Haute IN
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 21:40:18 GMT

In <1992Apr1.005849.22579@cco.caltech.edu> anne@cco.caltech.edu 
   (Anneliese Lilje) writes: >
In article <1992Mar31.211345.25643@acd4.acd.com> wdo@IEDV4.acd.com 
   ( Bill Overpeck (TE)  ) writes: >>
In <1992Mar12.175031.24211@adobe.com> kendall@adobe.com 
   (Janice Kendall) writes: >>>
In article <kruuc2INN5t7@matt.ksu.ksu.edu> psb@matt.ksu.ksu.edu 
   (Jr Phillip S Buckland) writes: >>>>

>>>>    Children need a mother and a father present in their
>>>>	lives.  To not have one of them present causes adjustment problems.

>>> Go read Gloria Steinam's new book.  Statistics show that child abuse is
>>> significantly lower in families headed by single women than by two parent
>>> families.  The only time child abuse significantly dropped in this country
>>> is during World War II.  I think many children have adjustment problems
>>> from even two parent families: families where the parents disagree on how
>>> to raise the children (my own experience); families where one parent is
>>> overly strict/controlling and heavy with the punishment hand.

>>On the other hand, numerous studies have documented the negative effects 
>>of divorce on children.  Academic performance has been found to be sig-

>But we are not talking about children who grew up in a family that was
>a unit for a while and then had to suffer from divorce. Janice is absolutely
>making the point that child abuse is significantly lower in families
>headed by single women than by two parents. 

And you commented on "adjustment problems from even two parent families",
which is what my comments were in response to.

>This is logical since we know that men are more likely to abuse children 
>than women. 

How do we know this?  I'd be interested in looking at the studies. 

>Why do you start dribbling on about academic performance, depression and
>anxiety in children of divorce. This isn't child abuse. 

Pertains to your (and Phil's original) comments wrt adjustment problems.

>>Given Ms. Steinham's social agenda, the ostensible implication that 
>>families are better off without men isn't too surprising.  But since

>Hmmm. Let's see...
>
>Bill hears:
>   Child abuse is less in single parent female head of household
>   families than in traditional or single male parent families

Actually, Bill hears:
   "I think many children have adjustment problems from even two 
    parent families: families where the parents disagree on how
    to raise the children (my own experience); families where one 
    parent is overly strict/controlling and heavy with the punish-
    ment hand."

>from this Bill interprets:
>   Therefore Ms. Steinham believes that families are better off without
>   men.

Actually, Bill interprets:
    Anneliese seems to infer that children of single parent 
    families experience greater stability and fewer adjustment 
    problems than their counterparts from two parent families.

>A fantastic leap of logic. Hey Bill! A baloon is full of hot air, my
>professor is full of hot air, therefore my professor is a baloon.

I assume you're describing your Logic professor...

Bill