Steven was one of those. He never had a chance. Most teachers develop an ability to recognize the child who is likely to develop serious mental and emotional problems, but they need the training to respond appropriately and to link the child with services that can help. Moreover, teachers may lack the perception to see the trauma of the compliant silent lost child in the back row, the active clown in the center, or the overly responsible hero in the front. These children endure a home life that undermines their happiness and success as students and adults and will affect their children as well.
Studies vary on the actual number of school age children who have an alcoholic parent.
Some estimates are as high as one in every four. Some children will develop the resiliency to surmount the problems caused by parental substance abuse. Others will do so with the help of a caring adult who not only listens and fosters trust, but encourages them to develop skills for self protection, self sufficiency, and a positive self image. Others who might be helped will, instead, become angry, antisocial survivors whose lifestyles and life problems cost society dearly. When our society was less transient, children who needed help could turn to non-drinking relatives and neighbors.