Posted: April 27th, 2023

Scenario:You are a first-year teacher who has just learned that the parents of Kyla

Objective:
To create a pros and cons list regarding 50–50 joint custody parenting from various perspectives and to evaluate your list.

Assignment incomplete without self reflection
Scenario:
You are a first-year teacher who has just learned that the parents of Kyla, a child in your class, have divorced. Kyla’s mother tells you that she and Kyla’s father are working out the details of a 50–50 joint custody parenting arrangement for Kyla and her two older brothers. You imagine that this new arrangement will be stressful for everyone concerned and would like to have a deeper understanding of the possible implications. Your director suggests you watch the video Divorce and Children. After watching the video, you decide to clarify your thinking about what the pros and cons of 50–50 shared parenting might be from the perspectives of Kyla and her brothers. Next, you think about the possible implications for Kyla’s parents. Last, you consider the pros and cons from your point of view as well as that of the people who interact with Kyla at school.

Focus Assignment

1. Create a two-column pros and cons list to help clarify your thinking about 50–50 joint custody parenting. List three possible pros and three cons from Kyla and her brothers’ perspectives. Add a few sentences to elaborate on your thinking about each pro and con. Now, list three possible pros and three cons from Kyla’s parents’ perspectives. Finally, list three possible pros and three cons from your perspective as Kyla’s teacher and from the standpoint of the larger school community.
2. Be sure to read the SELF-EVALUATION section below to guide your thinking. Write your self-evaluation after you have completed your pros and cons list.
Self-Evaluation

1. For each item on your pros and cons list:
a. Explain how this item addresses the issues in the scenario.

2. Describe and justify how your pros and cons list would improve teaching and learning in the scenario.

Pros and Cons List:

From the perspective of Kyla and her brothers:
Pros:

They get to spend equal time with both parents.
They are less likely to feel abandoned or neglected by either parent.
They will have opportunities to learn different life skills and values from both parents.
Cons:

They may have to constantly adapt to different schedules and routines.
They may have to frequently move between their parents’ homes, causing disruption in their lives.
They may feel torn between their parents and may have to deal with conflicts and tensions between them.
From the perspective of Kyla’s parents:
Pros:

They both have an equal say in major decisions regarding their children.
They both get to spend quality time with their children.
They share the financial responsibility of raising their children.
Cons:

They may have difficulty communicating and making decisions together.
They may have to deal with conflicts and tensions between them.
They may have to constantly adapt to different schedules and routines.
From the perspective of Kyla’s teacher and the school community:
Pros:

Kyla and her brothers will have support and stability from both parents.
They will have access to resources and support from both parents’ families.
They will have opportunities to learn and grow from diverse family structures.
Cons:

Kyla and her brothers may experience stress or emotional difficulties due to the divorce and 50-50 custody arrangement.
Kyla and her brothers may have difficulty keeping up with schoolwork and extracurricular activities due to the disruptions in their lives.
Kyla’s teacher and the school community may have to deal with conflicts and tensions between Kyla’s parents, which could impact the classroom and school environment.
Self-Evaluation:

Each item on the pros and cons list addresses the issues in the scenario by considering the possible implications of 50-50 joint custody parenting from various perspectives. By identifying potential pros and cons, I can better understand the possible impacts of the custody arrangement on Kyla, her brothers, their parents, and the school community.

The pros and cons list can improve teaching and learning in the scenario by providing a framework for understanding the potential challenges and opportunities associated with 50-50 joint custody parenting. As a teacher, I can use this list to better understand Kyla’s situation and provide appropriate support and accommodations as needed. Additionally, by considering the perspectives of Kyla, her brothers, their parents, and the school community, I can better collaborate with Kyla’s parents and other educators to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment for Kyla and her brothers.