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Jéssika da Rocha Silva

Professor Kalajian

Writing Level 5

24 March 2014

Summary

In the Christopher N. Bacorn’s essay “Dear Dads: Save Your Sons” from NEWSWEEK

the main discussion is about the consequences of missing fathers in children’s lives. The author

starts telling a story about a mother who was just 30 years old and followed her son to Mr.

Bacorn after the boy caused problems. At that occasion charges had been filled and the boy

needed counseling. Since the time that the father left the family fours years before, the son had

become a troublemaker. After discover that her son has no man in this family life he tried to talk

with the boy who is just 15, however, the author thinks that a good relationship between a man

and this boy is essential. Once the neurologist Sigmund Freud pointed out "I can't think of any

need in childhood as strong as the need for a Father's protection", it explains how important is a

man image in a boy’s life. Next, he begins to reflect about the culture, and his conclusion is that

in today’s time fathers are in many cases absent from their children lives. It’s hard to find them is

activities helping their kids in simple things such as playing some sport or doing school

homework. Mr. Bacorn highlights that our society still has some men who are taking care that if

their children, and these are the “real men of America”. Charles F. Kettering, inventor and

engineer, explain how important is a father presence when he says "Every father should

remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice". Then, he reflects

about the consequences of fathers spend some time with their children; it probably could prevent

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social problems like teenage pregnancies, or divorce. Finally, the author concludes telling about

the end of his counseling session for the 15 years old boy. He says that it brought to him

hopelessness and anger, hopelessness about that boy’s future, and angry with the fathers who left

their children without any care. Overall, Mr. Bacorn is worried about how the children of our

society are walking through an uncertain future because of the lack left by missing fathers.