A Child Called ItA Child Called It

Dave PelzerDave Pelzer

– Born in Daly City, CaliforniaBorn in Daly City, California

– Endured 12 years of child abuse by his Endured 12 years of child abuse by his mothermother

– Later joined the Air ForceLater joined the Air Force

ProtagonistProtagonist

• The protagonist of the story would be The protagonist of the story would be Dave Pelzer because of everything Dave Pelzer because of everything he made it through including severe, he made it through including severe, life threatening abuse everyday.life threatening abuse everyday.

AntagonistAntagonist

• The antagonist of the story is Dave’s The antagonist of the story is Dave’s mother who was extremely abusive mother who was extremely abusive and had no care for her children’s and had no care for her children’s safety or well being.safety or well being.

Favorite CharacterFavorite Character

• My favorite character is Dave My favorite character is Dave because he made it through all of the because he made it through all of the abuse and had the courage to write abuse and had the courage to write about it when it was all overabout it when it was all over

Least Favorite CharacterLeast Favorite Character

• The character that I least liked was The character that I least liked was obviously Dave’s mom because of all obviously Dave’s mom because of all the horrible things that she did to her the horrible things that she did to her children.children.

Rising ActionRising Action

• Dave’s mom starts to become more Dave’s mom starts to become more abusive and starts drinking a lot of abusive and starts drinking a lot of alcohol. She starts inflicting harsher alcohol. She starts inflicting harsher punishment on Davepunishment on Dave

ExpositionExposition

• The exposition in A Child Called It is The exposition in A Child Called It is when Dave tells about how his mom when Dave tells about how his mom used to be loving and caring until she used to be loving and caring until she changed.changed.

ClimaxClimax

• The story reaches its climax when The story reaches its climax when Dave realizes that his mom doesn’t Dave realizes that his mom doesn’t care if he lives or dies and that she care if he lives or dies and that she doesn’t view him as her son but as doesn’t view him as her son but as an object to take out her anger onan object to take out her anger on

Falling ActionFalling Action

• The falling action occurs when nurses The falling action occurs when nurses and teachers at Dave’s school start and teachers at Dave’s school start to notice all of his bruises aren’t from to notice all of his bruises aren’t from accidents.accidents.

ResolutionResolution

• People become aware of Dave’s People become aware of Dave’s situation and he is put in a foster situation and he is put in a foster home away from his motherhome away from his mother

SettingSetting

• The setting of Dave’s story is the The setting of Dave’s story is the 60’s and early 70’s. Most of the 60’s and early 70’s. Most of the story takes place in his home or at story takes place in his home or at his school.his school.

3 Themes3 Themes

• HateHate: His moms hatred made her do : His moms hatred made her do horrible things to Davehorrible things to Dave

• Child AbuseChild Abuse: Dave suffered many forms : Dave suffered many forms of child abuseof child abuse

• Will to LiveWill to Live: Dave said his mom could : Dave said his mom could never take away his will to livenever take away his will to live

RatingRating

• On a scale of one to ten I would rate On a scale of one to ten I would rate this book a ten because it makes this book a ten because it makes people aware of how common child people aware of how common child abuse is and what can be done about abuse is and what can be done about it.it.

Social Issue: Child AbuseSocial Issue: Child Abuse

• StatisticsStatistics-Almost five children die everyday as a -Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse.   More than three out result of child abuse.   More than three out of five are under the age of 4.of five are under the age of 4.

-A report of child abuse is made every ten -A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. seconds.

-30% of abused children will later abuse -30% of abused children will later abuse their own childrentheir own children

Assistant principal accused of Assistant principal accused of child abusechild abuse

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Charges have been filed against a West Valley elementary school principal accused of child abuse.

Charging documents accuse Rosselis Cabanillas of slapping a student and threatening a teacher on January 12th.  Ben Horsley, a spokesperson for Granite School District, tells ABC 4 that another teacher witnessed the incident, but was ordered by Cabanillas not to report it. 

The teacher later reported the abuse to the Granite School District; they turned it over to police. 

The assistant principal is charged with misdemeanor child abuse and tampering a witness.  

She has been placed on paid administrative leave by the school district.

Nev. couple blame Internet Nev. couple blame Internet for child neglectfor child neglect A couple who authorities say were so obsessed with A couple who authorities say were so obsessed with

the Internet and video games that they left their the Internet and video games that they left their babies starving and suffering other health babies starving and suffering other health problems have pleaded guilty to child neglect.problems have pleaded guilty to child neglect.

The children of Michael and Iana Straw, a boy The children of Michael and Iana Straw, a boy age 22 months and a girl age 11 months, age 22 months and a girl age 11 months, were severely malnourished and near death were severely malnourished and near death last month when doctors saw them after last month when doctors saw them after social workers took them to a hospital, social workers took them to a hospital, authorities said. Both children are doing well authorities said. Both children are doing well and gaining weight in foster care, prosecutor and gaining weight in foster care, prosecutor Kelli Ann Viloria told the Reno Gazette-Kelli Ann Viloria told the Reno Gazette-Journal.Journal.

Poem on Child AbusePoem on Child AbuseSafe

Another day and night aloneThis broken house is not my home

I'm in danger in this placeFour years I've learned to understandI tremble when you raise your hand

There is hatred in your faceI love you, but I'd leave youIf I knew just where to go

But I am far too small to ever tryAnd make it on my own

Poem on Child AbusePoem on Child Abuse

I could be sitting at home,I could be sitting at home,Doing nothing at all,Doing nothing at all,My brother will come in with an angry look,My brother will come in with an angry look,I run to hide,I run to hide,I am crying on the inside,I am crying on the inside,I know what he's going to do,I know what he's going to do,He found me and guess what he did,He found me and guess what he did,He kicked me,He kicked me,He punched me,He punched me,He picked me up and threw me against the wall,He picked me up and threw me against the wall,My parents don't know,My parents don't know,I am too scared to tell,I am too scared to tell,Cause He will kill me,Cause He will kill me,He told me he will,He told me he will,But now I am older,But now I am older,And he is gone,And he is gone,I always cry,I always cry,Thinking about what happened,Thinking about what happened,Gives me pain on the insideGives me pain on the inside

Identifying Child AbuseIdentifying Child Abuse

• Look for physical signs such as: cuts, Look for physical signs such as: cuts, bruises, burns, or broken bonesbruises, burns, or broken bones

• Is the child considerably under Is the child considerably under weight?weight?

• The child may be shy, distrusting, or The child may be shy, distrusting, or make excessive efforts to please make excessive efforts to please adults. adults.

Why is it Important to be Why is it Important to be Aware of Child Abuse?Aware of Child Abuse?

• Many children that are abused later Many children that are abused later abuse their own children, creating a abuse their own children, creating a vicious cyclevicious cycle

• Child abuse can lead to deathChild abuse can lead to death

• It may also cause depression and It may also cause depression and feelings of worthlessnessfeelings of worthlessness

What Can Be Done About It?What Can Be Done About It?

• Stand up to courts who send abused children back Stand up to courts who send abused children back to their abusive parents by writing letters or calling to their abusive parents by writing letters or calling local congressmanlocal congressman

• If you have reasonable suspicion someone is being If you have reasonable suspicion someone is being abused, then contact authoritiesabused, then contact authorities

• Donate money, clothes, and other items to foster Donate money, clothes, and other items to foster homes homes

• Adopt abused childrenAdopt abused children