The Lost Children of Rockdale County

The Lost Children of Rockdale County


By Felicia McCaw
Saginaw Valley State University

Monday 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Adolescent Psychology
Psychology 315


















The Lost Children of Rockdale County
By Felicia McCaw
Page 1

When did this incident occur?
This incident occurred in the Spring of 1996 in Convers, Georgia.
What health problem prompted a close look at the situation? How many cases?
The health problem that prompted a close look at the situation was an outbreak of syphilis and some cases of genital warts and herpes. Approximately 20 cases of syphilis most of them teenagers and hinted at that more cases was probably out there.
What alerted the authorities to the situation?
A young man came to the County Public Health Department complaining of ailments affecting him which was later diagnosed as syphilis.
How many teenagers were exposed?
The amount of teenagers exposed were 17 who were tested positive for syphilis and more than 200 others were exposed and treated.
Describe the lifestyle or socioeconomic status of most of the teens involved?
The lifestyle or socioeconomic status of most of the teens involved being in extreme sexual behavior involved with multiple partners, risky sexual activities and performing every kind of personal sexual act possible. Further, these were white teenagers from middle-class families located near the venue of the Olympics.
What do you think the causes for this outbreak?
The cause for this outbreak was probably due to excessive promiscurity and exchanging of partners and no determination as to whether someone had a sexually transmitted disease.
Indiscriminate sex acts and switching from one partner to another and having orgies.

How could it have been prevented?
This could have been prevented if each teenager stayed monogamous and was conscious of each bodies and checked themselves regularly to ensure neither had a sexually transmitted disease.



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Page 2

Where did the teenagers meet for their activities?
The teenagers meet in empty house, all over the City of Convers, renting motel rooms, and anywhere adults were not around for their sexual activities.

What time of day did most of their activities take place?
The activities took place after curfew, the majority of their behavior took place between right after school and right before the parents came home from work between 3:00 and 7:00 and some activities late at night and then after midnight after the parents went to sleep.
How were the teens able to continue their actions without their parent’s knowledge?
The teens were able to keep everything secretly from their parents by establishing an “underground railroad” and never telling the parents anything. A lot of activities were done while the parents had to work extensive hours.

Were the teens concerned about their exposure to disease? Why or Why Not?
I don’t believe the teens took into consideration that they could contract a sexually transmitted disease. The very thought of it happening to them never crossed their mind. Probable Mainframe of Thought – This never happens to people with money.
What are some of the particulars of Amy, DJ, and Kevin‘s family lives?
Particulars of Amy’s Life
• Father- Supervisor of security at a state university.
• Mother – Teacher
• Middle Class family – Live in Rockdale’s wealthier subdivision
• No Friends
• On the cheerleader squad in the 9th Grade
• Cut of team in the 10th Grade
• Close family when younger – Family vacations until the age of 16 years old
• Involved in softball – Father coached from the age of 7 years old until 18 years old



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Particulars of DJ’s Life
• Loner – Never felt he had anybody
• Father- Policeman
• Mother – Was Miss Arkansas
• Father left when he turned 9 years old
• Mother – Fell apart when his father left her
• Attached himself to people older than himself
• Became close friends with them – Stuck up for each other – Resorted to violent acts
• Made a plan to kill someone
• Youngest of group of friends
Particulars of Kevin’s Life
• Rockdale’s County Shepherd’s Door Church - Went to this Center for Lost Kids Policeman
• 17 Years Old
• Stopped going to church – Didn’t want to be saved
• Lived in Irwin Place – Rockdale’s nicer subdivision
• Lived in Pool House – Leaves and comes when he likes
• From a family of five children (Raised in Conyers)
• Father’s Name – Steve
• Mother’s Name – Catherine
• Given too much
• Father Lenient
• Mother is not as lenient as father
• His friend (Keith) came to live with his family
• In 1998 Kevin and Keith went to Panama City, Florida
• Lost his friend in car accident from injuries sustained from it returning from Panama – One week later
• Doesn’t go to church anymore
• Children does what they want to do




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Page 4

What was the parents’ general response to the situation revealed at the town meeting?
The parents’ general response to the situation at the town meeting was met at first with skepticism, disbelief and shock. Every parent tried to shift the blame on anything or anybody but themselves.
What teen programs were/are offered by a community church to the teens of Rockdale County?
Teen programs were offered by a community church to the teens of Rockdale County:
1. Class on the Gospel.
2. Concerts (Christian)
3. Church services every Sunday/Sunday School
What affect did religion/spirituality have on DJ’S choices in life?
The affect of spirituality on DJ’s choices in life was his attempt to find God and wish for some sign that he was real and subsequently felt God had failed him and lost his faith.
Based on your sense of the cognitive and emotional status of most adolescents, what role do you think religion can play in the life choices made by adolescents?
The role of religion in an adolescence life is the igniting of faith, charity and love and knowing that God loves you and will never leave you even when the world therein turns their back on you and hate you. This gives a child or adolescence the strength to fight on even though the odds seem insurmountable and will help them make right decisions if you live by the Ten Commandments and ask God for forgiveness if you lapse.
Ken’s Story
Separate Lives

Describe Kevin’s relationship with his parents.
• Relaxed allowed to what he wants
• Lenient





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Page 5

What kind of attention did Kevin and his sister get from their parents?

• Given too much material items.
• Dad is too lenient – allowed to get away with a lot of things
• Mom is not as lenient and wishes husband would stop letting them have their way.
• Mom trying to assert authority and being rejected.

Do you think they are satisfied with their relationship with their parents?

It is rather had to gauge whether they are satisfied or not, but I believe they are because the dad lets them do whatever they want and the mom has no authority because she has not been supported by her husband to try to keep order and discipline of the kids.

What could/should teenagers do to improve their relationship with their parents?

The teenagers could try to be more independent, hardworking and more respectful of themselves as well as to their parents and obey the rules they set.

Role Reversal

What kind of attention are the teens in this situation getting from their peers?

The attention these teens are getting from their peers in this situation are meanness, lack of respect, accepted as a sex object or disposal with no thought or feelings, discarded and used.
Boys don’t respect them and nor do their peers.

How would you describe the different roles of the females and males in this situation?

The different roles of the females and males in this situation is that the females and males took on a 360° circle from normalcy to depravity. Further, this behavior has never been revealed as natural for youth to behave thus and therefore it is all the more shocking.

Do you think they are satisfied with their peer relationships?

I do not believe they are satisfied with their peer relationships because all the filth they have done has been exposed and they are subsequently being judged by their peers as being unworthy to associate with.


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Page 6

Why do you the girls were willing to have sex with the boys, even though they admit they don’t enjoy it?

The girls were willing to have sex with the boys even though they didn’t enjoy it because they wanted to fit in. It’s like going through the motion – no love – no feeling – just copulating.

Is no attention worse than bad attention?

No attention is better than bad attention – at least you don’t get sexually abused, beaten or killed.

Is good attention the same for everyone? How might it differ?

Good attention is not the same for everyone – some who received loving attention may very well end up married whereas those who receive bad attention are usually passed around and discarded and labeled a slut.

WRITTEN HOMEWORK:

1) How does the concept of gender intensification relate to the case studies covered in the video?

The concept of gender intensification relates to the case studies in this video by reflecting that in either male or female both reflected parallel thoughts of doing what they wanted with no thoughts of what is allowed by a female or by a male. Reflecting on the actions done there was little remorse but only concern with that the “dirty little secret” was exposed to the parents of Rockdale.

What gender role stereotypes were being acted out by the adolescent males and females in this video?

The gender role stereotypes that were acted out by adolescent males and females in this video was for the females to believe that they didn’t have a choice and wanted to fit in and feel needed somehow and the same was for the males needing somebody even only temporarily. Further, they okayed the thought that males have the right to dominate them and have them anyway they wanted to. It’s really hard to pinpoint it to an actual stereotype because this
behavior is really outside the norms of society and don’t fit in a stereotype of who a female or male should be.

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Page7

Which sex/gender do you hold responsible for the sexual promiscuity documented in this video? Why?

I hold both genders (sexes) responsible for these acts of flaunting conventions and defying the norms of society and their lack of knowledge to indulge in acts of lust and depravity without thinking of the consequences of possibly contracting a sexually transmitted disease.
Sheer willfulness and refusal to obey parents, willingness to sin, secretive nature, lying and the wish to do wrong is the reason why.

2) Contrast the cases of DJ and McGill. Relate these cases to the research on ethnic identity development. DJ (Caucasian male) plotted to murder a peer and carried out an assault on another. Charges against him were dropped. McGill (African-American male) was repeatedly imprisoned for petty crimes. Discuss how this difference in social/
environmental response to DJ and McGill might relate to the stages of ethnic identity development as outlined in your Santrock textbook? (pgs. 150-152)

The difference between the two is due to the ethnic background of both – one is a white youth allowed to get away with a felonious assault with a deadly weapon whereas the other is a black youth repeatedly imprisoned for petty crimes due to the color of his skin and race. In some small towns – who you know sometimes helps the youth be removed from serious trouble while a poverty stricken black youth has no option but to go to jail. Unfortunately, youth of today do not want to abide by the laws of society and will be disciplined accordingly and if not their criminal activity will escalate to more dangerous levels of crime.

3) Choose one of the following resolutions and write a response for or against it using material from the Rockdale County video/situation:

Resolution 1: Parents should be legally responsible for the actions of their minor children?
Resolution 3: Children should be allowed to divorce their parents.

Resolution 1

Yes, I feel that parents should be legally held responsible for the actions of their children if under the age of 18 years of age. Once they obtain the age of adulthood they should be held accountable for their actions either criminal or non-criminal acts. Due to this act of spreading a disease whether knowingly or unknowingly they should be fined for their indiscreet criminal activities.