a child called it essay

A Child Called It

Dave pelzer, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

The memoir begins in 1973, with Dave Pelzer , a fifth-grade student living in Daly City, California, doing his morning chores for his Mother , Catherine Roerve Pelzer . Mother hits Dave, and Dave thinks about all the abuse he’s experienced at her hands. At school, Dave is sent to the nurse’s office. The nurse notices the many bruises and scratches on his body, and alerts the principal, who calls the police. A police officer takes Dave away, and Dave initially thinks he’s being arrested. However, the officer informs Dave that he’s finally “free” from his Mother—he’ll never have to see her again.

Dave flashes back to the late 1960s, when he’s a young child growing up in California with his two brothers, Ronald Pelzer and Stan Pelzer . Dave loves his Mother and Father , who works long hours as a firefighter. Mother is a kind, loving woman, and treats him with great warmth. As time goes on, however, Mother begins drinking more. She also becomes more and more overtly abusive to Dave. One night, while Father is out of the house, Mother hits Dave, seriously hurting his arm. Mother takes Dave to the hospital, falsely claiming that Dave fell out of bed. She later makes Dave say, “I’m a bad boy” again and again, and forces Dave to repeat the first grade, even though Dave is a bright student.

Dave notices that Mother doesn’t treat him as badly when Father or his siblings are present. However, Father doesn’t actively protect Dave from Mother’s abuse. When Mother tells Dave that he won’t be receiving Christmas presents, Father gets Dave a few gifts, but Mother becomes so furious with Father for contradicting her authority that, Dave senses, Father won’t defend him again. Dave gradually learns that the only way to survive Mother’s abuse is to delay, in the hopes that Father, Stan, or Ron will come home.

Mother’s abuse becomes even harsher. While she takes good care of Ron and Stan (and gives birth to another child, Russell ), she denies Dave food and regularly hits him. She also stops using Dave’s name. At school, the principal calls Mother in for a visit, to discuss why Dave always has bruises on his body. Mother carries Russell to school, building sympathy for herself, and tells the principal that Dave has an active imagination and hits himself to attract attention. Shortly afterwards, Mother forces Dave to eat the feces in Russell’s diapers. Dave refuses, but Mother smears feces all over his face, stopping only when Father, Ron, and Stan come home.

Mother continues denying Dave regular meals, and forces him to wear the same clothes to school every day, to the point where Dave begins to smell horrible, and decides that he needs to steal food to survive. He steals food from his peers, and later from a nearby grocery store. He also steals frozen lunches from the cafeteria, and fishes scraps of food from the trash can at home. However, Mother deliberately puts spoiled food in the trashcan, and later sprinkles ammonia in the trash to prevent Dave from eating any scraps. One day, after eating stolen frozen lunches, Dave comes home, and Mother forces Dave to vomit up his meal. She later shows the vomit to Father, who watches dispassionately as Mother forces Dave to eat his own vomit. Afterwards, Mother forces Dave to sleep under a table, and later in a garage. She also forces Dave to swallow ammonia, burning his tongue and causing him a night of intense pain.

One evening, Mother drinks heavily and brandishes a knife at Dave. Out of the corner of his eye, Dave sees Mother stumble toward him, and then feels an intense pain in his chest. He realizes that Mother has stabbed him. Mother treats the wound with gauze and then orders Dave to resume doing the dishes. In the following days, Dave refuses to beg Mother for mercy. He treats his own wound and feels a deep sense of satisfaction for remaining independent. Mother later starves Dave for ten days straight, and forces him to clean an unventilated bathroom with ammonia and Clorox, almost suffocating him. She also forces him to lie in freezing cold water for hours. During these ordeals, Dave’s brothers and Father do nothing to intervene. Dave no longer feels like a part of the family.

Dave enters the fourth grade, and Mother’s abuse continues, harsher than ever. She beats him with chains, hits him, and forces him to vomit and inhale ammonia. When teachers ask Dave about his appearance and bruises, Dave repeats what Mother has instructed him to say—he had an “accident.” He comes to despise his brothers, whom Mother continues to treat lovingly. Mother gives birth to another child, Kevin , whom Dave immediately loves.

One day, Mother abruptly tells Dave that she’s sorry for hurting him. She begins treating Dave kindly and feeding him well. Then, a few weeks later, an officer from social services shows up at the house and asks Dave if his mother ever hits him. Dave realizes that Mother has been treating him well so that he won’t tell the truth to the officer. Dave lies to the officer anyway, fearing that Mother will hurt him.

By the time Dave enters the fifth grade, he’s almost given up on life altogether. His classmates tease him and tell him to kill himself, and he’s come to doubt that there is a God—surely, no God would allow him to suffer so greatly. His brothers seem to think of him as the “family slave” and take turns hitting him. However, Dave’s teacher, Mr. Ziegler , treats him with kindness and respect. Dave continues to love Kevin, although he fears that one day Kevin will grow up to hate him, just like his other brothers do.

As Christmas approaches, Father and Mother begin to argue more and more often. Shortly after the holiday, Father packs his bags and leaves forever. He apologizes to Dave for not doing more to protect him, but tells him, “I can’t take it anymore.” After Father leaves, Mother sneers, “You are all mine now. Too bad your father’s not here to protect you.”

In the Epilogue, Dave, now an adult, drives along the beach and thinks about how lucky he’s been. Since being separated from Mother, he’s gotten an education, served in the military, and done a lot of wonderful work raising awareness of child abuse. He’s most proud of having a child of his own, Stephen , whom he treats with nothing but love, thereby breaking the vicious cycle of cruelty to children, of which he was a part.

In the final chapter, “Perspectives on Child Abuse,” several people from Dave’s life, including Mr. Ziegler and workers from Child Protective Services, comment on the prevalence of child abuse in American society. People need to be vigilant and look out for signs of abuse in children—otherwise, the horrific cycle of abuse will continue, year after year.

• Maltreatment in the Book “A Child Called “It” by D.J. Pelzer Words: 675
• The Problem of Child Abuse Words: 577
• Why Do Parents Abuse Their Children: Discussion Words: 1815
• “A Child Called ‘It'” the Book by Pelzer Words: 1961
• The Importance of Children’s Rights Words: 4896
• Caregivers Day Care for Children Words: 1145
• Violent Behavior among Children and Adolescents Words: 2771
• Violence: “A Child Called “It”” by Dave Pelzer Words: 1202
• Child Abuse Problem and Perspectives on Child Abuse Words: 1117
• Child Abuse: Risks, Causes, Effects, Treatment Words: 2037
• Being a Mother: Challenges Facing Parents With Young Children Words: 919
• Children’s, Young People’s and Family Rights Words: 4050
• Negative Effects of Divorce on Children Words: 4386
• Children’s Education and Role of Parents Words: 642

A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer

Book summary, feelings aroused by the reading: identifying with the situation, relating the reading to the course content, evaluation and expanding the situation.

The book A Child Called “It” is a memoir written by Dave Pelzer. In the work, the author describes the pains and abuses he experienced in the hands of his mother (Pelzer, 1995). Throughout his early childhood, Pelzer’s mother was charming and friendly. She treated every person in the family nicely including Pelzer. Unfortunately, things changed abruptly when she started to torture and abuse him. His mother played unpredictable and inhumane games that left him torn and incapable of realizing his academic goals. This discussion will give a detailed summary and critical analysis of the memoir.

The text chronicles the extraordinary experience of Pelzer who was punished by his mother. According to the book, the victim was treated with love and warmth at the very beginning. It is notable that her mother had portrayed specific manic behaviors that could not be recognized by a child of his age. Things changed when she started to punish him perpetually. She became addicted to alcohol and began playing injurious tricks on Pelzer. The young boy was forced to devise new methods of dealing with his mother (Pelzer, 1995). He realized and acknowledged that he was nothing but a slave in the family.

The book shows that Dave slept in the garage. He was forced to wear torn or dirty school uniform. His mother provided spoiled or unhealthy foods to him. Despite all these struggles and pains, the outside world was unaware of what was going on in Pelzer’s life (Pelzer, 1995). The other family members appeared to support the abuse. However, he kept his hopes alive throughout the period. He later finds refuge in a foster care center. It was from this setting that he managed to remodel his life.

The events described in this book are horrific and unimaginable. What makes the story sympathetic is that the victim suffers in the hands of people who should provide adequate support to him. It would be painful for a child to be abused by his or her own mother (Pelzer, 1995). As I was reading the book, I found it extremely hard to imagine the kind of torture or suffering experienced by the child. It is clear that the victim started to face such challenges at such a tender age.

The fact that Pelzer’s mother changed from a caring and friendly mother to a monster is quite alarming. The alcoholic mother used dirty tricks to punish him for no apparent reason. It is hard to believe that the other members of the family were unable to intervene and help the child (Pelzer, 1995). The victim became inattentive in class and incapable of achieving his educational objectives. The memoir is, therefore, emotional since it captures the sufferings experienced by a young boy who could not fight back.

The feelings aroused by the book have compelled me to think of various situations whereby I was abused as a child. Personally, my parents used to punish me after committing certain offenses or mistakes. However, it is worth pointing out that such punishments were experiences by every child in the family (Vujovic, 2017). This understanding is what compels me to think deeply about the pains inflicted on Pelzer as a young boy.

Parents should be loving and caring. However, alcoholism and drug use in families tend to catalyze various forms of abuse or mistreatment. It is agreeable that Pelzer’s mother was suffering from alcoholism (Vujovic, 2017). This is a serious disorder that can be used to explain why she became extremely abusive. The story of Pelzer also echoes the experiences of many people who have grown up in families characterized by abusive parents.

The issues revealed in this book appear to elaborate the theories and concepts studied in class. For instance, the class materials have examined how child abuse is one of the risk factors for engaging in a wide range of delinquent behaviors (Vujovic, 2017). The experiences and pains encountered by Pelzer can result in delinquent behaviors. The information obtained from this memoir can be analyzed critically in an attempt to understand the issues associated with juvenile delinquency.

Different theories and concepts involved with childhood delinquency acknowledge that young people who receive inadequate support might have significant challenges as adults. The provision of care can ensure individuals who are abused at a young age realize their potential. It is evident that Pelzer benefited from the interventions implemented after it was observed that she was living in an abusive family (Pelzer, 1995). This process shows conclusively that children should be guided and encouraged to pursue their objectives without any form of mistreatment.

Communities should use powerful initiatives to identify children who might be facing similar challenges. Every affected child must be provided with adequate help become he or she becomes an adult. This kind of support will ensure the child recovers from their past experiences (Pelzer, 1995). Failure to offer this kind of help will ensure the victims have increased chances of becoming deviant. This analysis is a clear indication that the issues, support systems, and challenges described in the memoir can be used to expound the concepts studied in class.

Pelzer’s experiences and abuses are unimaginable and hard to come into terms with. These horrific happenings disoriented his life and potential as a schooling child. This kind of torture appears to reveal most of the pains encountered by many children in different abusive families. What comes out clearly from the book is that most of the affected children suffer in silence. This happens to be the case because many obnoxious relatives and parents use various strategies to threaten their victims (Vujovic, 2017). This situation should empower more people to come up with better initiatives to identify individuals who might be living in abusive families. The next step should be to support the affected children in order to realize their goals. The initiative will make it easier for more children to become responsible adults who do not engage in criminal behaviors.

The story of Dave Pelzer should be considered in an attempt to expand this situation. The memoir raises unanswered questions that can be utilized by researchers to ensure appropriate support is available to more people. For instance, the story can be used by interventionists to develop specific models that can be used to spot children who are living in violent settings (Vujovic, 2017). This knowledge can be used to guide different community members to monitor and report any form of child abuse. Individuals who receive the right care will be in a position to pursue their aims. Consequently, every society will be empowered to tackle the predicament of juvenile delinquency.

Pelzer, D. (1995). A child called “it”. Omaha, NE: Omaha Press.

Vujovic, T. (2017). Child abuse by parents and its influence on the development of juvenile delinquency. Education Sciences & Society, 8 (1), 89-102. Web.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — A Child Called "It"

Essays on A Child Called "It"

The importance of writing an essay on a child called "it".

Writing an essay on the book A Child Called "It" is important for several reasons. This memoir by Dave Pelzer tells the heartbreaking story of his childhood abuse and neglect, and delves into the resilience and strength of the human spirit. By writing an essay about this book, you can help bring awareness to the issue of child abuse and the lasting effects it can have on individuals.

Additionally, writing an essay on A Child Called "It" allows you to critically analyze the themes and messages conveyed in the book. You can explore the impact of trauma on a child's development, the role of resilience in overcoming adversity, and the importance of speaking out against abuse.

When writing your essay on A Child Called "It," consider the following tips:

• Thoroughly read and analyze the book: Take the time to carefully read the book and make note of important themes, characters, and events. Consider the author's writing style and the impact it has on the reader.
• Research the topic of child abuse: To provide context and depth to your essay, conduct research on the topic of child abuse. Look for statistics, case studies, and expert opinions to support your analysis.
• Use evidence from the text: When making arguments or drawing s, be sure to provide evidence from the book to support your claims. This could include quotes, descriptions of events, or character analysis.
• Consider the broader implications: Think about how the themes and messages in A Child Called "It" relate to larger societal issues. How does this book contribute to the conversation about child abuse and the treatment of survivors?
• Edit and revise: After drafting your essay, take the time to edit and revise your work. Look for clarity, coherence, and proper citation of sources.

By taking the time to craft a thoughtful and well-researched essay on A Child Called "It," you can contribute to the ongoing dialogue about child abuse and help shed light on the experiences of survivors.

• The portrayal of child abuse in "A Child Called It"
• The impact of abuse on the protagonist's mental and emotional well-being
• The role of resilience and survival in the protagonist's journey
• The dynamics of the protagonist's family and their influence on the abuse
• The significance of the protagonist's mother in the narrative
• The psychological effects of long-term abuse on the protagonist
• The protagonist's coping mechanisms and survival strategies
• The portrayal of hope and healing in the narrative
• The significance of the protagonist's relationship with his siblings
• The portrayal of the protagonist's relationship with authority figures
• The theme of forgiveness and reconciliation in the narrative
• The impact of abuse on the protagonist's self-worth and identity
• The role of social services and child protective agencies in the narrative
• The portrayal of the protagonist's journey from victim to survivor
• The depiction of the protagonist's experience in the foster care system
• The significance of the protagonist's education and academic achievements
• The portrayal of the protagonist's relationship with his peers and classmates
• The theme of trust and betrayal in the narrative
• The impact of abuse on the protagonist's future relationships and romantic life
• The portrayal of the protagonist's journey towards self-acceptance and healing

"A Child Called It" is a powerful memoir by Dave Pelzer that chronicles his experience of enduring extreme abuse at the hands of his mother during his childhood. The book has sparked discussions and debates about the impact of abuse on children and the resilience of the human spirit.

One of the most compelling essay topics related to "A Child Called It" is the portrayal of child abuse in the narrative. This topic allows for an exploration of the graphic and harrowing details of the abuse that Pelzer endured, as well as the emotional and psychological toll it took on him. It also provides an opportunity to discuss the author's decision to share his story and the impact it has had on raising awareness about child abuse.

Another important essay topic is the impact of abuse on the protagonist's mental and emotional well-being. This topic delves into the long-term effects of abuse on a child's psyche and emotional development. It allows for an exploration of the protagonist's struggles with trust, intimacy, and self-worth, as well as his journey towards healing and recovery.

The role of resilience and survival in the protagonist's journey is also a compelling essay topic. This topic invites an analysis of the protagonist's inner strength and determination to survive despite the overwhelming odds stacked against him. It also allows for a discussion of the factors that contributed to his ability to persevere and ultimately thrive in the face of adversity.

In addition to these topics, essays on "A Child Called It" can also explore themes such as the protagonist's relationship with his family, the portrayal of hope and healing, the impact of abuse on his future relationships and romantic life, and the depiction of his experience in the foster care system.

Overall, "A Child Called It" offers a wealth of thought-provoking essay topics that can spark meaningful discussions about the impact of abuse on children, the resilience of the human spirit, and the power of hope and healing. By delving into these topics, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the profound and lasting effects of childhood trauma, as well as the capacity for individuals to overcome adversity and find strength in the face of unimaginable suffering.

A Child Called It: Reflection on The Good and Bad of Abusive Childhood

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Psychological Concepts in “A Child Called “It” by Pelzer Essay

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Introduction

Psychosocial development, the maslow pyramid, persistence.

One of the most brutal instances of child abuse in California history is the subject of the novel A Child Called “It.” Dave Pelzer was deprived and tortured for years by his mentally unstable alcoholic mother as a child. He frequently found himself on the edge of death due to his mother’s subtle humiliation. Dave slept in filthy, tattered clothing on an old cot in a chilly garage. He was happy eating garbage that even dogs found disgusting since his mother had concluded that food was an unaffordable luxury for him. The boy had no one to turn to for assistance since even his father rejected him. Multiple instances of psychological abuse, which has a negative impact on a child’s mind, occur throughout the novel. This essay provides five psychological concepts illustrated in the novel.

Psychosocial Development is a process of a child’s psychological development regarding socialization, learning, skills, and talents essential for a typical existence in society. Erik Erickson’s theory of psychosocial development of personality outlines 8 phases of personality development (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 7). The fourth stage, which spans the ages of 6 to 11, is when a kid becomes used to methodical learning and learns how to get attention by carrying out essential and beneficial tasks (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 7). Unfortunately, Dave was unable to proceed through this period of growth peacefully. Dave was mainly concerned about abusive mother rather than learning new things. As a result, Dave struggled with communication, studying, and self-esteem.

The Maslow pyramid represents all human needs, from the most basic to the most complex. According to Maslow, a person only experiences a desire for higher demands after satisfying their basic needs (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 10). For example, a person is unlikely to invest much time and energy in self-development if they lack food and shelter. In Dave’s situation, his mother denied him access to his fundamental need – food. To make ends meet, Dave rummaged through the trash and stole food from the school. Additionally, he could not feel safe at home, which is a secondary need. Moreover, Dave’s social needs were not satisfied since his family neglected him, his mother abused him, and he was bullied at school. Dave could not focus on the highest levels of needs – self-esteem and self-actualization – because the first three levels of needs were unmet.

Dave’s mother abused him by putting a tremendous psychological strain. For example, in one of the episodes of his memories, Dave recalls being instructed by his mother to repeat the phrase “I am a bad boy” while looking at the mirror (Pelzer, 1995, p. 22). Language is a method of information exchange between people that involves the use of words and logical principles to organize those words. Since thoughts are produced through language, phrase repetition serves as a means of moral pressure (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 7). That way, the mother sent her son the message that he must be punished for “bad” behavior. As a result, Dave believed he was “a bad boy,” hated himself, and was envious of his siblings, whom their mother treated with affection (Pelzer, 1995, p. 88). In addition, Dave’s self-esteem issues impacted his socialization with peers at school. Because of his mother’s manipulation, he lived with a sense of insecurity.

Stressor is a demanding or threatening event that might cause a significant damage to a person’s mental and physical states (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 14). For several years, Dave has been under severe stress brought on by fears of his mother and the threat of starving. A person’s physical and mental health are significantly impacted by their traumatic experience, which is considered a major stressor. Excessive stress results in cortisol release, which raises the risk of depression and lowers immunity (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 14). Dave is more prone to depression since he has spent a long time in a stressful environment. Additionally, persistent stress might cause social issues in the form of avoidance (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 14). However, Dave’s life improved, and he adapted to society after being saved from his mother.

Dave has lived with the effects of his physical and mental traumas his whole life. His book describes his upbringing with an alcoholic mother in great detail, demonstrating that the horrific event remained indelible in his mind. This flaw is referred to as persistence in Schacter’s Seven Sins of Memory (Spielman, 2014, Chapter 8). Traumatic events are difficult to forget and frequently reappear, having a significant impact on the person’s present. People frequently suffer psychological issues, including PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and others as a result of abuse. However, Dave was able to rehabilitate from years of abuse at the hands of his mother. Dave makes it evident in the book that he forgave his mother and forgot those awful memories during his visit to their vacation home (Pelzer, 1995, p. 93). He has a son and is raising him with the utmost affection.

To conclude, the life of Dave Pelzer is an example of the neglect of an innocent child. In his childhood, Dave experienced torture by his mother, which caused him serious mental and physical problems. Dave’s psychosocial development was delayed; he had trouble communicating with classmates, and experienced low self-esteem. He had no access to basic human necessities, let alone high-level needs. His mother subjected him to extreme psychological pressure, while other family members ignored his struggles. All that stress caused him to remember the traumatic events all his life. However, Dave was able to recover and even had a son, whom he cherishes.

Pelzer, D. (1995). A child called “It.” Blackstone Publishing.

Spielman, R. M., Dumper, K., Jenkins, W., Lacombe, A., Lovett, M., & Perlmutter, M. (2014). Psychology . OpenStax. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2023, November 11). Psychological Concepts in "A Child Called "It" by Pelzer. https://ivypanda.com/essays/psychological-concepts-in-a-child-called-it-by-pelzer/

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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Psychological Concepts in "A Child Called "It" by Pelzer." November 11, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/psychological-concepts-in-a-child-called-it-by-pelzer/.

A Child Called It

58 pages • 1 hour read

A Child Called It: One Child’s Courage to Survive

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Pre-Reading Context

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Essay Questions

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay. 

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the book over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Think about how often abuse is discussed in the public in the present time. Using Pelzer’s account of his abuse, as well as the previous short answer questions on The Ideal Family , compare the public acknowledgment of abuse in contemporary times versus during the 1960s/1970s.

• How has society’s perception and attitudes towards child abuse changed from the 1960s/1970s to the present? ( topic sentence )
• Find three instances in Pelzer’s account that you believe would have been handled differently in the present time.
• What resources for victims of abuse are available today that were not available then?

2. Pelzer uses vivid imagery and detailed descriptions in his account of his abuse. Analyze why you believe Pelzer took this approach in his writing.

• Why would Pelzer choose to vividly describe his different experiences of abuse? ( topic sentence )

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A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive Lesson Plans for Teachers

Teaching A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive

The A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. Inside you'll find 30 Daily Lessons, 20 Fun Activities, 180 Multiple Choice Questions, 60 Short Essay Questions, 20 Essay Questions, Quizzes/Homework Assignments, Tests, and more. The lessons and activities will help students gain an intimate understanding of the text, while the tests and quizzes will help you evaluate how well the students have grasped the material. View a free sample

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The Lesson Plan Calendars provide daily suggestions about what to teach. They include detailed descriptions of when to assign reading, homework, in-class work, fun activities, quizzes, tests and more. Use the entire A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive calendar, or supplement it with your own curriculum ideas. Calendars cover one, two, four, and eight week units. Determine how long your A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive unit will be, then use one of the calendars provided to plan out your entire lesson.

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Chapter abstracts are short descriptions of events that occur in each chapter of A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive . They highlight major plot events and detail the important relationships and characteristics of important characters. The Chapter Abstracts can be used to review what the students have read, or to prepare the students for what they will read. Hand the abstracts out in class as a study guide, or use them as a "key" for a class discussion. They are relatively brief, but can serve to be an excellent refresher of A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive for either a student or teacher.

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Character and Object Descriptions provide descriptions of the significant characters as well as objects and places in A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive . These can be printed out and used as an individual study guide for students, a "key" for leading a class discussion, a summary review prior to exams, or a refresher for an educator. The character and object descriptions are also used in some of the quizzes and tests in this lesson plan. The longest descriptions run about 200 words. They become shorter as the importance of the character or object declines.

Daily Lessons

This section of the lesson plan contains 30 Daily Lessons. Daily Lessons each have a specific objective and offer at least three (often more) ways to teach that objective. Lessons include classroom discussions, group and partner activities, in-class handouts, individual writing assignments, at least one homework assignment, class participation exercises and other ways to teach students about A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive in a classroom setting. You can combine daily lessons or use the ideas within them to create your own unique curriculum. They vary greatly from day to day and offer an array of creative ideas that provide many options for an educator.

Fun Classroom Activities

Fun Classroom Activities differ from Daily Lessons because they make "fun" a priority. The 20 enjoyable, interactive classroom activities that are included will help students understand A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive in fun and entertaining ways. Fun Classroom Activities include group projects, games, critical thinking activities, brainstorming sessions, writing poems, drawing or sketching, and countless other creative exercises. Many of the activities encourage students to interact with each other, be creative and think "outside of the box," and ultimately grasp key concepts from the text by "doing" rather than simply studying. Fun activities are a great way to keep students interested and engaged while still providing a deeper understanding of A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive and its themes.

Essay Questions/Writing Assignments

These 20 Essay Questions/Writing Assignments can be used as essay questions on a test, or as stand-alone essay topics for a take-home or in-class writing assignment on A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive . Students should have a full understanding of the unit material in order to answer these questions. They often include multiple parts of the work and ask for a thorough analysis of the overall text. They nearly always require a substantial response. Essay responses are typically expected to be one (or more) page(s) and consist of multiple paragraphs, although it is possible to write answers more briefly. These essays are designed to challenge a student's understanding of the broad points in a work, interactions among the characters, and main points and themes of the text. But, they also cover many of the other issues specific to the work and to the world today.

Short Essay Questions

The 60 Short Essay Questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive by describing what they've read, rather than just recalling it. The short essay questions evaluate not only whether students have read the material, but also how well they understand and can apply it. They require more thought than multiple choice questions, but are shorter than the essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

The 180 Multiple Choice Questions in this lesson plan will test a student's recall and understanding of A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive . Use these questions for quizzes, homework assignments or tests. The questions are broken out into sections, so they focus on specific chapters within A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive . This allows you to test and review the book as you proceed through the unit. Typically, there are 5-15 questions per chapter, act or section.

Evaluation Forms

Use the Oral Reading Evaluation Form when students are reading aloud in class. Pass the forms out before you assign reading, so students will know what to expect. You can use the forms to provide general feedback on audibility, pronunciation, articulation, expression and rate of speech. You can use this form to grade students, or simply comment on their progress.

Use the Writing Evaluation Form when you're grading student essays. This will help you establish uniform criteria for grading essays even though students may be writing about different aspects of the material. By following this form you will be able to evaluate the thesis, organization, supporting arguments, paragraph transitions, grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. of each student's essay.

Quizzes/Homework Assignments

The Quizzes/Homework Assignments are worksheets that can be used in a variety of ways. They pull questions from the multiple choice and short essay sections, the character and object descriptions, and the chapter abstracts to create worksheets that can be used for pop quizzes, in-class assignments and homework. Periodic homework assignments and quizzes are a great way to encourage students to stay on top of their assigned reading. They can also help you determine which concepts and ideas your class grasps and which they need more guidance on. By pulling from the different sections of the lesson plan, quizzes and homework assignments offer a comprehensive review of A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive in manageable increments that are less substantial than a full blown test.

Use the Test Summary page to determine which pre-made test is most relevant to your students' learning styles. This lesson plan provides both full unit tests and mid-unit tests. You can choose from several tests that include differing combinations of multiple choice questions, short answer questions, short essay questions, full essay questions, character and object matching, etc. Some of the tests are designed to be more difficult than others. Some have essay questions, while others are limited to short-response questions, like multiple choice, matching and short answer questions. If you don't find the combination of questions that best suits your class, you can also create your own test on A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive .

Create Your Own Quiz or Test

You have the option to Create Your Own Quiz or Test. If you want to integrate questions you've developed for your curriculum with the questions in this lesson plan, or you simply want to create a unique test or quiz from the questions this lesson plan offers, it's easy to do. Cut and paste the information from the Create Your Own Quiz or Test page into a Word document to get started. Scroll through the sections of the lesson plan that most interest you and cut and paste the exact questions you want to use into your new, personalized A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive lesson plan.

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FOLLOW BOOKRAGS:

• Donald Trump

My Uncle Donald Trump Told Me Disabled Americans Like My Son ‘Should Just Die’

W hen my uncle was elected President , I recognized what a highly privileged position I would be in. I would have some access to the White House. And as long as that was true, I wanted to make sure I used that access for something positive. I was eager to champion something my wife, Lisa, and I were deeply passionate about, something we lived every day: the challenges for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

Our son William, our third child, was born on June 30, 1999. Within 24 hours, he went from seemingly healthy to fighting for his life in the NICU. Raising him was different from the start. William was diagnosed at three months with infantile spasms, a rare seizure disorder which in William's case altered his development physically and cognitively. We had so many questions: What would the future hold for someone like William? How far could he go? How much could he learn? Would he ever have the chance to do the things that other children do?

We just didn’t know. It took 15 years before his medical team could accurately pinpoint the cause of his condition: a KCNQ2 mutation, a genetic misfire that the doctors called a potassium channel deletion.

In our journey with William, Lisa and I had become close to some truly inspiring parents and dedicated advocates who were doing amazing work to improve the day-to-day reality for families like ours. It’s a huge lift for caregivers, not to mention the constant need to mitigate expenses . There are so many different demands and challenges. But there are things that the government can do—some things that can only be done by the government, both federal and state. We wanted to bring knowledgeable people to the White House, to see if we could make a difference. 

Lisa reached out to my cousin Ivanka, who was working in the White House as an advisor to the President. Ivanka got right back to her and said she’d be happy to help. She provided a contact for Ben Carson , the retired neurosurgeon who was secretary of housing and urban development. We brought several talented advocates with us for a meeting with Carson and members of his senior staff in April 2017. “Look,” I said as we got started, “I’m the least important person in the room.” I wanted the focus to be on the others, who knew a lot more than I did. They immediately started floating ideas, which was exactly why we were there. Our collective voice was being heard. It was a start.

In January 2020, just before COVID hit, Lisa, myself, and a team of advocates met with Chris Neeley, who headed the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, a much-needed federal advisory committee that promotes policies and initiatives that support independent and lifelong inclusion . We discussed the need for all medical schools to include courses that focus on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities . We emphasized how crucial it was for hospitals and other acute-care facilities to help patients transition from pediatric to adult services. We emphasized the importance of collecting sufficient data to explain medically complex disorders. This was not about more government spending. It was about smarter investing and greater efficiency.

We spent the next few months making calls and talking with officials and gathering our own recommendations, giving special attention to the critical need for housing support for people with disabilities. We were back in Washington in May.

By this time, COVID was raging. We were all masked up and COVID tested on the way into the White House Cabinet Room. Once we got inside, we sat down with Alex Azar , the administration’s secretary of health and human services, and Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health, both of whom served on the White House Coronavirus Task Force. The promising agency motto stated: HHS: Enhancing the Health and Well-Being of All Americans.

Sharp, direct, and to the point, Azar exhibited my kind of efficiency with no time to waste. His first question was, “OK, why are you here?”

I made a brief introduction. Our group included a leading doctor and several highly qualified advocates. What followed was a great discussion. Something clicked with Giroir—an idea for a program everyone could agree on that would cut through the bureaucracy and control costs and also yield better and more efficient medical outcomes.

Excellent. We were making progress.

“Really appreciate your coming in,” Azar finally said, more warmly than he had sounded at the start. “I know we’re going to see the President.”

The meeting I had assumed would be a quick handshake hello with Donald had turned into a 45-minute discussion in the Oval Office with all of us—Azar, Giroir, the advocates, and me. I never expected to be there so long. Donald seemed engaged, especially when several people in our group spoke about the heart-wrenching and expensive efforts they’d made to care for their profoundly disabled family members, who were constantly in and out of the hospital and living with complex arrays of challenges .

Donald was still Donald, of course. He bounced from subject to subject—disability to the stock market and back to disability. But promisingly, Donald seemed genuinely curious regarding the depth of medical needs across the U.S. and the individual challenges these families faced. He told the secretary and the assistant secretary to stay in touch with our group and to be supportive. 

After I left the office, I was standing with the others near the side entrance to the West Wing when Donald’s assistant caught up with me. “Your uncle would like to see you,” she said.

Azar was still in the Oval Office when I walked back in. “Hey, pal,” Donald said. “How’s everything going?”

“Good,” I said. “I appreciate your meeting with us.”

“Sure, happy to do it.”

He sounded interested and even concerned. I thought he had been touched by what the doctor and advocates in the meeting had just shared about their journey with their patients and their own family members. But I was wrong.

“Those people . . . ” Donald said, trailing off. “The shape they’re in, all the expenses, maybe those kinds of people should just die.” 

I truly did not know what to say. He was talking about expenses. We were talking about human lives. For Donald, I think it really was about the expenses, even though we were there to talk about efficiencies, smarter investments, and human dignity.

I turned and walked away.

When William was 9 years old, Lisa and I met with Donald and a medical fund was created for William's care by the Trump Family, a fund that was crucial to our ability to support him.

In the summer of 2018, William was in the hospital for almost three weeks with a serious case of life-threatening pneumonia. He was 19 and very sick. It was incredibly frightening for Lisa and me—and for his brother and sister too. It was always hard to know if moments like these could compromise his health to the point that we would lose him. These are the times that you reach for all the strength you have.

William came home with oxygen and a feeding tube. After more than two weeks on a ventilator, he needed to learn how to eat all over again. We were too often in these setback situations, but you move forward the best you can.

It’s times like these when family support is most needed and appreciated. At every opportunity, we let my aunts and uncles know how grateful we were for the medical fund for William’s care and recovery. We sent pictures and updates, as we had in the past. We got no personal responses, which was the norm. It was the dedicated support and genuine love of caregivers that helped us the most.

Uncle Robert died in 2020 , and the medical fund for William continued. It was enormously helpful with our home-care costs and medical expenses, and we were always grateful to my father’s siblings for contributing. But even before Robert’s death, their interest had seemed to begin waning. My cousin Eric, who was the administrator, called me to say the fund was running low. Donald was the only one contributing consistently. Eric said he’d been getting some resistance from Maryanne, Elizabeth, and Ann Marie, Robert’s widow. I really didn’t look forward to these calls.

“Why don’t you call Donald?” Eric said. “Talk to him about it.”

I thanked Eric for the heads-up and promised I would.

Soon thereafter, I was up at Briarcliff Manor, home of the Trump National Golf Club in Westchester, N.Y. Donald happened to be there.

He was talking with a group of people. I didn’t want to interrupt. I just said hi on my way through the clubhouse. I called him later that afternoon, and he answered.

I got him up to speed on what Eric had told me. I said I’d heard the fund for William was running low, and unfortunately, the expenses certainly were not easing up as our son got older. In fact, with inflation and other pressures, the needs were greater than they’d been. “We’re getting some blowback from Maryanne and Elizabeth and Ann Marie. We may need your help with this. Eric wanted me to give you a call.”

Donald took a second as if he was thinking about the whole situation.

“I don’t know,” he finally said, letting out a sigh. “He doesn’t recognize you. Maybe you should just let him die and move down to Florida.”

Wait! What did he just say? That my son doesn’t recognize me? That I should just let him die?

Did he really just say that? That I should let my son die . . . so I could move down to Florida?

I’m usually pretty good at getting my head around things that other people say, even when I don’t agree with them. But this was a tough one. This was my son.

Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised to hear Donald say that. It wasn’t far off from what he’d said that day in the Oval Office after our meeting with the advocates. Only that time, it was other people’s children who should die. This time, it was my son.

I didn’t want to argue with him. I knew there was no point in that, not at the same time I was calling for his help. I tried to keep my cool.

“No, Donald,” I said. “He does recognize me.”

Donald’s comment was appalling. It hurt to hear him say that. But it also explained why Lisa and I felt so strongly about advocating for our son and why we wanted to help other people understand what it was like to raise a child like William. A lot of people just don’t know.

People with these disabilities are perceived as less than in so many ways. That attitude is everywhere, even at the highest levels of policy and politics.

William deserves a life just like anyone else, and to that end, I knew I had to advocate for him in every way possible. I might never change Donald’s mind or change the mind of anyone who lacked love and compassion for those whose voices couldn’t be heard and whose lives were fully dependent on others. But I knew what I could do. I could offer my voice, my experience, and my strength to push forward for those who needed it.

The barriers are everywhere , even in communities that are generally supportive, like ours. There are still doorways that can’t accommodate wheelchairs. It is still hard to find meaningful day programs that foster independence with learning, socialization, and assistive technology. The whole narrative still needs to change.

I knew that acceptance and tolerance would only come with public education and awareness. Donald might never understand this, but at least he had been open to our advocating through the White House. That was something. If we couldn’t change his feelings about William, that was his loss. He would never feel the love and connection that William offered us daily.

(Editor’s note: TIME reached out to former President Trump for a response to the description of events in this piece and did not receive a reply.)

Copyright © 2024 by Frederick Crist Trump III. From the forthcoming book ALL IN THE FAMILY: The Trumps and How We Got This Way by Fred Trump, to be published by Gallery Books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC. Printed by permission.

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An Olympics Scene Draws Scorn. Did It Really Parody ‘The Last Supper’?

Some church leaders and politicians have condemned the performance from the opening ceremony for mocking Christianity. Art historians are divided.

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By Yan Zhuang

A performance during the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on Friday has drawn criticism from church leaders and conservative politicians for a perceived likeness to Leonardo da Vinci’s depiction of a biblical scene in “The Last Supper,” with some calling it a “mockery” of Christianity.

The event’s planners and organizers have denied that the sequence was inspired by “The Last Supper,” or that it intended to mock or offend.

In the performance broadcast during the ceremony, a woman wearing a silver, halo-like headdress stood at the center of a long table, with drag queens posing on either side of her. Later, at the same table, a giant cloche lifted, revealing a man, nearly naked and painted blue, on a dinner plate surrounded by fruit. He broke into a song as, behind him, the drag queens danced.

The tableaux drew condemnation among people who saw the images as a parody of “The Last Supper,” the New Testament scene depicted in da Vinci’s painting by the same name. The French Bishops’ Conference, which represents the country’s Catholic bishops, said in a statement that the opening ceremony included “scenes of mockery and derision of Christianity,” and an influential American Catholic, Bishop Robert Barron of Minnesota, called it a “gross mockery.”

The performance at the opening ceremony, which took place on and along the Seine on Friday, also prompted a Mississippi-based telecommunications provider, C Spire, to announce that it would pull its advertisements from Olympics broadcasts. Speaker Mike Johnson described the scene as “shocking and insulting to Christian people.”

The opening ceremony’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly, said at the Games’ daily news conference on Saturday that the event was not meant to “be subversive, or shock people, or mock people.” On Sunday, Anne Descamps, the Paris 2024 spokeswoman, said at the daily news conference, “If people have taken any offense, we are, of course, really, really sorry.”

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A Child Called "It"

By dave pelzer, a child called "it" glossary.

strongly disliked

twisted and looped

to overcome

anticipating with great apprehension

compelling someone to do something

great respect

good quality

meticulously

Constructive.

a big change; drastically

alone; having no contact with others

driven to extreme anger

created; came up with; developed

an act; pretending

extremely serious

never stopping

burn with hot liquid or steam

A Child Called “It” Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for A Child Called “It” is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What piece of clothing does Dave's mother make him wear to school every day for the past two years?

David's mother has made him wear the same long sleeved shirt for two years.

My longsleeve shirt has more holes than Swiss cheese. It’s the same shirt I’ve worn for about two years.

Why did the nurse call David to her office?

David has bruises all over him. When he arrives at school, the nurse calls him in and documents his injuries, a routine that David has grown accustomed to.

Why do you think the mother only abused David? What do you think brought on the change from once being a loving mother to being an abusive mother?

I think that mother had unresolved mental illness issues. She really needed psychological help but did not get it: she was mentally ill.

Study Guide for A Child Called “It”

A Child Called "It" study guide contains a biography of Dave Pelzer, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About A Child Called "It"
• A Child Called "It" Summary
• Character List

Essays for A Child Called “It”

A Child Called "It" essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer.

• Life Lessons in "A Child Called It" and "The Lost Boy"

Wikipedia Entries for A Child Called “It”

• Introduction