SPRING AWAKENING - Segerstrom Center for the Arts

History
Discussion
Discussion
Objective
Reporting child abuse.
From the Script
Act 1, Scene 8
Wendla and Melchior discuss Martha’s abusive situation.
Wendla
Martha Bessell is beaten almost every evening -- the next
day, you can see the welts. It’s terrible.
Really, it makes you boiling hot to hear her tell it.
Lately, I can’t think about anything else.
Teaching Tips
What we are aiming
for in this lesson is to
discuss how child abuse
laws have evolved
since the 1800s, and
inform students of their
responsibility in reporting
such behavior.
Exercise
Melchior
Someone should file a complaint.
Since the 1800s child abuse have evolved considerably. Thank goodness. Children in those
days and even beyond were considered owned by their parents, and other than social
pressure on those who committed such acts, legally, not much was done to protect the child.
Students should research the history of child abuse laws in America from 1900 and take
careful notes. They should create a timeline to help organize events. As each event is listed,
further research its details. These notes will be important in the discussion to follow.
The earliest event in the evolution of child abuse laws found by a student will be the starting
point of the discussion. The discussion will move forward based on the next talking point
based on its date. For instance the first point may have occurred in 1900. The next talking
point might have occurred in 1901, and so on to the present.
To sum up the discussion, ask students if they understand their responsibility to report child
abuse. Be sure to address their concerns about false accusations.
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