To get you started thinking about the issue of parenting and use of power by people in positions of authority in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, rank the following situations from the one you think shows the BEST action of a parent (or parents) in raising a child to the WORST action of the parent/s in raising a child. Be prepared to defend your rankings.

A. Although Bill and his friends are only fifteen, they are able to get into "R" rated movies at a local theater without any questions asked. Bill's parents find out. They tell him he has been "breaking the law" and that he cannot accompany his friends to any more "R" rated movies.

B. Andy has a big history test for which he has not studied. So that he may study and take the exam later, his parents call the school and say he is sick.

C. Sue has just started attending a different high school. Her parents do not approve of several new friends she has brought home because they "act disrespectfully, use bad language, and ride motorcycles." Her parents say they are afraid of what will happen if Sue gets involved with the "wrong crowd" and tell her they do not want to see her with these "friends" again.

D. Four-year-old Jeffie always screams and cries when he has to go to nursery school. His mother tells him that if for a whole week he does not cry about going to nursery school, she will buy him a new toy.

E. Jenny works very hard to get B's in all her classes. Her parents tell her she should try harder and be more like her older brother, who always makes A's.

F. Patty's parents will not allow her to smoke cigarettes. She argues that since she is sixteen she should be allowed to smoke. Each of her parents smokes two packs of cigarettes a day.

G. Joe breaks a neighbor's window while playing baseball. His father "grounds" him for three weeks. Since Joe does not have enough money to pay for the damage, his father makes him work in the yard and around the house to earn the money.

H. Steve is driven home by the police because he was caught shoplifting. The police tell his parents that they will not arrest him this time but that he should be aware of the seriousness of what he has done. His parents decide not to punish him because "boys will be boys."

I. Marianne would be happy wearing inexpensive jeans to school. Her mother, a single parent, does not make much money, but she insists on buying Marianne very expensive, stylish clothes because she wants to be sure her daughter is in the "most popular group" at school.