A South Florida mom punished her daughter publicly Friday by making her stand outside a busy Northwest Miami-Dade street holding a poster advertising that she was causing "trouble in school." The mother's decision, however, is drawing mixed opinions among experts.
On Friday afternoon, many South Floridians driving or walking through Northwest Miami-Dade saw her holding the sign, which reads: "I got in trouble in school..this is my punishment."
Her mother Ava Brown says she's tried everything.
"Physical discipline does not work. You have to come with something better," said Ava Brown, the girl's mother.
Friday, she sat in her car watching her 14-year-old daughter hold the sign.
"I'm embarrassed going out to that school every time she's getting in trouble and getting into fights," said Brown.
It's a controversial type of punishment that has many experts offering mixed opinions.
"Sometimes, what you need to do is give kids a wake-up call," said Yvonne Sawyer, Chief Operating Officer of the Family and Children Faith Coalition.
Sawyer says Brown made the right decision.
"It may in fact save her life, and do some right choices instead of some unhealthy choices," said Sawyer.
But a family psychologist told CBS4 News that the mother of this teen made the wrong decision. The psychologist said public humiliation is never a good idea. She says it promotes shame, and in some cases, can be considered abusive.
Even so, Ava Brown says she won't back down.
"She won't get in no more trouble. She begged me to take her off this corner. I'm not taking you off the corner. This is your punishment," said Brown.
Brown said she will make her daughter stand on that corner for the next ten days. On Monday, she says the teenager will hold the sign in front of her school.
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