Due to the prevalence of divorce and non-marital childbearing in the United States, over half of all children are likely to spend at least part of their childhood living apart from one or both of their biological parents. Of these children, 90% will live primarily with their biological mother ("Single Parents" ). Children who grow up with one parent are 1.5 times more likely to be idle (out of school and work), 3 times more likely to have children out of wedlock, and 2 times as likely to drop out of school (Popenoe 56). These statistics, coupled with the fact that teen suicide has tripled, SAT scores have declined nearly 80 points, and 38% of the nations' poor are children, are the main reasons why fatherless families are of great concern to the well-being of our children and ultimately our nation (Popenoe 53).
             No one disputes the fact that two biological parents, committed to each other and the nurturing of their child, provide the ideal family structure. This traditional, or nuclear, family has been around as long as historical evidence can reach, and serves the emotional needs of children and parents in a competitive and impersonal world ("Nuclear Family"). Researchers have noted an increase of negative behavior in disadvantaged children when a variant of this living arrangement occurs. Some scholars, like David Popenoe, an expert on family and child well being, claim the absence of a father is the primary factor contributing to this behavior. Although this may be a contributing factor, it is important to understand that the lack of a positive social setting and the lack of adequate supervision, resulting from the decrease in economic resources, are more significant factors in influencing children's negative behavior.
             There is no question that mothers are left with an economic disadvantage when left to care for their children without the help of the fathers. According to the U.S. Census Bur...