Mom forces 11-year-old daughter to carry apology sign for twerking

When California mother Frances Hena discovered that her 11-year-old daughter had been twerking at a school dance, she resorted to a public form of punishment — and one that is becoming increasingly popular among parents.

“I was disrespecting my parents by twerking at a school dance,” read the sign Jamie Hena was forced to hold for two hours at a busy intersection in the city of Bakersfield this past Monday.

Recently popularized by pop singer Miley Cyrus' infamous performance at last month's MTV Video Music Awards, twerking is a provocative dance move that involves thrusting the hips in a sexual manner.

Hena is upset by the school's lack of intervention when her daughter started twerking at a recent dance, which she heard about through a friend.

“I haven’t heard anything from the school still, and it’s just ridiculous to think that’s okay at a school dance,” she tells ABC. “I’m also not sure my daughter realizes how seriously I take this.”

The somewhat extreme parenting trend towards public shaming as a form of punishment has been gaining popularity as of late.

Last year, a 12-year-old Florida boy was forced to hold a sign that apologized for disrespecting and cursing at a school teacher for three days. He appeared genuinely remorseful of his actions while holding the sign outside his school with tears in his eyes.

Then in March, a 13-year-old Florida girl, whose parents described as having behaviour problems, was made to hold a sign on a street corner that read: "I’m a self-entitled teenager w/no respect for authority. I’m also super smart, yet I have 3 'D’s' because I DON’T CARE." The girl later hugged her father and said she was sorry.

And this summer, two Indianapolis brothers were made to hold a sign declaring their sins after stealing a $50 gift card from their mother to buy ice cream.

What are your thoughts on public humiliation as a parenting strategy? Do you think it's effective or over-the-top? Tell us in the comments below!