Should parents need licences to be parents?

[rodriguezpoultry]

Quote:
True, BUT, what if the person contacts the organization that has licensing? What if that person explains the situation and is guided through the process or is told about adoption? What if the parents that are prepared to take a child who have already undergone the courses and have their license adopt that child? That child faces a life of love with parents that are at least slightly prepared for what they are undertaking.

What you've said above is equivalent to what we have now, I think. There are support groups/lifecare centers/family planning organizations that do such things like that...if that's what you're getting at. But that still leaves out the frightened, impoverished teen who can't go to her parents, is afraid to go to the government authority, maybe doesn't even know who the father of her child is... wouldn't she be too afraid of being punished to go to the very licensing agency that would penalize her for getting pregnant?

Again, I'm just throwing these ideas off the top of my head. I haven't thought very in depth about them. The "unfit" still needs to be defined, but I'm talking about the teenagers who are bound and determined to keep the child with them and not allow anyone to guide them. The person who has gotten pregnant because they ran out of money to keep up their drug addictions...the person who is simply unprepared to handle it monetarily, mentally or emotionally. Those people, are the ones that should be penalized. Not those who are willing to do what is best for the unborn baby.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:
Remembering that age my self, I'm pretty sure it would be hormones. Remember, that was the age we started having our kids until something like the mid 1800s.

 

[beakkeeper]

Quote:
I think a class such as you're describing would definitely help, but there's no way to reproduce what your mother/father teaches you, indirectly or directly, through their interactions with you.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:
We must have had vastly different home economics teachers.

Lets just say there were only 2 pregnancy's in my class in highschool.

 

[beakkeeper]

Quote:
What you've said above is equivalent to what we have now, I think. There are support groups/lifecare centers/family planning organizations that do such things like that...if that's what you're getting at. But that still leaves out the frightened, impoverished teen who can't go to her parents, is afraid to go to the government authority, maybe doesn't even know who the father of her child is... wouldn't she be too afraid of being punished to go to the very licensing agency that would penalize her for getting pregnant?

Again, I'm just throwing these ideas off the top of my head. I haven't thought very in depth about them. The "unfit" still needs to be defined, but I'm talking about the teenagers who are bound and determined to keep the child with them and not allow anyone to guide them. The person who has gotten pregnant because they ran out of money to keep up their drug addictions...the person who is simply unprepared to handle it monetarily, mentally or emotionally. Those people, are the ones that should be penalized. Not those who are willing to do what is best for the unborn baby.

Ok, I see what you're saying. Even if all the cards fell into place and the definitions for "fit" and "unfit" were universally agreed upon, I still don't think there's any practical way to regulate all this. Heck, our government has enough to do already, without having to manage people's family life.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Yes, but what if those "unfit" parents had "unfit" parents themselves? Crack-heads, weeders, etc. as parents. The licensing program would be able to at least educate the "unfit" parents before they begin the cycle all over again.
OK, i think i wasn't seeing all of what you said... that makes sense. Again, though, what would those parents be taught? How could a government agency possibly have the resources/information/insight to impart all the "parenting know-how" to the unfit parents who should have been learning this information their whole lives but were unfortunately deprived of fit parents?

The parents would be taught exactly what math ace suggested would be the most beneficial.

Taking care of a newborn is completely different than what a child around the age of 14 needs. The people going through the licensing procedure should go through classes that have nutrition info, clothing info, emotional development info, etc.

As for the parents teaching their children to simply not have sex...I can say from experience that is a load. No offense intended. Urges at that age are ridiculous. It is on both male AND female minds almost constantly, especially with what is on the television now, what books are writing about and what teenagers are discussing almost constantly while in school or at various functions. Parents cannot intercept each and every innuendo sent into the ears of their children and ALOT of it is going to stick.

Nobody is saying that the classes will teach each and every aspect that is encountered when raising a child. But having SOME basic idea of what is going to happen would be better than sending a person out into the world that did not have the love and support of a family that was there for their child in every aspect.​

 

[phoenixmama]

Do driver's licenses ensure a good driver?

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I can tell you NO!

 

[beakkeeper]

Quote:
The parents would be taught exactly what math ace suggested would be the most beneficial.



As for the parents teaching their children to simply not have sex...I can say from experience that is a load. No offense intended. Urges at that age are ridiculous. It is on both male AND female minds almost constantly, especially with what is on the television now, what books are writing about and what teenagers are discussing almost constantly while in school or at various functions. Parents cannot intercept each and every innuendo sent into the ears of their children and ALOT of it is going to stick.

Yet somehow, a large amount of teens manage to avoid premarital sex...it's not impossible, but without good parental support it's nearly so.

 

[beakkeeper]

Ok, my brain hurts, but I'll sleep on it and think up some good things to say tomorrow.

Thanks for such an engaging conversation, everyone!