Do you think someone should be a mom or dad before they teach?

Question

What about a pediatrician? Should they be a parent before giving advice about the health and parenting of a child?

Answer 1

I don't think it's necessary. I can't stand it when people say, "Wait til you have kids- then you'll see." Those same people say the same thing about marriage, and my relationship with my husband has been just as great. I don't buy it. What I DO buy is common sense. If you've got that, and you care about children and have a sincere desire to help them grow, then you'll be a great teacher. You don't need kids to know how to teach. The same applies to pediatricians. Children aren't some huge mystery that can't be understood. They're just shorter versions of adults. :) As long as teachers, pediatricians, and anyone else dealing directly with children are qualified, caring, and patient, they're fine. Think about it- it doesn't require any schooling or special training to become a parent. All it takes is one too many shots of tequila and an "it feels better without it, baby" to make a child. Parenting classes aren't required (although I would recommend them). Teachers and doctors go through a minimum of 4 years of college, and I'm willing to bet that pediatricians are required to take child development & psychology classes as well.

Answer 2

No, I don't think someone should have to be a mom or dad before they teach. Particularly since I'm not sure what most teachers would do if they got out of college and were expected to find a different career before they became parents! I've had teachers who were parents who were AWFUL teachers. My favourite teacher of all time wasn't a parent until later. Being a parent has nothing to do with how good of a teacher you are.

And no, I don't think a pediatrician should have to be a parent before becoming a pediatrician. They learn a lot about children's health during their studies and internships. I don't think they should be dishing out parenting advice, though, but so many parents turn to their pediatricians for that. I think it's probably because pediatricians will have had more formal education about child development and parents want to make sure they do something that respects their children's development.

Your questions are kind of like: should a female obstetrician have a baby before she can be an obstetrician? Should an oncologist have had cancer or have a family member with cancer before being an oncologist? Experience isn't everything.

Answer 3

No. When a single person goes into his or her first classroom after graduation, they generally have more training in dealing with children than a parent who brings home his first child.
Teachers not only have to know their subject matter, they also have to know how to deal with discipline and how children learn individually and at different grade levels. A person with children could bring a different perspective to the classroom, but not necessarily a better one.

As far as pediatricians are concerned, I believe much the same could be said. I am also not sure that advice about the parenting of a child is a pediatrician's main expertise.

Answer 4

No, I don't think that is necessary. Virtually all of my teachers were married people with children. There were some real "winners" in that bunch who could NOT teach. Teachers should be educated in the content of the disciplines they are teaching but should also have a good base in teaching methods as well. A pediatrician? Once again, a resounding NO. A medical doctor should have sound training and experience with pediatric patients. If he or she is married with children has absolutely nothing to do with how good a doctor he or she is. It doesn't take too much to make oneself a parent, and some of those are atrocious parents at that.

Answer 5

No--but the person should care a great deal about children and enjoy being around them--otherwise you won't really enjoy your job as a teacher.

I am a teacher--this is my 14th year on the job. I have no children of my own, but I am around them for 6 hours a day for 10 months a year. I sometimes spend more time with them on a daily basis than some of their parents. Having worked with and around children for so many years, I understand them at a pretty good level--a level that is commiserate with what a parent would know on certain things. I can give advice on how to effectively discipline children--I do it everyday. I can also give advice on how they learn and what parents can do to help them.

I may not know what it's like to stay up all night with a sick, crying child, but I do know what it feels like to see a child learn something and get excited about it. I've seen how they grow and change and what they are capable of (and not capable of) at certain ages. I think I'm qualified to give advice on certain aspects about children, whether I'm an actual parent or not.

Answer 6

Why should they? Teachers don't have to be parents. It would be wrong to demand those kind of requirements towards any career. Especially if you are assuming that the pediatrician/professional is childless by choice. Whether they can/cannot/will/will not have children, it doesn't affect a person's career choices. Anyone who is passionate enough about a subject to go thru several years of schooling, choosing their career path although there may be several other options, I think is worth listening to.

Answer 7

Teachers and pediatricians don't need to be parents, or experts or technology wizards in order to give good advice. What matters most is that what you learn from them actually works.

Answer 8

No teach first then have children. 3-5 years should let you know whether you really want to have a baby that's going to be a student someday.

Answer 9

don't think it's a "should" but I think it would definitely add to the compassion level of the teacher or the pediatrician. . .

Answer 10

No, but it might help they could understand where parents and such were coming from and children.ButIt's not really nessacary.