Should becoming a parent require a licence and specific training?

Question

How to enforce such a requirement?

Answer 1

Reply refers to U.K. and not U.S.A.

Are our Education pundits and our schools failing our youngsters?

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think that the dropping of subjects like domestic science and technical subjects - that covered, cooking, laundering, basic housework, dressing a baby (albeit a doll), metal work, woodwork etc. from the school curriculum, was a big mistake.

For example, how many girls know how to make a simple meal, very few, because now, all they have to do, is visit the local supermarket and buy something that has just to be heated. How many girls can use an iron or sew on a button? How many know how to sweep a floor, polish a piece of furniture, wash a valuable ornament etc etc.... sadly VERY few.

How many boys can fix a leaking tap, mend a fuse, change a light bulb, wire and connect a 13amp plug, fix a broken pane of glass, etc etc?

How many can write a letter in plain English (without resorting to jargon)?

How many know the name of our Soveriegn, our Prime Minister or even our local mayor (provost)?

How many can make a conversation that doesn't relate to clubbing, drinking, sex or even drugs?

Why is it, that such a large percentage of the present youth of our country, is so lacking in general knowledge? (It's so embarrassing to see them on quiz programmes, where even the simplest question defeats them.)

What should our Education Department pundits be doing to get the above addressed?

Becoming a parent is too easy these days and it is often used as a means of getting to the top of the 'housing list' and to getting a whole host of benefits.

Asking for a licence is a bit much, but at least give our kids a better grounding at school, to enable them to become good or even better parents.

Answer 2

These things are already readily available to those who need it. A license is not necessary - but birthing & child classes are, to those who wish to have a child.

Granted, some things are instinct. A baby will instinctively seek a breast to suck after birth. Moms - young to old - just figure things out. Hospitals give not only birthing classes, but several classes for the later years. Most even have nurses that will visit your house, to make sure that all is ok.

Also in my state (WI) - in most paternity actions, one or both parents are required to take a parenting class. If one parent thinks that the other parent may need a class, the court will usually grant it if there's sufficient reason. I requested this for my ex, because he had no previous experience with children, and it was granted. He did however try to make me take it too, but as I had previous experience with children (& previous education), I had already fulfilled that obligation.

If there is someone that needs help with their baby, all they have to do is ask. Ask a hospital when they give birth, ask Social Services where else they can get help. Many classes are free, for under-privileged familes.

We can't make someone be licensed for everything. Otherwise pretty soon I'll need one before I can help chaperone at a class field trip. All we can do is help those we can, offer advice when we can, and trust others. Trust others that they know what they're doing, and they'll ask for help when they need it.

Answer 3

No licence should be required but training would be a good idea, but who would you train on and with.

Your own child is like no other.

Therefore the only person you could get advise on bringing up a child is your own mum or dad.

Answer 4

License no, training yes. Giving birth is God's gift and no government should have the right to control if a person's becomes a parent. I agree that some people are not fit to be parents but I believe that most parents are trying their best to raise their children properly. I think that all of us can benefit from parenting classes.

Answer 5

You used to have to get a license to keep a dog......

Compulsory sterilisation is probably too extreme, but it has to be admitted that there are certain parts of our society who are reversing evolution.....

When I had my wee one we had parent classes before the birth, and we had huge support from our own parents in how we should make our little person a great little person. Now she's at school, I look around at some of the little kids that can barely speak because of the circumstances in which they have been borne...... They don't have a chance......

Answer 6

And if they dont pass the test? Would they be taken away from society for fear of them coming into 'contact' with someone of the opposite sex and making a human being?
Would people need to renew their training like the do with First Aid?
With every system there's an opp for fraud and abuse. Then we'll have idiots trying to control the polulation by issuing licences to the 'friends in power' and then we'd be back to square one.
Good idea in theory, but completly useless in practice.

Answer 7

Most definitely. The test for the licence should include a comprehensive knowledge of C of E liturgy, proof of voting for UKIP, how to exploit non-British countries, and detailed reasoning as to why the UK declared war on our beloved leader in 1938 (Hitler). Grammatical and spelling errors will be ignored, if these do not lead to a suspicion of foreign origins. (USA variants accepted)
Training should include advanced study of indoctrination, the imposition of regimented potty training, ensuring a total distaste for foreign food (MacDonald's and KFC excepted), ensuring that the child will never learn foreign words, (like pyjamas, bungalow cul-de-sac or democracy).

Answer 8

I don't think a licence, but a class would be good. I think all parents should be made to go to a newborn care class, befor they leave the hospitol or befor the baby is born. They need to know the basics.

Answer 9

Y E S !

there are no shortage of chlidren...you need to be a parent? Adopt. It takes a village to raise a child, but we have too many "childs" and meanwhile everybody's wearing "stop snitching" tee shirts...we have neighborhoods where there are more stray bullets than literate adults; lets all have 8 kids? The other poster is absolutely right about people "reversing evolution". We are at carrying capacity, and the respect for life has never been lower. If life is so precious, how come 5 minutes in the back of a trans am can accomplish the task meanwhile finding a competent cashier is like hunting the freaking yeti? Judgment is precious; life, like $hit, just happens.

Answer 10

As totalitarian as it sounds, YES. Any change in the cycle of abuse meted out in the name of child-rearing reappearing generation after generation will take a long time but this would be a start. How to enforce? How about giving a higher child tax benefit to those who pass such a course? Carrot is better than stick - and that's just lesson one.