Do you think becoming a parent should require a license?

Question

This question was inspired by a discussion in one of my classes. Tell me your opinion. And nobody is getting best answer unless they have a clear opinion and reasons to back it up.

Answer 1

This is an interesting question and at times I almost think that to be a parent should require a license. This would make sure that only people who are qualified, with the requisite knowledge and resources to properly raise a child, would be the only ones allowed to procreate. However this proposition is fraught with problems.

The first is what standards do you have to meet in orcer to gain the license. Is there an income minimum? How do you determine that the people will be strict enough not to let the child run wild but also not be so doctrinaire that the child will resent them? What will be the standards of the ideal parent, willing to stay at home, motivation to shape and educate the child. Will specific moral and political views or racial profiles be valued over others? These are just a few of the questions that licensing parents brings up.

The next large issue is how do you enforce the license requirements. How do you prevent people who are not licensed from becoming parents, mass sterilization? Or, do you use punitive measures against those who get pregnant without permission. What then happens to the unauthorized children, forced abortions, automatic adoptions? None of these seem like good ideas inside a free society.

This is why I could never support licensing parents, it siezes control of one of the basic functions of life, not just human but all life, the drive for procreation. People will always have kids and a number of them will manage to mess their kids up to one degree or another, the same parents can do really well with one and terribly with another, you never know.

Answer 2

Not a license..a permit.

You cannot have a permit under the age of 21 for example. I also think the person or couple should have to show W-2's..like they do when applying for a mortgage to show they have income to provide for a child. I also think a phychological evaluation would be in order too as well as classes with tests. If people have children without a permit, there should be a consequence. A livable consequence but something serious.

The reason? Too many teen parents and deadbeats on welfare getting assistance from my tax dollars and too many abusive uncaring parents.

Answer 3

I do not think parenting should require a license. It would be impossible. You would basically have to sterilize the entire population temporarily, which would not only be close to impossible but would also be quite costly. Then reversing the process would be costly to the tax payers. Then the human population would drop severely due to the fact that becoming a parent would be too difficult. What would happen if someone accidently got pregnant? Would the child be forced into foster care? We have too many children in foster care as it is. Our economy could not afford those tax increases. The adoption process is too expensive and lengthy as it is. A license to rear a child that you actually gave birth to would be crazy.

Answer 4

Wouldn't the world be wonderful if no one who could hurt a child or neglect a child could have one? But it doesn't work that way, and it probably shouldn't. Who decides the criteria for eligibility to have a child? I don't want a politician to decide that I can't have a child because sometimes I do things like drink socially or don't exercise enough. It isn't my right to tell anyone that they can't be a parent, anymore than someone can make that decision for me. Humans were created or evolved with the ability to continue their genetic lines. Even if there were laws about licenses, there would be an awful lot of people breaking the law.

Answer 5

No, I don't and here's why:

Who decides who meets the requirements to get this license? What would the requirements be? How could you enforce this "law"? This kind of requirement would encourage racism and discrimination against the poor, religious minorities and many others. Also, it could bring about a desire to breed superhuman babies of pro-athletes and high IQ individuals. Although those characteristics are enviable, that does not give anyone the right to deny procreation to those lacking these attributes. It's a slippery slope and irreconcilable in a "free" society.

Answer 6

After having read some of the questions in this section I would say a definate YES!!!! Some of these people do not seem to have the sense it takes to care for a child. I would have to say YES with much worry about the babies some of these are going to have or have already given birth to. Most of the questions appear to be from parents or parents to be with geniune concerns and want to do what is right. But some of them,are just plain out and out,Maury Povich show material !!!! I do NOT care if I get a best answer or NOT,I had to say what I feel and this was a good place to do it,so to you I say THANKS for letting me vent........Good luck with this discussion and let me know how the class answered it.............

Answer 7

Unfortunately, I think the idea of requiring someone to have a liscense to become a parent is an impossibility for a number of reasons. But I do believe that both children and first time parents would benefit from a required parenting course, and possibly monthly check ins with CFS for the first year or so.

Answer 8

Not sure licensing is the answer. I think training and education is.... when diagnosedpregnant, the parents to be (mom and dad) shoud be required to take classes on budget, diet, health and even on discipline and reinforcement.. etc...

If incomplete, they do not leave the hospital with aby until they sign up for the classes. If they are a no-show for the class.they are fined.

Answer 9

Are you sure this isn't your homework assignment? Parenting is a learning process. I can only wish that everyone experiences it. My husband has 2 friends that never had kids. They'll never know what they put their parents through. The heartache, the joy, the pain, accomplishments and milestones. All the good and the bad. I don't have the time to write the essay for you but as far as the license goes, I don't think so.

Answer 10

If you take a look around at some of the kids that are roaming the streets; smoking, doing drugs, stealing, using profanity and in general is just plain disrespectful to others. That in itself is a clear indictment of the poor example that the parents are setting for their children. Alot of these children are just plain neglected by their parents either through apathy or the advent of the child growing up a latch-key kid and being left to his or her own devices. But then there are the parents who bear unwanted children and neglect their ubringing from the get go and let them loose on society without a second thought. Yes, I think everyone should have to go through extensive pyschological testing to be sure that they will be an effective parent and good human being.