Originally posted by Halfofone
Jess
My queston is, Should HAVING children be a right or should the government give "permission" to become parents.
I don't think so, but I'm curious to see what others think.
I actually stopped to comment on this post and haven't finished the whole thread, so apologies if I am jumping the gun. I am single and have no
kids. I come at this from the angle of someone who has trained as a primary teacher (5yr - 13yr olds approx) and has since moved on to adult
education.
I agree with a lot of what has been said above. So many times you see things that make you just shake your head.
I believe that there are many reasons for this type of behaviour and in some cases it seems plain that there are no reasons. Poverty, previous abuse
whatever. Personally I don't find any of those plausable excuses, and don't think there is one. However sometimes I guess - like or not - they can
be reasons.
I believe one of the biggest factors is ignorance. Ignorance of how to raise children and also of the ways to get them act and behave in the manner
you want. Also I think that right down a the heart of things, a lot of children are simply unwanted. Sexual freedom - whatever your moral views on it
- is rampant. That tends to lead to prenancy and babies - that might seem obvious to us, but I have met and taught people to whom it wasn't.
My comment is about government giving permission to have children. I think that procreation is a natural event and a right that the government does
have the right to remove. I almost agree with your suggestion though.
I would modify it to say that anybody has the right to have children as they wish as soon as they
are qualified to do so. For example, I can
drive a forklift, not much call for it my job, but there you have it. I cannot drive a forklift legally because I do not have a license. Is there
anything stopping me getting a license? Nope, I just have to study and sit a test if I want one. BUT in the meantime no one is going to hire me as a
forklift driver because I have nothing to show that I am competent at it.
I believe effective, safe and enjoyable parenting is a skill. Some people come by it naturally, some don't. I would suggest it would help in general
if parenting theory, parenting skills, child behaviour were taught as part of a regular secondary school education. Let people have all the kids they
want when they can show they are qualified and have to knowledge required to be successful at it.
That might be a slightly idealistic viewpoint, but whats wrong with a little idealism?
Good thread junglejake.
[edit on 2-2-2005 by whita]