'Any fool with a **** can make a baby but it takes a real man to be a father' - Boyz in the Hood

In the UK, and probably in the US and most countries, you need a license to drive a car, to own a dog, possess a gun, to fish etc, etc.

If we need a license, training and background checks for these, should we not need a license for the most important and difficult task a human can undertake - that of having a child?

It's a very touchy subject. I myself don't like to sit on the fence, but I find pros and cons in both sides of the argument. In the persuit of a firm opinion I'll try and discuss them.

Every now and again an abuse case comes to light, where a child has been killed or beaten by a parent or guardian. In these cases there is usually astonishing brutality and lack of basic parenting skills. Each time it happens I say "You need a license to drive a car, but any idiot can have a baby". Is this a valid argument? You know it just maybe.

Think about it, why do we issue car licenses? Because a car can be lethal in the wrong hands - just like bad parenting. Because driving a car is difficult and needs guidance and pratice - just like bringing up a child.

How would it work? Well. I think there would be a fee involved, this would take care of lessons in childcare, equipment for the baby, checks on the parents for suitability, social worker visits to the house. There would be a test, like with a car license, criminal background checks to rule out those with records of viloence or abuse.

The real difficulties come when we discuss unplanned pregnancies.

It's all well and good for those people who want their children, pass their Parental License(PL) fine, pay their fee and get the support they want. But what about unplanned pregnancies. I think that for the most part, these people will probably be aborting or giving up their children anyway, so having a PL systyem would not change that.

For those that fail the PL process, well they get the support and training to try again, and pass. What about those who fail the background & suitability checks? The system obviously cannot stop them from having the child, but at least they would be flagged as an at risk preganancy and given special attention, plus help to try and pass the license test and to address issues found.

The only major issue I feel is the cost. I think that the cost of a PL should be covered by the state in extreme cases, but the benefits of the training (savings in future medical costs), backgound checks (future socail worker visits) and general improvement in society would far outway the costs of subsidising PL in those cases where the parent(s) cannot afford it.

And what about those who fail the PL time and time again? Well my friends, just like with a car, those people should just not get behind the wheel to begin with.

Mod Edit: No profanity please


[edit on 8/9/09 by FredT]

Yes, I think at the very basic people should have to take some sort of class that deals with child rearing etc.

You cannot drive a car without passing a series of tests (Or fly a plane et al for that matter)

But THE most important functions of a human ---- rearing children requires nothing, aero, aip, nada.

Removed because I acted like an idiot.

[edit on 8/9/2009 by grapesofraft]

At first I was like "YES! Of course. No more schizo mommies eating their babies. No more locking kids in closets."

But to be honest... when you remove government, and economics, and our entire fake culture which we've built up... all we can do is eat, sleep, survive, and have kids.

So, of course not.

How would they even regulate it, to be honest? You could just go into the woods and raise a kid.

Plus, first everyone would go "Boo, no gays!" and then "She had an abortion! She can't have a kid!" and it would just spiral out of control.

And what about genetics? Like if you and your significant other are DNA tested and there's a chance your child could have an increased risk for a disease? "Oh, sorry, no. No you two can't have children."

NOOOOOOOOO.

[edit on 8/9/2009 by ravenshadow13]

No, no, no, and even more no for having a license to raise a kid. This is beyond absurd. That would ultimately give strangers power over how you raise your child and is total and utter BS. I have my sons best interest in mind and my morals are just that, my morals. I do not live in a so called free country so I can have others morals forced upon the way I choose to raise my kid.

It is bad enough that we have to have a license, but then again that is something your getting trained for i.e. Driving a vehicle. No one knows more than the next about raising a child therefor cannot license it. It is something that is instinctive by nature.

People who abuse their kids are mental, there is no other logical reason for such a thing. As far as others not liking how you raise your kid, guess what its not their kid so they need to keep their nose out of ones business UNLESS they have reason to believe the child is being abused physically.

I don't know about others on here, but I take damn good care of my son, and if a person was to come knock on my door and give me their two cents, we would have a HUGE problem. I am not a violent person, there is just bounds you do not cross.