Would you support mandatory parenting classes or mentoring?

Well, first of all, anyone can fake their way through a course. I don't think the government should EVER decide whether a person is "qualified" to procreate. They have taken away enough of our rights.......................why should we give them more rope to hang US with???

I wish parenting and family life was a requirement for high school graduation. As Bridget says, anyone can fake their way through a course. But I think some teaching could help.

I also think we need to stop thinking of procreation as a right and instead consider it a privilege. When something is a right, you don't value it. If it's a privilege it becomes more valuable... that could cut the abortion rate dramatically.

I think something to help with the angry people have maybe but nothing to tell you when you can have kids.

No it should not be. Logistically it would not work. A high school and middle school class should be the best approach. With discussions on goals, parenting techniques, resources, abuse, comon illnesses in childhood, debates on discipline, and articles supporting what are good parenting approaches.

No it should not be. However I do think that for certain people it should be. The reason I don't think it should be mandatory for all is simple. Who would pay? I can't afford it and I doubt the government would pay for every one to get it. So logically speaking it would not work. Though if I could get a free one I would be all for it there is always more we can learn.

I don't like the idea of Big Brother telling me what I can and can't do and how I should do it.

Nope. If it began by being mandartory for certain people, what would stop it from being mandatory for everyone at some point. As far as classes on parenting techniques, discipline (we all know that any one type of discipline does not work with every child), etc. who's techniques, discipline style, etc. would they go by? There are about a gazillion books out there on parenting, discipline, etc. so who's ideas would the accepted model? It could easily become a case of "do it this way, by the prescribed methods or lose your child", it could also lead very quickly to forced vaccination programs since that's what the medical community would like and someone making decisions regarding how many children a person could have based on their feelings about that person. I can tell you, I would have greatly resented having to take classes whether I wanted to or not. As far as abuse, it wouldn't stop it.

I was supposed to take a parenting class when I was in a half-day program for teen moms. I dropped it and took health instead. It was fll of closed-minded views and negative stereotypes.