Why Parents Should Attend Government Parenting Classes - Literature review Example

TOPIC: PARENTS SHOULD ATTEND GOVERNMENT PARENTING ES XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXAll parents should attend government parenting classes The subject on the best way to raise children has raised a wide range of arguments. It has been a normal belief that all the decisions that are made in matters concerning the care of children ought to be left to the parents in the privacy of their homes. Generally, governments usually only get involved in parenting matters whenever there are parental failures of severe magnitudes like in cases involving neglect or abuse. Nevertheless, a lot of queries might be brought up as to whether it is logical for parents to be left to raise their children without any interference given that there has been an increase in vices such as substance abuse, bulling and sometimes fatal fights. For new parents and those who have trouble when it comes to raising their children, parenting classes are a potential solution to helping them. Although some fear that parenting classes increase the socio-economic gap between citizens, government parenting classes will be beneficial in; mitigating the ripple effects of poor parenting on the society, upholding children’s rights to getting quality parenting and standardizing parenting information for reliability and consistency. All parents should go to government sponsored parenting classes because they will help reduce the negative impacts that bad parenting has on the society as a whole. According to Casey and Kirby (2006), in matters regarding the bringing up of its future citizens, the government has a firm financial, practical and moral concern. This is the reason why most democracies that are liberalist in nature extend pricey and broad child support systems in order to assist parents in the upbringing of young individuals who will turn out to be respectful, responsible, active and upright members of the society. These support systems include; arrangements for parental leave, nursery care that is free and payments for child support. Casey and Kirby (2006) also raise the contention that preventive and proactive action brings about the best outcomes as opposed waiting to deal with the problems after they arise. The successfulness and cohesiveness of the next generations could be ensured by the implementation of mandatory parenting classes hence raising parenting standards for the benefit of current and future generations. If all parents attended government parenting classes, children’s rights to getting quality parenting will be upheld. Doward (2006) argues that making parenting classes mandatory would in a great way aid in the prioritization of the children’s best interests without putting a restriction on the educational choices of these parents. This is because it might not be possible to put into place supervisory or legal systems that would provide encouragement to parents to take better care of their children. While merely having an effect on parents at a minimal degree, parenting classes would certainly aid parents in determining and acquiring knowledge as to what is considered to be good for their children; this would in turn enforce the right of a child to an upbringing that is decent. Bortolotti and Cutas (2009, p.17) give the argument that dealing with bad parenting will in effect cub child social exclusion. For instance, 90% of juvenile wrongdoers have been known to have a history of behavioural issues as children. Moreover, according to LaFollette (1980, p. 24), there are some instances in which a child’s failings are clearly as a result of poor parenting. For example, a fourteen year old boy or girl with poor health, a record of crime and no educational qualifications has almost surely been failed by his/her parents. It is therefore better if these classes are made mandatory for all parents since the government has no means of determining in advance which parents will specifically struggle in raising his/her child. For the betterment of the society at large, a mandatory system is most likely to give the best results (Bad Parenting Habits, 2010). Self-referral to get help is mostly carried out by those with a less need as compared to those with higher needs who have to be referred by others before accepting the assistance. Attendance of government parenting classes by all parents would be a great and easily accessible source of reliable and standardized parenting information. Information and materials about parenting are presently scarce, inconsistent and irregular. According to Butler and Clutton (2006, p. 14), it would be of great assistance to all parents if there was standardization and a means to easily access to up-to-date parenting information offered by experts from various fields including; educators, psychologists, medical staff and nutritionists among others. This would consequently ensure that all parents obtain basic information on good parenting. In addition, information is frequently appreciated and often valuable to those who obtain it in time. Individuals who participated in Charity Barnardo’s parenting classes turned out to be unanimously positive on what the effects of the course. This parents felt that these classes gave them new confidence and skills vital to parenting (Lloyd, 1999, p. 11). These parenting classes offered standardized and up-to-dated information that was useful in guiding the conduct of parents and would not sum to enforcing one particular model of parenting on all parents. A popular argument posed by those against parenting classes suggests that government sanctions tend to be unfair to those that aren’t well off. Abrams (1994) raises the argument that it would be socio-economically unfair for the government to withhold child support benefits to families whose parents do not attend parenting classes regardless of their financial stability. The families that are well off and are not in any way dependent on the government’s financial support would therefore not be affected adversely by boycotting the classes. However, in defence of the government parenting classes, Wintour and Owen (2010) states that families whose benefits are halted cannot blame the government since it is by their own choice that they boycott government parenting classes. According to the Frank Field Report by Wintour and Owen (2010), these classes ought not to be viewed as programmes for low income households. One way in which parenting classes would be indiscriminately reach the population is by incorporating them into secondary and tertiary school’s curriculums. This would capture majority of citizens in a youthful age. Combining parenting classes with classes such as reproductive health, sociology and culture would increase the coverage of this vital course. BBC Health (2011) indicates that it is a sad reality that there are widespread cases of poor childcare, neglect and abuse that result in hurt and trauma. The government should therefore put in place preventive measures instead of ‘curative ones’ where it reacts to incidences in a bid to find solutions. Individual values and needs of children and parents are crucial. Government parenting classes do not in any way jeopardize them, and in fact, embraces them. Personal ideas which parents may have should be incorporated with some basic information on childcare and what is healthy for a child’s welfare. The scepticism regarding whether good parenting can actually be taught has be cleared through research show a strong relationship between parenting classes and successful parenting. Being a good parent is a crucial task since parents are influential figures in a child’s development. Regardless of the fears that government parenting classes increase the socio-economic gap between citizens, government parenting classes are crucial in; reducing the negative effects of poor parenting on the society, upholding children’s rights to getting quality parenting and standardizing parenting information for reliability and consistency. The end result of all this is that children will be more responsible, respectful, better behaved and can hence achieve more at school and in life in general. Government parental classes will therefore do more good than harm when it comes to matters of raising children. References Abrams, F. (1994), “Parenting classes linked to benefit,” The Independent, 5 March 1994. Accessed on 30th November 2012 from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/parenting-classes-linked-to-benefit-1427038.html. Bad Parenting Habits, (2010), My Parenting Guide, Accessed on 29th November 2012 from http://www.myparentingguide.com/parenting/parenting-styles/bad-parenting-habits/pp Bortolotti, L. and Cutas, D. (2009), “Reproductive and parental autonomy: an argument for compulsory parental education.” Reproductive Biomedicine 19 (1st July), 5-14. Butler, V, and Clutton, S. (2006),‘Help at Hand’ An evaluation report of a programme of activities promoting alternatives to smacking children, Barnardo’s. Essex: unpublished. BBC (2010), Parenting classes, BBC Health, 2011. Accessed on 30th November 2012 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/family/family_relationships/you_lessons.shtml. Casey, L. and Kirby, J. (2006), “Head to Head: Parenting Classes,” BBC News, 21 November 2006. Accessed on 30th November 2012 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6168474.stm. Doward, J. (2006),‘‘Nanny State’ Clash on Parent Classes,’ The Observer, 19 November 2006, Accessed on 30th November 2012 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2006/nov/19/childrensservices.politics?INTCMP=SRCH.   LaFollette, H. (1980), “Licensing parents”, Philosophy & Public Affairs 9 (2), 1980 Lloyd, E. (1999), What Works In Parenting Education? Essex: unpublished Owen, P. and Wintour, P. (2010), New mothers and fathers should have parenting classes – Frank Field report, The Guardian, 3 December 2010, Accessed on 29th November 2012 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/03/new-mothers-fathers-parenting-classes-frank-field?INTCMP=SRCH.  Read More