Should Parents Be Licensed?: Debating the Issues

Most of us can biologically produce children - no questions asked. This book asks the question - SHOULD everyone have the right to bear and raise children. After all, those who wish to adopt or foster children have to undergo very rigorous screening. Other people who wish to look after children, such as teachers for example, need to go through years of studying and training before they are able to take on the responsibility of educating children. But parents who bring children into this world - who are responsible for educating them, influencing them and generally affecting their futures - are not required to prove their ability at all. This book asks the basic question - should they be? This book has some provocative articles and asks some very uncomfortable questions. Examples are: should people with serious genetic defects be allowed to reproduce? Should contraception be made compulsory to prevent some people from reproducing? Why, or why not? What kind of legislation could or should be introduced? How effective would it be? As a mother I would would feel very uncomfortable and indignant even if anyone questioned my right and ability to be a parent. However, I am also aware of so many children being raised in institutions because their parents/family system cannot do so for a variety of reasons. Similarly there are so many children in society who are abused or neglected. Since many of these children will eventually be looked after by the public, via our taxes, institutions, teachers, nurses, social workers etc - shouldn't we be asking these uncomfortable questions? This affects us all. I found the articles to be evenly balanced and the reading very thought-provoking.