Should We License Parents?

Society needs a new attitude towards children. Parental licensing would provide incentives for parents to become more skilled at raising children and would reduce child abuse. We license doctors, lawyers, pilots, and automobile drivers because they have the potential to do harm if not practicing their activity with skill. And since being a parent can potentially cause harm also, society could license parents. The criteria used for licensing, in general, are two-fold. One, the activity must have the possibility of harm.Two, there must be a minimal competence level necessary to avoid harm (or to do the job well). Parenting meets both criteria.

While some might say that people have a right to have their own children or that people have a right to have their own children without interference into their private lives, The term ‘right’ is ambiguous and, even if they do have the right to have children, that right is limited to protect children. For example people cannot neglect or abuse their children and must provide for their basic needs.

To encourage parents, tax incentives could be offered to parents who successfully show their worthiness to be parents by engaging in classes and testing. This would help parents learn the basics of raising children and would, presumably, ensure that all parents are minimally competent.

There is also much evidence to support the idea that children who are self-confident, self-aware, caring, and hopeful, will be happier, more productive, and more harmonious in society. This self confidence and self-esteem comes from the freedom to explore their own ideas and make decisions for themselves, as appropriate for their ages. When parents are highly skilled and supportive of children, the children will become happier adults and will therefore be more productive, and sociable. Although the licensing of parents may have some difficulties in implementation and enforcement, the benefits outweigh the problems. Where the entire future of our world and its values are at stake, we need to think first of our children.

(Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia)