Students Forced to Take Mandatory Parenting Classes

I think it's a great thing. I've seen so many young girls get knocked up in high school, most of them end up being single parents. I've seen how some of them conduct themselves with their child and to say the least they are irresponsible. This sort of class will teach them how to responsible and even prevent them from being knocked up at such young ages. I've even seen adult parents who make stupid decisions around their child and don't take care of them like they should.. In my personal opinion i think all students should have to take a parenting class.

For me no any reason to forced children to take a parenting classes that will be for thier parent.for what reason they will take why the goverment can assure that when they will finish in thier hight school they will get merried or what?

Hi kellys3ps, I agree that parents should be teaching this at home, but I also believe that most aren't doing it. I would agree with the school district on this. Blessings.

Unfortunately, so many kids have no decent role models that I give them a lot of credit for trying to handle a tough situation. I have always backed up programs that take up slack for poor parenting. I love it when the schools have the programs where they must take care of a virtual baby and see how much work it is with nothing back from the baby but smiles, if someone does not have an ill or colicky baby. As far as should parents be teaching this at home, of course!! But how many really do? Many parents were teens with no role models of their own now raising their own kids. You have single mothers working many jobs and no time. There are families that are violent, families that the parents are all about themselves or their careers, and the list goes on to all of the dysfunction. As a teacher, I have given guidance to many a student in matters that should have been handled by the parent. I am not even a school teacher as I teach dance. I have had many students their whole lives, from as young as age 3 through their adulthood, and I see how bad some of the families can be. We all have to take responsibility to raise children, not just our own and not turn our heads and say, "this is not my problem." You have touched a sore spot for me and I am glad that you brought this up as a discussion.

I live in Texas and I think this is a great idea. In the old days they called this class Home-Ec. They taught everything from cooking to sewing to parenting. So now the powers that be have decided that not only girls should take it but boys should take it to. If the parents are going to take responsibility for their kids learning how to be parents or preventive measures to keep from being parents, then the government is going to step in. The Texas government has stepped in. Yeah, Texas! Teach them kids how to abstain! Get real, ain't goin' to happen. Better yet, teach those kids how to parent the kids they are making. I absolutely agree.

I think that this is a good idea. Believe it or not a lot of teens actually want to have kids and dont get accidently pregnant. Maybe this would help them understand more what parenting is all about and change their mind.

I have mixed feelings on this. Yes, it is something that should be taught at home. But when I was a teen, a baby was the last thing on my mind. Not every teen girl is in baby mode. However, I don't think it is a bad idea. It will give them the tools and resources they will need for life. I don't think handing them a screaming toddler is going to disueade anyone. My neices were around kids, and they both got preggers young. Parents are the primary teachers in life. Let's hope for the best.

I dont think it is wrong it is essential for the kids to know atleast it is very important for girls to know which will lessen the teen pregnancy and illegal relationships between teens and pre teens these all happens because parents are doing their part well may be they feel hard to speak to their own kids so atleast the educational management should perform this. Its a nice try

I know in middle schools they make each student take this baby doll home to take care of. It has a chip installed or something and it records everything like if the doll was changed or how long it was left to cry or if it was even fed. They are graded based on that. Don't know if it is mandatory or if the kids get to choose to take it. Is this something the High School kids would be doing or do they get to take care of real babies? What exactly would they have to do?

right off the top of my heas & not knowing alot about it , i would say no. i can see where it might be a help but let's hope they wait years till they become parents.

If it will stop teens from thinking that babies are just cute little trouble free toys, it's worth it. Taking care of a child is hard work. Since so many parents haven't a clue about parenting, the kids all need some basic guidance on what to expect at each age and what children need to thrive. A screaming infant at 2:00 is no fun. Cleaning up diarrhea or vomit for the 10th time that day is no fun. It has to be done, so parents just do it. The kids/young parents need to know this is a yucky part of parenting. It's not the babies fault it's sick. Every summer I have crying rescue kittens and puppies at night. I hate the 2:00 bottle and staying up all night when they can't settle down and sleep. I freely choose this lifestyle, but it's not all fun and games.

I think there would be good way on doing this in the School that at least the children could decide and think very well.....

As for me , I always go against all the mandatory things ,I would like to do what i prefer .perhaps there are some advantages of the parenting classes ,but the students volunteer to take is better.

When I was in HS, I took a Parent/Child Development Course as an elective. I'm really glad that I took it. I learned a lot about how todlers develop. We also had to take home that babydoll that cries and poops, and spits up...with that computer chips that monitors your reactions and how you care for the child. It really kind of gave me an idea of what it's like to have a screaming baby wake you up 6-7 times in the night. I decided right then and there that I wasn't having kids until I was ready, God willing. Now I'm happily married almost 1 year, and we plan to start our family in 1-2 years.

Yes, parents SHOULD be teaching their kids, but with 2 parents working and very little time in the day to interact with the family, things like this are getting lost. Our society is out of control and someone needs to tighten the reins!

The people of Texas are thinking intelligently for once. Yes, this is a GREAT idea. I wish that this were a law in California because teens could sure as Hell use it here. When I was in high school, there was about 17 to 20 teens pregnant in my class. We had a teen mother and child class because of it. The sad thing is, the fathers of these children should have been forced to attend it too with their girlfriends and their children. The teen pregnancy rate in this country is insane, and if there is a mandatory class for teens who are thinking about parenting, then I am all for it.

Parents should be teaching their kids this at home.....but reality, that's not what is happening. If it were happening there would not be a need for daycare at high schools, and I'm not talking about for the teachers. It is for the students babies and small children so they can stay in school. It is unbelievable how many high school students are graduating as parents.

I think it is a good idea and while I would usually say it should be an elective class I think of what's been in the news. Babies being thrown from cars, thrown in trash bins, left exposed to the elements. Parenting classes won't kill anyone.

hi kellys maybe this is somethingthat should be taught at home, but from the statistics it is not being taught at home. so more power to texast to mandate parenting classes for all high school students. Now they will be more prepared when they all go out and get pregnant,no I meant to say they will now have choices, to stay virgins long enough to get their education and maybe a job before venturing into pregnancy. I think this is something that has been needed in schools for a long time and now someond has finally written it into a law and mandated itfor the high school students who need it the most.

I think the question should be "Who is teaching the classes," and "what qualifies them to teach parenting?" Nobody is a perfect parent. And as far as I know, there is no real "instruction book" that would work for everyone. This could be scary. Many years ago, I taught anger management classes at a treatment center where I worked. I didn't even know how to deal with my own anger. I remember thinking "who the hell put me in this group as the leader...I should be a participant." LOL I had books to teach from with ideas like "stop, take a breath and count to ten before doing or saying anything..." Things like that. Anyone with a temper knows that this is not a very effective method. Like I said before, I would be concerned about what they are teaching and who is teaching it...