should parenting be 'licenced' - are some people unfit to have children?

Yes I believe it does specially in these Days I find a lot of People just have Kids now for the Benefits they can get I am from the UK like you so we both know what they get here and it is terrible as far as I am concerned A pregnant Teenager can get a house a lot faster to me who has worked,payed her taxes and is now disabled So yes I think somehow here they should stop this

It would be hard to prevent someone from being a parent. But it seems all parents to be would benefits from some courses or counseling on what to expect when having a child and how to deal with the many challenges that involves.

I agree that some people are not fit to be parents. Look at all the abuse going on in this world? And who suffers? The kids, because the parents don't care. I think everyone should have to go through parenting classes though, especially with all the teenagers having kids these days. I also think though, that if the parents were more open and their children have more information, some of the teenage pregnancies could be avoided.

well in the states the government is trying to do away with welfare. Parents on welfare have to actively look for a job and have to get one I thing within 6 months or they have to reapply. Teenage pregenacy is on the rise. You would think with all the issuses on Aids that they would becareful. You can't stop people from having baby's it would be taking away their rights. I wish I knew what could be done.

no i do not believe anyone shoulnt be able to have children unless their unfit or do something to their child.i was 19 when i had my first.teenagers dont necessarily make bad parents.people shouldnt be able to stay on walfare if they are not attempting to find work.

I have no idea how such a plan as licensing parents could be implemented without seriously violating civil liberties and human rights. Perhaps better education will help curb teen pregnancy rates.

well then what type Law you got in UK ? then you lost your first right to have babies there

I am still single and hopefully I will become a mother someday by God's grace. I guess God really wills the couple to become a parent. If God entrusted you with children, you are really deserving to become a parent. Parenting requires commitment and guidance from God not license.

In my opinion I think disallowing someone to have children is impossible and overall it's very disgusting.. Who are we to decide who can be a good parents and who not? how can we decide? on what basis? you can find a bad parent only after he/she had a child so the problem has not a solution on this way.. however it is a problem and we have to find a solution even if I don't know if a solution is possible because it's a too difficult problem for what now I can't find an alternative solution

Yeah some people are not fit to be parents! They should be screened by psychologists or something.

Well, first, you would have to figure out the criteria for being an "unfit" parent. There are so many different ways to raise children, that who can really say which ways are "unfit," if any? Plus, you can't predict that a parent will beat their children to neglect them. Also, you can't STOP people from conceiving. The only way to stop them from having the children is to have them all on a master list of unfit parents and force them to get an abortion...which is against many peoples religions or moral standing. You'd (government in general) be getting yourself in over head to try to identify every person you think is an unfit parent and forcing them to abort children that belong to them. Plus, a lot of people think that parents who spank are "unfit," but I grew up in a home where I was spanked and it was not abuse..it was discipline. I was not negatively affected by it and I certainly don't think my parents were unfit. They were fantastic parents, and they still are.

I am from a different country and I am not quite sure of the situation there. However, if the teenagers are really the source and from your post I would say that teenagers should undergo counselling and support. This should be assisted with livelihood programs to make them self sufficient. I don't think restricting to have babies is plausible. I think it would be stepping a bit on our freedom.

Last time I checked we weren't a police state (not yet, anyway!) so how on earth would you implement this? Mandatory sterilisation for everyone on benefits? Compulsory abortions for all fifteen year olds who turn up at the doctors pregnant? Dawn raids on people having unlicenced babies? What would you do with the unlicenced babies to prevent them being a burden on the state? Kill them? I agree that inadequate parenting is the cause of a lot of social problems, but you can't alter the fact that procreation is the most natural thing in the world. It happens. The state can't regulate or control it on people's behalf without seriously violating their human rights.

There's no such thing as a bad parent just that's never there so remember it's the action we take that shapes our children's lives and being a good parent depends on how much love and attention you give your child

My husband has a "good, steady job" at a warehouse & I started working as a dancer. We had to get a babysitter for our son b/c we both worked nights. Our daughter is still in the hospital (4 months old) because she has some complications still. And I'm 6 weeks pregnant. My husband and I are both 21 & we do get some help from the state. And I feel it is only right that the state help us since the state gave the doctors who refused to tie my tubes when I requested it their medical licence. My mom had me at 17, my brother at 19 and my sister at 21. And I never joined a gang or anything. I had my son at 20, my daughter at 21, and I'm due again before my 22nd birthday. I used TWO forms of birth control, so I would apprciate it if nobody start the "if you only used protection ..." speech. Personally, I feel people like me (who WANT to have their tubes tied) should have that option open when they ask for it. I do not believe in abortion, but I do believe in birth control. As for disallowing people to have babies. I think that should be applied to murderers, phedophiles, and rapists. Because I don't think those people will ever change. As for addicts, there is rehab & implantations that are a form of birth control, because they suffer from a condition called addiction & I believe that with help those people CAN change.

licensing for parenting would be a logistical nightmare so I dont think it could actually be done (well, at least now). I do however, agree with the idea. I think there should be training for every new mother in terms of child development and such just so people are prepared. We require it of people who look after our children so why should the actual parent be excepted?

I've often wondered the same thing myself! There are so many people out there who can't take care of themselves, never mind a child! Of course if you tried to stop some people having children there would be uproar, how would you decide? There are many poor people who would be great parents, and rich people who wouldn't be able to give their child what they require emotionally. Keeping kids in education is so important, I think the government should look into ways to stop kids dropping out.

I work at a crisis center for children, and let me tell you, some parents should not be able to have children. We seen so many children that have continuously been put through so much. Childhood should be a time of innocence, and more and more children are having this removed. It makes me sick to think of all the children that have been hurt!

this is a huge problem in developed countries (i'm in Aust) because of all the welfare they receive and I think some (not all) think it's a great idea to have kids and pull in the dollars. When you have a baby here now you get an automatic $4000 handout from the govt to help you and some young girls (again, not all) even admit they are just doing it for the money. then they can get welfare to help support the kids. some suburbs are just turning in ghettos because of the huge rates of unemployment and the contuining practice amont communities to propagate this

This is a vicious circle which will go on and on, and it should be put to a stop. I disagree with marriage at young age, worse still, young parents. It's really tough for young parents to handle their baby, coz they already are having problems taking care of themselves. I think education play a very important role in this. The young generation should be taught of the responsibility of being a parent & reason/way to avoid pregnancy. Let them aware that it is not easy to become a parent. Then they will be more careful in their relationship. Besides, law enforcement could help passively, to penalized those irresponsible parents.