We have to have classes to learn to drive. Take a test to get our driver's license. Take tests to graduated from high school. But noone trains us or tests us on our ability to parent. How many of us use the four years of physical education that we are required to take in high school? But how many of us could have benefited from a little training in child development.

I have longed believed that taking and passing a child development class at the high school level should be a reqiurement to graduation. Enevitably most students will, at some point become parents and many at a young age. Barely adults themselves and unable to cope with the stress and demands of being a parent. One child development class can greatly prepare some, if not most, with the basic skills to understand the commitment of having a baby.

We can't bury our heads in the sand by denying that most of these young adults will, in some cases much to soon, become parents. My years as a social worker have taught me that the common thread in many of my cases are the inability of the parents to cope with being parents. I have had removed far too many babies and children from parents that have zero or poor parenting skills. Parents that were never prepared to be parents.

I would love to see the day that we put real-life situations in perspective. I strongly believe that we have lost a generation or two of children to the system when we needn't have lost any.

Learn more about this author, Kathleen Boyer.
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