# Should parents be trained an licensed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 30, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332 "2016-07-30T22:15:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/41 "2016-07-31T05:08:25Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > We are not here to discuss a link. We are here to debate other real people. > > If you think this is a valid method of deciding who should be sterilised, then you need to defend that point. > > If you don’t think it is a valid method, then you why bother to make the point? > > And if, as it appears, you have no interest in discussing in the point at all, then maybe you should ask for this to be moved to another forum. You asked how it would be done, and I gave a link to a model as to what someone said it would be like. Another point made was to ensure parents don’t abuse them emotionally. Or try to make their kids into another version of themselves. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/42 "2016-07-31T05:09:17Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > It’s not that, it’s to stop people who shouldn’t be parents from having kids, preventing child abuse, and in turn the consequences child abuse has on adult life, which can impact society. And of course there’s the issue of children being raised as pets, i.e. slaves. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/43 "2016-07-31T05:20:19Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And of course there’s the issue of children being raised as pets, i.e. slaves. :rolleyes: More along the lines of child autonomy and supporting them in their goals and not making them do something that you want them to. In other words parents turning their children into them ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/44 "2016-07-31T05:30:21Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > You asked how it would be done, and I gave a link to a model as to what someone said it would be like. And once again, if you think this is a valid method of deciding who should be sterilised, then you need to defend that point. If you don’t think it is a valid method, then you why bother to make the point? And if, as it appears, you have no interest in discussing in the point at all, then maybe you should ask for this to be moved to another forum. > [@](#): > > Another point made was to ensure parents don’t abuse them emotionally. Or try to make their kids into another version of themselves. I am successful, happy and a productive member of society. Are you saying that I am emotionally abusing my child by trying to make them successful, happy and a productive member of society? ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/45 "2016-07-31T05:33:55Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > More along the lines of child autonomy and supporting them in their goals and not making them do something that you want them to. Indeed. I want my children to eat vegetables and go to school. There goals are playing video games all day long and livingon a diet of M&Ms and chips. Clearly I am being abusive and not permitting their autonomy. Simple question Machinaforce. Do you believe that 6yo should have autonomy? How about a 10yo? ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/46 "2016-07-31T06:37:41Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > And once again, if you think this is a valid method of deciding who should be sterilised, then you need to defend that point. > > If you don’t think it is a valid method, then you why bother to make the point? > > And if, as it appears, you have no interest in discussing in the point at all, then maybe you should ask for this to be moved to another forum. > > I am successful, happy and a productive member of society. Are you saying that I am emotionally abusing my child by trying to make them successful, happy and a productive member of society? No, but I can see the point someone makes about letting kids be their own person and not another version of their parents. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/47 "2016-07-31T06:40:20Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > Indeed. I want my children to eat vegetables and go to school. There goals are playing video games all day long and livingon a diet of M&Ms and chips. Clearly I am being abusive and not permitting their autonomy. > > Simple question Machinaforce. Do you believe that 6yo should have autonomy? How about a 10yo? The author of that link I stated clearly believes they should. Me, I’m not sure a child can fully understand what their autonomy means. They look to their parents for advice and guidance. They may have things they want to do but they don’t understand the complexity of society. On a side note, the author also advocates dissolving the “family unit” and have society take responsibility for raising children. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/48 "2016-07-31T07:42:08Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > The author of that link I stated clearly believes they should. … > On a side note, the author also advocates dissolving the “family unit” and have society take responsibility for raising children. And once again, if you think these are valid ideas, then you need to defend them. If you don’t think they are valid ideas, then you why bother to post them? And if, as it appears, you have no interest in discussing in the point at all, then maybe you should ask for this to be moved to another forum. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/49 "2016-07-31T11:19:50Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Who decides who gets to be a parent and who doesn’t? You honestly can’t tell me this won’t lead to weeding out “undesireables” being denied the right to be a parent? :dubious: > [@Machinaforce](#): > > Apparently a group of qualified psychologists from developmental psychology and other schools. Ahhh, the folks who royally fuck things up when they gain control of a condominium board.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/50 "2016-07-31T12:33:33Z")
> [@Chihuahua](#): > > Oh dear God, yes. > > But as you point out, if you can conceive of a way to implement this, you would be the first. And 2 years later (and thousands of years early), still the first. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/51 "2016-07-31T12:49:18Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > That being said, should parents have to be screened/tested in order to have children. I’ve not read the article, but absolutely no: that way lies eugenics. Imagine, for instance, that a Republican administration forbade Democrats from procreating. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/52 "2016-07-31T16:44:07Z")
And if someone is deemed “incapable” of being a parent, what then? Are they sterilized to make sure they never have the chance to do so? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/53 "2016-07-31T16:48:25Z")
> [@srzss05](#): > > And 2 years later (and thousands of years early), still the first. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > And if someone is deemed “incapable” of being a parent, what then? Are they sterilized to make sure they never have the chance to do so? :dubious: Well apparently according to the article they would have a chance to take test again at a later date. It also mentions inspections for five continuous days to make sure things are in order. Also giving the child once they reach 8 years old an opportunity to leave their family if they feel they aren’t being cared enough. I would think that if we have people licenses to practice medicine then the principle could be the same. Train those psychologists in the same way we train future doctors. ---
**Author:** ![SailorHG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SailorHG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SailorHG)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/54 "2016-07-31T17:08:22Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > Also giving the child once they reach 8 years old an opportunity to leave their family if they feel they aren’t being cared enough. Is there even an eight-year-old child anywhere _on the planet_ who thinks s/he is receiving enough care? I highly doubt it. Besides, where would they go? Older children are much more difficult to place, and the foster care system is just not designed to handle that kind of extra load. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/55 "2016-07-31T17:27:25Z")
> [@SailorHG](#): > > Is there even an eight-year-old child anywhere _on the planet_ who thinks s/he is receiving enough care? I highly doubt it. > > Besides, where would they go? Older children are much more difficult to place, and the foster care system is just not designed to handle that kind of extra load. I really wish people would read the link I posted as it would save me time explaining the “model” someone proposed. But I rather doubt an eight year old can grasp what it means to care for a child enough to make the decision. Apparently they would go to someone else who would want kids. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/56 "2016-07-31T17:57:29Z")
I sure wish someone had checked up my parents ! I am still haunted by the fact that my dad put me in a roasting pan and put matches around it was starting to put me in the stove ! My mom came downstairs just in time screaming her head off ! Dad was drunk and showing off to his drunk friends who didn’t nothing and my oldest was powerless to stop this from happening ! When I had my baby I dreamt she was kidnap and she came back cut up like a chicken and been cooked ! I was freaking out and crying when I called a friend and she said I had the dream b/c of what happen to me as a baby. My oldest sister told me what dad did and damn it still in my head 70 years later . This just one of the many things my dad did to me. Sorry for ranting like this but this thread really hit a raw nerve with me. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/57 "2016-07-31T19:02:56Z")
> [@purplehearingaid](#): > > I sure wish someone had checked up my parents ! I am still haunted by the fact that my dad put me in a roasting pan and put matches around it was starting to put me in the stove ! My mom came downstairs just in time screaming her head off ! Dad was drunk and showing off to his drunk friends who didn’t nothing and my oldest was powerless to stop this from happening ! > When I had my baby I dreamt she was kidnap and she came back cut up like a chicken and been cooked ! I was freaking out and crying when I called a friend and she said I had the dream b/c of what happen to me as a baby. > My oldest sister told me what dad did and damn it still in my head 70 years later . This just one of the many things my dad did to me. Sorry for ranting like this but this thread really hit a raw nerve with me. Not sure if trolling or not. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/58 "2016-07-31T21:21:20Z")
But that being said, you already need a license to drive a care and pretty much most things. Why not this? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/59 "2016-07-31T23:41:35Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > Not sure if trolling or not. You’re new so I’ll just note this. Machinaforce, it may do you well to read the rules of the Straight Dope Message board. It’s against those rules to insult other poster or call them trolls. Either can lead to warnings. A number of warning may lead to suspension of your posting privileges for a certain amount of time. Please do read up. I hope you enjoy your time here and make the SDMB a regular stop on your browsing of the Internet. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332/60 "2016-08-01T00:18:59Z")
Very well, it won’t happen again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-parents-be-trained-an-licensed/761332.md?page=4)