Should Parents be Subjected to Licencing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Should Parents be Subjected to Licencing - Essay Example In the hands of parents lie their children’s future because how they mold their children will create a great impact on the children’s lives. LaFollette has argued that a license is necessary when the activity to be engaged upon is potentially harmful to others. Much like a driver needs to secure a driver’s license before driving a car because driving is potentially harmful to others, parenting is argued to likewise be potentially harmful to children especially if the parents are not qualified to raise them (183). The second argument for a licensing program for parents is that their competence should be proven in order to ensure a safe performance of their duties as parents (183). What if they are not adept in caring for another individual, especially a young child who is totally dependent on them for all his needs? What if they do not have what it takes to equip the children with the necessary skills to survive when they grow up and go out into the world? What wo uld become of these children? A third argument for licensing is that there should be a reliable procedure for testing such competence (184). LaFollette explains that when the first two arguments are met, that of parenting being potentially harmful indeed to others especially to children, and that the parents’ competence is questionable, then parents become legitimate subjects for licensing. If all three arguments are met, then it becomes imperative to issue licenses to qualified parents. Since children are highly valued by society, their welfare is given utmost consideration. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) declares that "the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth" (Article 2.2), Article 2.2 further details, â€Å"States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the basis of the status, activities, expressed opinions, or beliefs of the child's parents, legal guardians, or family members.† This implies that if children are left in the hands of irresponsible parents, then the state will do everything to protect children from any potential harm that may be inflicted by such parents. This is to ensure that they will be kept safe and put in an environment where they can grow and develop into well-adjusted and healthy individuals that can be productive and contributory citizens to society in the future. Studies have shown that children who grew up under abusive or negligent parents have strong tendencies to develop the same behaviors with their own children due to the constant exposure they got when they were young. Anda et al (2005:174) discussed in their study that the traumatic experiences of abused or neglected children often stays on with the victims into adulthood. Some children may never fully recover from the trauma, resulting in lifelong depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. Other individuals may be predisposed to engage in prostitution, pornography, drug abuse, or crime. The long-term consequences of child maltreatment can be so devastating that it has been called "soul murder" (Shengold, 1989:43). In order to prevent this, Article 19 of the UNCRC requires that â€Å"