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PRE-PARENT
EDUCATION
WHY WE NEED IT The
United States has the highest per capita prison rate of any
industrialized nation, three to four times that of England and
France and about five times that of Canada.
Every prison inmate is someone’s son, father, brother, mother or
loved one. Were
these 2.0
million
of our citizens born bad? Executives
at Father Flanagan’s Boy’s Town write, “
For more than 70 years we have operated on the premise that
there is no such thing as a bad boy or girl, only poor training.” Thus
we must conclude that in most cases, the babies that became these
inmates did not have the kind of care, training and education that
was needed to help them become law abiding citizens. A
fraction of the cost of incarceration spent on training and helping
parents could have prevented most of these incarcerations. Parenting
is the most important job we ever have. Parents are also a child’s
first and often most important teachers.
Terrel H, Bell, former U. S.
Commissioner of Education stated: “Nothing is more important
for our society than to prepare teenage boys and girls to become
effective parents.” While
some parents do a good job, those who don’t help to account for
the many problems of children and youth. Among these are the
following: n
Three
million reports of child abuse each year. n
Far
too many babies born with birth defects. n
About
one million teenagers become pregnant each year. n About one half of
these have abortions.. n
More
than half of the babies in our nation’s Capitol are born out of
wedlock. Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, child care TV personality, Dr. Burton L. White, long time early childhood researcher at Harvard, and Dr. Elliot T, Barker, President of the Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, all have strongly endorsed the need for Pre-Parent Education in our nation’s schools. William Raspberry in a column wrote: There is hardly a
parent who has not said, “If I had only known what I know
now.”. . . So why
aren’t we doing more to teach the parents of preschoolers how to be
more effective parents? n
In
two nationwide surveys, (110,000 letters total) each made to parts
of 10 different lists, ninety percent of the
questionnaires returned supported the need for Pre-Parent Education
(PPE). n
I
taught school for 29 years and I always said we do not have
delinquent children, we have delinquent parents.
Mrs. Mary Miller,
Canfield, OH. n
You’re
on the right track when you link parent education to the prevention
of child abuse.
L. Braun, Director, Families First, Boston, MA n
Teaching
how to avoid pregnancy should have top priority. Rene
Espinosa, McLean, VA. n
I
applaud your work.
Dr Christina C. Slowick, Meadow Vista, CA.. n
Of
course parents are not the only factor in determining how children
develop. But they are the main ones, they are the ones that society
holds responsible. n David Hamburg,
President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York,
in his Report of the President for
their 1995 Annual Report, wrote: “Young people having
children are less experienced in child care than were any of their
predecessors. Many start a new family without the knowledge, skills
or confidence to carry out the enduring responsibilities of
competent parenthood.” n
So
what can be done to insure that newborn babies are wanted, and have
parents who can help them grow and develop into caring and responsible
citizens? The only place where all prospective parents can be reached is
in the nation’s schools. Here, with a little input in each grade
from kindergarten on through high school, the attitudes and skills
needed could be slowly instilled. Along
with these skills some fundamental VALUES should also be
provided, if we are to have an orderly society. Some of these are respect
and compassion for others, honesty and integrity, concern for our
environment and for preserving the many of species of life that have
evolved and survived to our time, concern for the wonders of nature
and for preserving the land, air and water of our little planet for
those who come after us, plus a love of and support of FREEDOM. Schools
could also well incorporate day care into school buildings,
making it easier for students to get first hand experience and
knowledge about young children. So will you please join us and use your voice and influence to help insure better informed and trained parents. It is the best way to slow and stem the flood of children and youth who become problems to themselves and to society. So as the saying says, “Don’t just stand there.” Take
action. Talk to people,
call your School Board, the PTA, the Superintendent of Schools, make
your influence count. YOU are important. It’s your children,
community and country.
THANK YOU!
You
can help us reach more people by sending your tax deductible
contribution to: SOME
RESOURCES: PARENTHOOD
EDUCATION CURRICULUM
EDUCATING CHILDREN FOR PARENTING (ECP)
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