Parental Rights

[throwback]

To cut right to the chase, I started this thread to solicit the opinions of my fellow forum members as it pertains to the extent of parental responsibility and authority relating to the children spawned.

The issue has been something I've thought about recently as I find myself questioning whether or not there's a better way to have kids raised than the 'parental model' we currently use. Is the model that we now and frankly have always used the best model to serve society and the individual in the long term. In my mind I have been tossing ideas around that do not involve the 'parental model' and I was wanting some thoughtful input.

[Richard Amiel McGough]

To cut right to the chase, I started this thread to solicit the opinions of my fellow forum members as it pertains to the extent of parental responsibility and authority relating to the children spawned.

The issue has been something I've thought about recently as I find myself questioning whether or not there's a better way to 'parental model' is the model that best serves society and the individual in the long term. In my mind I have been tossing ideas around that do not involve the 'parental model' and I was wanting some thoughtful input.
Hey there Throwback,

Good to see you! It's been a long time.

Have you been watching Fox News? They went crazy about a comment (http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/04/09/critics-slam-msnbc-hosts-claim-that-kids-belong-to-community-not-parents/) on MSNBC which said that children weren't "private property" of the parents but rather "belonged" to the society as a whole. The right wingers freaked out with some crazy paranoid interpretation. Is this what prompted your question?

All the best,

Richard

[throwback]

I totally missed that, but it does hit to the heart of what I'm thinking about.

[Richard Amiel McGough]

I totally missed that, but it does hit to the heart of what I'm thinking about.
Well, there are limits to what parents are allowed to do to "their" children. Can't torture them, lock them in cages, and so forth. Society has both an interest in and right to protect "its" children. The only issue is the balance between parental rights, the rights of the children, and the interest of the State in protecting its citizens.

[redfox1939]

The balance between the rights of parents and the state to determine the well being of young children is a delicate one. Few would argue that the rights of the parents cannot be infringed on in any way. If a child’s life and health is endangered because of abuse or neglect, the state should and does have the right to intervene.

[throwback]

I my mind, what I am seeking out is not a parents vs. federal gov't rights comparison, but rather a child freedom vs. parent right/responsibility debate. Is there an age that parent should not be free to enforce their views, rules, and biases upon the children they spawn or must the children endure parental rulership until adulthood?

[Rose]

I my mind, what I am seeking out is not a parents vs. federal gov't rights comparison, but rather a child freedom vs. parent right/responsibility debate. Is there an age that parent should not be free to enforce their views, rules, and biases upon the children they spawn or must the children endure parental rulership until adulthood?

I think a parent has the responsibly to care for a child until they reach the age of 18, they should never be able to enforce views, rules or biases upon their children that in anyway affects the child's well-being. A parent has the responsibility of being the guardian of their offspring's body to ensure their well-being until they are capable of fully caring for themselves. As a child matures they should have more and more freedom over choosing their own belief systems, with the parents responsibility being to educate and expose the child to many points of view. Too many parents want their children to be robots of themselves, without letting them develop their own individual ideas.

Rose

[Mystykal]

I think a parent has the responsibly to care for a child until they reach the age of 18, they should never be able to enforce views, rules or biases upon their children that in anyway affects the child's well-being. A parent has the responsibility of being the guardian of their offspring's body to ensure their well-being until they are capable of fully caring for themselves. As a child matures they should have more and more freedom over choosing their own belief systems, with the parents responsibility being to educate and expose the child to many points of view. Too many parents want their children to be robots of themselves, without letting them develop their own individual ideas.

Rose

Hi Rose:

I agree 100% :yo:

Namaste,

Mystykal

[David M]

I think a parent has the responsibly to care for a child until they reach the age of 18, they should never be able to enforce views, rules or biases upon their children that in anyway affects the child's well-being. A parent has the responsibility of being the guardian of their offspring's body to ensure their well-being until they are capable of fully caring for themselves. As a child matures they should have more and more freedom over choosing their own belief systems, with the parents responsibility being to educate and expose the child to many points of view. Too many parents want their children to be robots of themselves, without letting them develop their own individual ideas.

Rose

Hello Rose

This is not a point of scripture and so this is why this is one of the rare occasions I can agree with you. I know of many parents who believe the same as I do and yet their children have had the freedom to do as they choose and have not followed into the same church or any church for that matter. Eighteen might seem a reasonable age, but in the Hebrew culture I think the age of 12 was considered to be of adult age. By that age, a child can distinguish between right and wrong and start to make their own decisions. Even if in today's world they could not make their own living at the age of 12, hence 18 is a reasonable age at which children could become independent of parents.

Just one other point. There is in the Ten Commandments a specific commandment for children to honor their parents. While our parents are alive, as their children, we remain bound to give honor/respect to the advice and guidance of our parents. There must come an age at which young children become adults, whilst remaining as children to their parents. When would you say that a child must start to honor their parents? Maybe up to the age of 12 is too young and so at the age by the age of 12, the Ten Commandments could then be expected to apply. Until the age of say 12, the parents must be responsible for the actions of their children. Today, many children are not controlled by their parents and the parents expect the state to do their job. It is a small proportion of society that is too high at any time, but the matter seems to be getting worse. It is terrible in the conflict that takes place in the Middle East where young children are being used to carry explosives and do the nasty work of adults. This is parenting gone mad, and shows the gross depravity of those people.

We have the occasional news story of where an abusive parent enslaves their own child (usually father and daughter) into adult age which has gone unnoticed for years and shocks us when it is found out and becomes news. It is cases like this where children must be protected, but when it somehow goes concealed without anyone knowing, then no protection offered is of any use. The problem of readjusting children/adults who have been abused like this and the punishment of parents has to be handled by society. It is up to all of us in society, who have a conscience, to be alert and not passive and not let our suspicions go unreported and not actioned.

All the best

David