Daniel Radosh, in a larger post on freezing eggs, writes:
Parenthood is one of those jobs for which, almost universally, there are no tests and very few people would want them.
Right...why is that? We require tests and licensing procedures to drive, to be a doctor, to use a forklift, to sell insurance/ yet raising children we entrust to whomever happens to have unprotected, or poorly protected, intercourse. It's very weird. Now, I'm not suggesting that we should institute some sort of regulatory scheme for parenting, but I would love to hear the non-gut reaction argument as to why we shouldn't. And forget testing, maybe we can give tax breaks or incentives of some sort to any soon-to-be parents who attend classes. Vermont's health care system, which gives expecting mothers a number of free, at-home doctor visits and access to classes, materials, and resources, has had wonderful outcomes for the state's young. Why don't we have similar programs across the country? Why are we so cavalier with our children? Won't somebody please think of the children!?
