Parenting Education Classes: Promise and Paradox.

Overview & Synopsis

There are many reasons for implementing a course in parenting education in the schools. Among them are: (1) In the past decade, premarital sex among teenage girls has risen from 30 to 50 percent; (2) One child of every five is born to teenage parents and 94 percent of these teenagers keep their babies; and (3) 90 percent of teenage mothers drop out of high school and nearly half never finish the eighth grade. In a recent survey of the status of parenting education, 29 states reported offering parenting education. Programs in parenting should deal with vocational and family life education, supportive family relationships, emotional needs, health and family planning, and the availability of social services and crises counseling. It is suggested that: (1) Colleges of education become more aware of problems facing a changing society and implement appropriate courses; (2) State boards of education, in conjunction with parent and teacher committees, develop Parenting Education curricula; (3) State boards of education establish minimum standards for teachers of parenting education classes; and (4) Public schools cooperate with other state agencies in dealing with parenting. (JMK)