Parenting classes

[Puggit]

Cameron's latest hair-brained scheme: £100 parenting vouchers available in Boots

That's not going to appeal to Tory voters - reducing benefits to feckless parents is what Tory voters want!

[thinfourth2]

Just stop children being a cash crop


Could be worse

I could of voted for these muppets

[speedy_thrills]

thinfourth2 said:

I could of voted for these muppets

Too soon, PH consensus has yet to swing.

I can't help but think that a course and test before you become a parent might be a more effective strategy. By the time they've had the baby it's too late. Of course ideally you'd stop them getting knocked up in the first place.

[eccles]

thinfourth2 said:

Just stop children being a cash crop


Could be worse

I could of voted for these muppets

Could of?

[steveatesh]

Possibly aimed at the high cost high harm families in our society - ie those that create most demand on all of our services such as Criminal justice, health, social services etc. from my work I know the same names keep cropping up over and over again across all agencies and it is also inter generational resulting in the high cost high harm being perpetuated.

Whilst that is an issue that needs to be addressed properly, his methodology is unfocused and scattergun. Probably be as meaningful as dishing out discounted low energy light bulbs to reduce the global temperatures.

[MX7]

Another idea straight from The Thick of It. If you have a child I would have thought that you would be prepared in matters such as "discipline, diet, exercise, coping with family rows, good manners, bullying, reading bedtime stories and generally preparing children for school."

Then again, we know that some people are not, but with the variety of sources that are there for support and education, should it really be the tax payers burden again? We used to go to the library to educate ourselves, but now with endless 'edutainment' TV programmes and forums such as Mumsnet, how much added value will these lessons give?

thinfourth2 said:

Just stop children being a cash crop

Agree.

[dom180]

In order to qualify for state benefits, how about getting consent for the birth from the guy before birth/conception. Problem virtually solved in one stroke. No consent, no benefits or child support payable in respect of the child. In one generation (Or lack of) the problem would be solved. It also ties in with equal rights for both men and women and the responsibilities for both parties in a relationship. No more "little accidents" and a lot more responsibility from all concerned.

[Happy82]

I think it is a good idea in a way, last week I was shocked that many parents on the maternity ward were capable of putting their genitals in the right position, never mind having responsibility for a baby and raising it to become a decent member of society. Unfortunately at this stage it is too late to use contraceptives or termination and so we need to improve the situation as much as we can to try and encourage the parents to provide a better upbringing and end the cycle of fecklessness that results in a life trapped in a sinkhole council estate.

However it would be better to stop the problem before it starts and discourage the feckless from breeding and becoming a further drain on society and resources that we cannot afford to waste. As mentioned, the only way of doing this is removing financial and property incentives away from breeding for the underclass.

[MX7]

dom180 said:

In order to qualify for state benefits, how about getting consent for the birth from the guy before birth/conception.

So if she says she wants to keep it we have compulsory abortions? That sounds like a great place to live....

"Occupation: Concepts and ideas."

[dom180]

MX7 said:

dom180 said:

In order to qualify for state benefits, how about getting consent for the birth from the guy before birth/conception.

So if she says she wants to keep it we have compulsory abortions? That sounds like a great place to live....

"Occupation: Concepts and ideas."

She's free to have it. Her family can help and/or she can work to support. Maybe an interm level of lower benefit paid. Other people aren't forced to pay and there's no incentive program....

Edit: the current system doesn't work. Just a state funded breeding program. Follow the incentives....

Edited by dom180 on Sunday 13th May 12:46

[Puggit]

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I believe single mums shouldn't be given their own homes and encouraged to breed more children.

Stick them in government establishments where childcare is provided (by the mums), education and on-the-job training is provided as well. Make them valuable members of society while cutting the costs of their upkeep as well,

[Happy82]

Puggit said:

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I believe single mums shouldn't be given their own homes and encouraged to breed more children.

Stick them in government establishments where childcare is provided (by the mums), education and on-the-job training is provided as well. Make them valuable members of society while cutting the costs of their upkeep as well,

[MX7]

Happy82 said:

Unfortunately at this stage it is too late to use contraceptives or termination and so we need to improve the situation as much as we can to try and encourage the parents to provide a better upbringing and end the cycle of fecklessness that results in a life trapped in a sinkhole council estate.

But will this scheme go any way to solving the problem? ITV seems to have an endless array of 'edutainment' programmes about child behaviour, weight loss, diet, job finding, cooking, in fact almost every aspect of life. Then we have the internet, which has support forums like Mumsnet, but also has articles and video to address almost every situation imaginable, and then we have social services.

How much difference will this incentive make? I think that if someone has decided to ignore the array of sources that are available to them thus far, they are unlikely to benefit from this.

Also, when is the right time to stop throwing money at problems like this? You'll never eliminate the problem, so do you keep splashing out on these sort of schemes for ever-decreasing returns? Somewhere along the line we need to recognise that no amount of education, advice, guidance and support is going to help. Some people simply don't want to help themselves.

[LukeBird]

Puggit said:

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I believe single mums shouldn't be given their own homes and encouraged to breed more children.

Stick them in government establishments where childcare is provided (by the mums), education and on-the-job training is provided as well. Make them valuable members of society while cutting the costs of their upkeep as well,

Against their 'oooman rites innit.

[rover 623gsi]

Puggit said:

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I believe single mums shouldn't be given their own homes and encouraged to breed more children.

Stick them in government establishments where childcare is provided (by the mums), education and on-the-job training is provided as well. Make them valuable members of society while cutting the costs of their upkeep as well,

i presume you mean young teenage mums - which make up 3% of single parents. Or do you also mean the average single mum who is in her mid-thirties and whose children were born whilst in a steady relationship?

[Puggit]

rover 623gsi said:

Puggit said:

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I believe single mums shouldn't be given their own homes and encouraged to breed more children.

Stick them in government establishments where childcare is provided (by the mums), education and on-the-job training is provided as well. Make them valuable members of society while cutting the costs of their upkeep as well,

i presume you mean young teenage mums - which make up 3% of single parents. Or do you also mean the average single mum who is in her mid-thirties and whose children were born whilst in a steady relationship?

I mean career single mums on benefits. It's quite clear which dregs of society are a drain to the country. Everyone from social workers, police and education know which mums we are talking about.

A single mum in her 30s who is able to hold down a job and raise children has no need for state intervention.

[Twincam16]

I think you might be quite surprised as to how small that particular demographic is. They just have a tendency to make a lot of themselves, and saturation-point coverage in newspapers and on trash-TV leads you to think they're everywhere representing an enormous drain on resources.

[dom180]

Twincam16 said:

I think you might be quite surprised as to how small that particular demographic is. They just have a tendency to make a lot of themselves, and saturation-point coverage in newspapers and on trash-TV leads you to think they're everywhere representing an enormous drain on resources.

26% ONS....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2089144/Br...

[Engineer1]

That stat is the number of single parents, some will be widows, some will be divorcees, some will be women who chose a st father for their child. Then finally some will be baby making machines who reproduce with different men and use their kids as a cash crop.

[dom180]

Engineer1 said:

That stat is the number of single parents, some will be widows, some will be divorcees, some will be women who chose a st father for their child. Then finally some will be baby making machines who reproduce with different men and use their kids as a cash crop.

Quite right. These stats look a lot better than 26%

http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/content.aspx?Categor...

But what they don't show though is say < 25 years old, single mothers which might well make a large difference.. Also even 2% teenage Mums (40,000) is a big figure really given the human waste/potential and the impact that has... Also 43% needing social housing... Half outside marriage....

26% overall is a huge figure though...

Maybe the Govt should do more to encourage all the divorced fathers (tax breaks or marriage contracts where the guys wouldn't be hammered in a subsequent breakups/divorce/more children scenarios in relationships with women already demonstrating previous breakups/children... ) to adopt some single mums - maybe guys getting hammered in divorce cases is hampering that natural movement....If you can't afford one divorce you certainly can't afford two... If the Govt. really wanted to encourage marriage how about introducing the concept of fault in divorces and have that inform the financial settlements - cheat/run off with someone and no financial payout....

Edited by dom180 on Monday 14th May 09:15