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Debate:Parental Responsibility
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[  ][  ][  ][  ][  ]Should parents be held morally and legally responsible for the actions/needs of their children? |
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This article is based on a Debatabase entry written by Dr. Kevin J. Minch. Because this document can be modified by any registered user of this site, its contents should be cited with care.
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[ ]Background and Context of Debate:At the outset it must be noted that "parental responsibility" means different things in different contexts. In the United States and parts of Canada "parental responsibility" will often refer to a kind of law that hold parents legally accountable for the actions of their children. In some European countries and Australia the term refers to the responsibility parents have for the welfare for their children, as opposed to a power they have over them. In all of these countries the term is sometimes used to refer to legal custody of a child in situations of marital separation or divorce. In other instances it refers to a legal mandate that anyone biologically connected to a child holds permanent responsibility for, or has a voice in, decisions about the welfare of that child. Recent legislation related to parental responsibility has been enacted in Britain, several American states and Canadian provinces, as well as Australia. The European Union has developed statements and model laws relating to the human rights of children throughout the Union. Because of the different national contexts of the use of this term, students should be prepared to debate a range of propositions dealing with laws that mandate parents act in the interests of their children, remain in the lives of their children, or be held accountable for the criminal or civil liabilities of their children. Naturally these concerns have some overlap. While some arguments will occur in different contexts more often than others, the central principle remains the same. If we affirm the importance of parental responsibility we believe that parents have a social and moral - if not a legal - obligation to see to the welfare of their children until they reach the age of majority (in most laws the age of 18). You can click the pencil icon and edit, add arguments, supporting evidence, quotes, and links...here. What's a wiki?. Getting Started
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[ ][  ][  ][  ][  ]Argument #2 | |
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[  ][ ]YesMinor children should not be held legally accountable for their actions, nor should they be obligated to provide for themselves until they have reached the age of majority. Governments have established laws drawing distinctions between adults and juveniles for a reason. These governments believe that juveniles make mistakes and are not necessarily prepared to be fully responsible for their actions. Parents, and the community at large have a responsibility to raise children to act appropriately in society. If society, or more specifically, parents fail in the task it is not reasonable for the children to suffer sole responsibility for these acts.
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[ ][ ]NoWhile generally true, there are instances where the influence of parents over a child’s life is probably not realistic. Some children run away from home or forcibly separate themselves from their parents on their own accord. On occasion, juveniles commit crimes so heinous, and so unexpected, that no reasonable person would think that the parents were ultimately responsible. There are also significant differences between cultures as to what age constitutes "adulthood". While many western countries consider an 18-year-old an adult, other cultures see the onset of adulthood as being much earlier. The arrival of adulthood can also be regarded as a continuum of increasing responsibility, as in many countries the age of majority varies, with differing ages set for leaving school, having sex, getting married without parental permission, joining the armed forces, driving, drinking, voting and standing for public office. Thus, multinational or global accords on parental responsibility or children’s rights are potentially problematic.
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[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][  ]Argument #1 | |
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[ ][ ]YesLegal requirements for parental action, particularly those that include sanctions for non-action provide an incentive for parents to act in a responsible fashion. If parents believe they will be held liable for their inaction, or the inappropriate actions of their children, they are more likely to make sure their children are supervised and well cared for. You can click the pencil icon and edit, add arguments, supporting evidence, quotes, and links...here. What's a wiki?. Getting Started
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[ ][ ]NoThe causes at the core of juvenile delinquency, abusive families, and child neglect are not necessarily the kind of problems that can be solved by the leverage of criminal or civil sanctions. In instances where parents are absent or neglectful, deep social problems are often the cause. Problems such as alcoholism, poverty, poor education, poor health care, and family histories of abuse can lock a family into a cycle of problems that continue to perpetuate behaviours others might view as irresponsible. There is a danger that the proposed sanctions will make families trapped in such problems afraid to seek help from social services for fear of punishment. You can click the pencil icon and edit, add arguments, supporting evidence, quotes, and links...here. What's a wiki?. Getting Started
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[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]Argument #3 | |
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[ ][ ]YesLaws that enshrine parental responsibility improve family life. As parents are encouraged to take responsibility for their children, and such responsibility becomes a cultural norm, families will develop closer bonds, marriages will become stronger, and the problems of broken families will decrease.
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[ ][ ]NoThis argument stems from two flawed assumptions: first, that parents from separated or divorced families cannot act responsibly, and second, that doing "the right thing", necessarily equates with positive family values. A parent may play a very active role in the lives of their children, yet still have a horrible marriage or be mentally or physically abusive to the children. A parent who is not married to a child’s other parent may still play an active and valuable role in the life of the child they conceived, even if they do not live in the same home.
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[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]Argument #4 | |
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[ ][ ]YesParental responsibility laws help to compel parents who are delinquent in their support for a child to become involved - at least on a financial level. This can also discourage irresponsible men from indulging in promiscuous and reckless sexual behaviour, fathering a number of children by different mothers.
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[ ][ ]NoDecades of legal experience in countries that order child support from separated or divorced parents have demonstrated that parents who want to sever ties (financial or otherwise) can do so, either by defaulting on payments or hiding from the law. These laws may even have a reverse effect by fostering resentment toward the child or other parent on the part of the parent compelled to provide support. Child support orders may also harm any subsequent children an estranged parent may have by impoverishing a second family in favour of the first.
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[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]Argument #5 | |
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[ ][ ]YesChildren are less likely to engage in acts of delinquency if they feel that their parents are likely to be held legally responsible for their actions.
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[ ][ ]NoChildren prone to engage in acts of serious juvenile delinquency are rarely interested in the feelings of or effects on parents. In fact, the worst juvenile delinquents are probably more likely to act out if they believe, first, that the action will result in harm to parents they seek to rebel against, and second, that their parents will be held responsible in place of them.
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[ ]References:[ ]Motions
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Categories: Debatabase | Legal | Moral | Family | Individual rights