Parental know best???
One often hears the assertion “parents know best”. This morning I read the statement as a defense for a state bill which limits the ability of school districts to mandate masks and covid vaccines. The executive director of the Oklahomans for health and parental rights defended the bill stating “Parents know what’s best whether it be for the masking or the vaccine.”
Most of us have heard this defense of the “right” of parents to make decisions about the welfare of their child. Yet, the truth is that to parent is a verb and not a noun. Very few of us were trained to be parents either directly or indirectly. Most of us parent the way we were parented. The result is often a lot of trauma for the parents and the children.
Legally all one has to do to be assigned the label of parent is to be able to have sex one time when a sperm introduces itself to an egg. Sometimes one becomes a foster parent, an adoptive parent, or is given the role by default. If a foster parent or an adoptive parent one might be required to take classes. For the most part, very few individuals have extensive training in how to parent.
We would never allow a person to call himself or herself an engineer, a doctor, or some other skilled professional without extensive training, testing and licensing. If someone is the biological sperm or egg donor they do not have to pass any training or meet any other criteria. If one is the biological egg or sperm donor one has to commit a grievous error(s) before a child is removed from their care.
In the United States and many other countries at this time parenting decisions are made by one or, at most, two poorly trained adults. We call this the nuclear family. There is no village of loving, educated people with a clear core value system making decisions for and with children which are designed to teach children how to be a loving, contributing members of the community.
The legal parents of children will often make decisions based on their own fears, misinformation provided by a non-expert such as a politician, or on their need to prove that they have the power. In the case of whether to require a mask or to get vaccinated for covid-19, the decisions need to be made by health care professional who are not embedded with politicians, pharmaceutical companies or other vested interest personnel.
Clearly, in terms of masks, we know they offer protection against covid-19 as well as other air borne diseases such as the flue and even the common cold. We know they are also uncomfortable and impede some aspects of communication. On the other hand we have an plethora of medical evidence for the efficacy of wearing them as us evidence by the practice of certain other countries.
We already require certain vaccinations if children are to be allowed to be with other children in a school setting. This has traditionally been a health care decision although there has been a movement in the country for some time to allow parents to opt out of vaccinations because of feared side effects. Even if there was scientific evidence that there is some risk involved in getting vaccinations for covid-19, the risks of not getting them are, according to scientists, much greater. We do not have the right to expose others to potential infections if we can avoid it by simple vaccinations.
Medical personnel might, long term, make different recommendations regarding both masks and vaccinations. Medical personnel are not always right, but statistically and in terms of training they are better qualified then those with other agenda to make health care decisions. Clearly they are better qualified than most sperm and egg donors. Parent often do not know what is best.
Written May 27, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
One often hears the assertion “parents know best”. This morning I read the statement as a defense for a state bill which limits the ability of school districts to mandate masks and covid vaccines. The executive director of the Oklahomans for health and parental rights defended the bill stating “Parents know what’s best whether it be for the masking or the vaccine.”
Most of us have heard this defense of the “right” of parents to make decisions about the welfare of their child. Yet, the truth is that to parent is a verb and not a noun. Very few of us were trained to be parents either directly or indirectly. Most of us parent the way we were parented. The result is often a lot of trauma for the parents and the children.
Legally all one has to do to be assigned the label of parent is to be able to have sex one time when a sperm introduces itself to an egg. Sometimes one becomes a foster parent, an adoptive parent, or is given the role by default. If a foster parent or an adoptive parent one might be required to take classes. For the most part, very few individuals have extensive training in how to parent.
We would never allow a person to call himself or herself an engineer, a doctor, or some other skilled professional without extensive training, testing and licensing. If someone is the biological sperm or egg donor they do not have to pass any training or meet any other criteria. If one is the biological egg or sperm donor one has to commit a grievous error(s) before a child is removed from their care.
In the United States and many other countries at this time parenting decisions are made by one or, at most, two poorly trained adults. We call this the nuclear family. There is no village of loving, educated people with a clear core value system making decisions for and with children which are designed to teach children how to be a loving, contributing members of the community.
The legal parents of children will often make decisions based on their own fears, misinformation provided by a non-expert such as a politician, or on their need to prove that they have the power. In the case of whether to require a mask or to get vaccinated for covid-19, the decisions need to be made by health care professional who are not embedded with politicians, pharmaceutical companies or other vested interest personnel.
Clearly, in terms of masks, we know they offer protection against covid-19 as well as other air borne diseases such as the flue and even the common cold. We know they are also uncomfortable and impede some aspects of communication. On the other hand we have an plethora of medical evidence for the efficacy of wearing them as us evidence by the practice of certain other countries.
We already require certain vaccinations if children are to be allowed to be with other children in a school setting. This has traditionally been a health care decision although there has been a movement in the country for some time to allow parents to opt out of vaccinations because of feared side effects. Even if there was scientific evidence that there is some risk involved in getting vaccinations for covid-19, the risks of not getting them are, according to scientists, much greater. We do not have the right to expose others to potential infections if we can avoid it by simple vaccinations.
Medical personnel might, long term, make different recommendations regarding both masks and vaccinations. Medical personnel are not always right, but statistically and in terms of training they are better qualified then those with other agenda to make health care decisions. Clearly they are better qualified than most sperm and egg donors. Parent often do not know what is best.
Written May 27, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
RSS Feed