Who gets to decide how children are raised? Is it their parents alone? How much should be regulated by the government? Where does protecting children cross over the line of interfering with a parent's right to choose how their kids are raised?
These are tough questions that I have been thinking about lately. Back in February there was a court ruling here in California that threatened my right to homeschool. Now I have been reading murmurings online about the American Medical Association voting on a resolution (Resolution 205 http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/18587.html) pointing towards outlawing homebirth, even with a licensed midwife. And yesterday I read an article that stated that the American Academy of Pediatrics is formulating a campaign to persecute parents who do not wish to follow the mandated vaccination schedule for their children.
These things bother me. I understand that there are parents out there who abuse their kids. And there are parents out there who neglect their kids. It makes my heart sick to think about it. But, I don't want my right to make parenting choices diminished because of these unfortunate circumstances. Can we protect the little ones who are being hurt without hurting the parents who are being protective?
There is actually a movement to add a parental rights amendment to the US Constitution. If you are interested, click here: http://parentalrights.org/
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