[Doug]

Originally Posted by entwisi

As a new parent I will be making sure that the GCC will be drummed into Siobhan. As will cycling proficiency and road sense. I take it as part of my parental responsibility to do so.

Then again, I was brought up not dragged up.

Ian

Ian, I totally agree with your opinion. The reason that I didn’t allude to it in my post is that I expect that all reasonable parents have done or will do the same with their offspring. The first responsibility of a parent is to be a good parent and educator to our children. The states role is that of reinforcement and example. My point is that if we emphasise the value of safety to the group as opposed to the individual we may enforce and support the parent’s role, which may in turn reinforce other values like respect.

What I mean to say is that as a responsible adult and parent we teach our children the green cross code, cycle proficiency and ensure that our children can swim and know how and when to use a condom and this is then reinforced by the education system and made to be something that kids perceive to be a value then surly we would be on our way back to a society of values and respect. Unfortunately not ever parent is responsible or interested in the welfare of their offspring and I believe that the education system can and should be there to reinforce the parent’s values and teach those values to those that miss out through poor parenting as a group.