john,

yes i'm a parent - a single one as it happens.

as for implimenting the system i suggested - i'm sure i outlined something earlier in this or another thread but here goes again.

1) cut standard child benefit by 1/2.

2) have free parenting classes which if attended and passed will increase the benefit given.

3) make sure the parenting classes are repeated every 5 years with different content relevant to the childs age.

4) the course must be completed and passed for each child in order for full benefits.

5) if a child misbehaves and a teacher / police officer is involved then part of the benefit is stopped until the parent is working in co-operating with the relevant agency to fix the problem.

6) increase full benefits to twice (or more) what they are now.

all in all a positive feedback system rather than a negative one.

hopefully this will educate and encourage good parenting and allow a parent to not be torn between a job and their kids.

the other thing i'd like to see is reform of the family court system - especially towards fathers and grandparents however that's another (although not entirely unrelated) subject.

anyway reading some of the later posts has led me to this moral dilemma question.

if your 12 year old was determined to have sex and there was no way you could talk them out of it, would you

1) ground them, only to have them sneak out of the house to have unprotected sex in the back of a car.

2) agree to let them have sex in the house on the condition that a condom is used.

cheers

julian