Why does state disregard parents ?

In response to Sarri Gilman’s Wednesday column, “Children need nurturing, not just training”: Why does every profession, agency, governmental lawmaker and school district have such disregard for families and parents?

Why can’t we, as a society, care and nurture our children without someone getting a paycheck for it? Why are they the only ones who are acknowledged as having any tantamount value in our children’s upbringing and achieving their potential? Why do our lawmakers and school boards feel they need to continuously pass laws to protect our children from our own “stupidity”?

Is the repercussion the same for driving like an idiot and not booster seating/belting/back-seating your 12-year-old? Am I just as much of a criminal for speeding or tailgating as I am for letting my 12-year-old sit in the front? The law says I must put her in the back “for her own good” so she can listen to her iPod and not me. (What? I should be yakking on a cell phone and not talking to her?) Yeah, OK. My child is not a unit, she’s a human.

So back to Ms. Gilman’s column. Duh. But do we have to become a socialist nation to take care of our kids? Can we try as families to take care of our own without constant interference? Must we always forego education in our schools to promote social programs? Must we turn everything over to our government? Why can’t families live in peace and enjoy successes and integrity? How sad for us if we must listen to those who want to be paid for what cannot be bought. Value our families, both the young and the old. We are closer to losing them than we realize.

Sue Howell

Snohomish

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