In response to "Parental Responsibility Law."

By Karen Smith R.G. Sat March 2nd 2002 letter to the Editor.

Dear Sir,

While I am a great supporter of accountability and responsibility, particularly when dealing with matters pertaining to children, I find it intriguing that the Hon. Minister Paula Cox is considering legislation to enshrine parental responsibility. Because many fathers find the courts far from interested in his achievements regard raising a responsible child, in fact many excellent fathers/parents find they are not rewarded for good works raising his own child, not for community efforts helping other peoples children. The courts seems to pay little attention to these important issues when deliberating care and control of a child.

It never fails to amaze me that it is quite possible for a father to be screened and approved by social services to be a Big Brother or Foster Parent, yet, the same agency can advise the court this same father may only visit his own child.

I would be most interested to see how on the one hand a father is not given care and control (responsibility) by the courts in custody issues, yet may now be held responsible for his children's actions he has no control over.

This may place more stress on the mothers who are in many cases trying to be all things to all people, having been given care and control of children.

Many of our children are given everything except both parents, the very thing required to become rounded citizens, for how can you become a whole person while being raised by half of the parenting team? At some point I pray sooner than later we as a society will realise that the custody laws we employ giving all the parenting responsibility to one parent is:

1. Turning fathers away from their role.

2 Burdening the mother with untold stress.

3. Turning out troubled children, "if you send a brat to school at 8.30 a.m. Why would you expect anything other than a brat to grace your home post 3.30 p.m.?

Teachers will confirm that their students who enjoy the advantage of a father involved in their education will preform to a higher standard, and be less disruptive in class.

All concerned would benefit if fathers could be encouraged in law to stay involved, rather than quit the parenting role in disgust, by force via a court order.

EDDIE FISHER