How about adding mandatory 'parenting classes' to Texas high schools, as a way to respond to school violence?
News Radio 1200 WOAI reports that idea is getting traction as a special State Senate committee formed following the May shooting at Santa Fe High School is beginning its work.
"We need more general mental health, not just preventing school students, but starting by teaching parenting to the parents of 2025," Dr. Cedric Wood, a Dallas family therapist, told the Senate Select Commitee on School Violence.
State Sen. Don Huffines (R-Dallas) says the proposal has a lot of merit."Anything they get out of it is going to make them a better parent," Huffines said.
Wood says there are rudimentary classes on parental relations offered in many schools, but Dr. Wood is proposing expanding the 'Parenting and Paterntty Awareness Program and make it mandatory in high school.
"It is blatantly obvious that 95% of these high school kids that are struggling because of what is going on in their family, and their relationship with their parents," he said.
Huffines said that expanded high school parenting classes would be a strong way to attack the causes of school violence.
"What could be more valuable than teaching our teenagers how to be a good parent," he said. ""We can teach them how to resolve conflict with a future spouse, how to talk to the spouse, tell them what is respectful."
The Committee will make recommendations before the opening of the 2019 Legislative session.
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