Parenting is at least as weighty a responsibility as driving a car, with as big of a potential for a tragic outcome. Yet currently we must educate ourselves and pass a competency test to obtain a driver's license, but can freely parent children without any proof that we are fit to do so.
The Federal Government should, through grants, encourage states to develop parental licensing programs that provide strong tax incentives for parents to obtain a license. The programs would consist of educational classes on the basics of parenting and a scored exam.
In addition to learning basics of caring for children at various ages, classes would provide new parents with a thorough understanding of the definitions of abuse and neglect and what behaviors are unacceptable for parents.