Parenting Education Classes

Parenting Education Classes – Controversy at the Connecticut Supreme Court

On March 19, 2008 the Hartford Courant ran a story about the argument before the Connecticut Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of citizens of the State of Connecticut having to take parenting education classes in all divorces/custody actions where there are minor children born issue of the relationship. The entire article can be found at http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ctprose0319.artmar19,0,5830536.story.

In the Connecticut the parenting education program is defined at Connecticut General Statute 46b-69b which requires amongst other items that the parties are required by the automatic orders to complete this program within sixty days of the return date. A list of providers is available at the courthouse specifically the clerk’s office or through the office of family relations.

A certificate must be issue from the program provider that you have completed the program prior to the Court permitting your matter to go to judgment when children are involved. The parenting education classes are completely different than co-parenting classes that are typically uses in high conflict cases wherein the parents cannot communicate regarding the major decisions to be made about their children.

Completion to the parenting education class is mandatory before any final judgment on custody or visitation will be entered.

So back to our friend who did not want to take the class. Why not, knowledge is power and when children are involved post-divorce why would parents not want to have all the resources available to them to assist their child or children in this very difficult time in their lives. For the mere hours it takes to complete the class it appears that is would be a greater disservice upon their children if this Court were not to mandate this class. This is clearly not designed to teach parents how to parent but to stress the impact of divorce and how their actions during the pendency or post-divorce will have on their kids. So instead of going quietly into the night we again use our States limited resources to challenge a productive and important source of information for parents. Understandably, not everyone wants to spend time back in a classroom but if the class even remotely benefits children let alone their parents dealing with divorce then it seems to defy logic to challenge what apparently is a win win situation for all those involved especially those (the kids) who did not create the problem which their parents seek judicial relief.