The strange, sad meaning of ‘parental choice’
I was struck by this latest development in that horrible case of the nursery workers who abused the children in their care:
‘At the latest hearing at Bristol Crown Court Judge Royce said: “If parents want to find out whether their child has been abused, then they should be in a position to do so.
“If they don’t want to know, and I fully understand why some parents should not want to know, then the information should not be thrust upon them. It should be a parental choice.”‘
I can see what the judge is getting at – if I were in this situation, I can imagine really not wanting to know. But isn’t it weird to put this in terms of ‘parental choice’? It seems, like many of the choices were are given as parents (schools, which hospital to go to, etc) this is hardly a choice; more like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. It also seems to put the onus on parents to make this tough decision, which looks like an abdication of responsibility to me.
Also as a consequence of this horrible case, a friend has just told me that her nursery has now banned parents from using mobile phones inside the building. Seems like an example of feeling the need to bring in a new rule as a reaction to anything happening – despite the lack of any relationship between this case and parents using their phones!