Discussion on a Scientific American article on child abuse among homeschooling parents, proposing legislation for background checks. The chapter explores critiques of the article, comparisons of child abuse rates, concerns about reporting cases, anecdotes of CPS calls for trivial reasons, and the need for efficiency in CPS investigations.
Does parenting make you a better person? Can it improve your life? Neuroscientist Erik Hoel makes the self-interested case for parenting arguing that it makes you less jaded and more heartbroken (in a good way) for how you experience the world. Listen as new father Hoel speaks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the universal and particular truths surrounding parenting, and why the perception presented by the media is often at odds with our own experience. Topics include different parenting styles and their effects, how parents shape children's personalities and preferences, and the famous children's books that both men love and hate. The conversation closes with a discussion of the reliability of recent studies condemning homeschooling.