I really agree with this idea; though I fear you may not read this comment as it is nested in the plethora of responses you got (that's why I bolded a part of it to grab your attention).

But I do feel that we shouldn't try to take away people's humanity (ie right to procreate) but at the same time we should ensure competence as parents. So here is the question, why do you feel this way? Do you believe only the best and the brightest should procreate (eugenics), or do you believe that people should only be parents when they have shown the desire and responsibility to do as such? I'm going to assume you are in the latter category.

Here's the major problem with a program like this: enforcement. If a parent refuses to comply, do you take their baby away, force them to abort or some other God-awful solution that does indeed take away our humanity.

Thus enforcement should be as follows: you need to present proof "passing the tests" if you wish to claim your child as a tax dependent. Furthermore, the State should not offer any other financial incentives to the parents until they have completed the program. However, they could also offer rewards/additional privleages: such as if you complete the test, you get an additional 6 months of paternity leave (very rare in the US, I know its very common in Europe) and even longer materntiy leave. (Make the rewards spectacular so that parents really want to strive for this; you not only have a financial incentive nwo in the form of tax breaks, but now you have time to spend with your newborn).

As for the liscensing/testing requirements: 1.) Require all parents to take a Lamasse (sp?) and an infant care class

2.) Require a "test," to ensure that prospective parents know about raising children. I know this is the big problem because people would always argue that the government is trying to tell us how to raise our kids, etc. Therefore, an "impartial" solution would be to require the parents to sit in a child psychology class at a local community college (not a special class, but sitting alongside psych majors) or something similar (I know it is a logistical nightmare). Thereby ensuring that what you are getting is simply knowledge without a bias of any sort (theoretically anyway).

3.) A financial planning class to help you plan for your child's future.

Generally this type of an education ensures that you understand the responsibility of rearing a child. You know how to take care of the child. And that you won't abandon the baby due to financial woes or something.

Conclusion The best part of this type of education is that it is non-controversial (for the most part) and is what most prospective parents would be interested in learning anyway.

Again, the most important part is enforcement. Again, here we should not necessarily penalize, but simply not offer rewards. And those who do complete the testing should be given lucrative rewards (above and beyond what we currently offer, at least here in the US)

Now I know that there are a lot of kinks that have to be worked out (what happens in the case of a mentally disabled parent, logistics, single-parents, etc). I just thought up of this idea when I read your comment so there are probably several other factors that I haven't even considered, but I think at the VERY basic level, I mgiht ahve something ehre.