Of course it takes a village to raise a child.

[The Night Owl]

Of course the parents are the most important figures in any child's life, but a child who grows up with little or no contact with society usually ends up being an unbalanced adult with a lot of problems and shortcomings. In fact, I would dare say that limiting a child's contact with people to his or her immediate family is a form of child abuse.

[deadparrot]

1. Hence the fools who make up the core

of the current Republican Party.

[Maat]

2. I agree.

My child has always spent plenty of time with her parents - but we have always had her in school, since age 2. She's a great reader.

Mrs. O, Mrs. W, and Mrs. B, her teachers, spent a bit of time breaking the strong will down a bit, however, when she declined to do math and reading in favor of art.

To the villagers that have helped me!

[HockeyMom]

8. Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents,

Clergy, Teachers, Doctors/Dentists, Neighbors, Parents of their friends, Babysitters, etc.

And WELL THEY SHOULD.

[wurzel]

3. That is so obviously true that only idiot Santorum would dispute it

That a child must be raised within the "village" in which it lives is obvious to everyone except a Republican. In fact this may be the very first country where parents must shield their children from the toxic nature of its culture. And they are expected to do it alone? Absurd!

[Deja Q]

4. No argument from me.

And I'd add, in our family-laden "culture", the bullies always seem to get away with what they do; the victims being the ones shunned.

I think the bullies end up being neocons...

[iamjoy]

5. Even Rick Santorum Almost Said It

when he was on the Daily Show.

My husband and I couldn't help wonder if the title of Santorum's book "It Takes A Family" is a swipe at Hillary's "It Takes A Village"

But, when Santorum was talking about the decline of morals in this country, he was also decrying the lack of people caring about each other, the decrease of sense of community.

I said, "Does he mean like a village?"
And my husband laughed.

Too bad Stewart missed that opportunity (as he did so many in that interview)

[Fridays Child]

6. The village will raise the child, whether or not Santorum likes it.

Smart parents recognize that fact and choose "the village," accordingly--at least to the extent that the people, places, and events to which we expose our children are under our control.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

7. It took a village to raise an idiot too.... and look where he has

taken this country.....

[kentuck]

9. But the village has evolved...

Now they all drive SUVs, no more donkeys, and they are in a hurry. They must get to work on time. They don't have time for the little children that live two doors down, with an abusive parent. The teenagers may be doing drugs or something worse. The village doesn't have time for the child anymore. And neither does the parent.

[seabeyond]

10. i wouldnt go so far as to say child abuse, because we so readily

go to child abuse and the next thing you know people are advocating, TAKE AWAY CHILD from parent. the important in it takes a village, is the child that misbehaves in public, is rude, is reminded by an adult, nicely with authority reinforcing what the parent is teaching the child. it is a wonderful tool in raising children for a parent to be supported by the community and i use it often with my boys as we are out and about. the child that needs help, the child that needs affirmation, the child that is given a positive example, the child that is freely given love or a smile or kindness, all this is reinforcement for the child to see how to walk, it is a good world, and there are good people.

or we can have a lot of angry adults that gets mad at a person at the drop of the hat, doesnt want to share lanes, or is unforgiving and impatient teaching our children this is what people are about, and this is the example on how to live

[no_hypocrisy]

11. As a substitute teacher, I feel I have a duty to answer all questions

related and unrelated to the subject matter. I try to show interest and enthusiasm in what they are studying, even if it is for one day. I discuss character and maturity to accept consequences of one's decisions. I try to live by example and hope the kids pick up on it. Believe me, kids need to hear these things and have them reinforced by as many people as possible. Then they can choose their own path when it is their time.