Teachers or Parents: Who is responsible for raising the next generation?

Earlier this year, Labour leader Keir Starmer announced plans for primary teachers to supervise pupils brushing their teeth during the school day, to address rising rates of dental problems in young children. Meanwhile, teachers complain that increasing proportions of pupils begin primary school still wearing nappies so that helping children to use the toilet also becomes part of the teachers job.

More and more, teachers are tasked with aspects of raising children that were once clearly understood to be the responsibility of parents. This includes not only basic care such as toothbrushing and toilet training, but also instilling what are seen to be the correct moral and political values in children through the curriculum, which now often includes lessons in citizenship, relationships, and mental wellbeing. Schools may also instruct parents on appropriate lunch foods, and issue guidance on whether children should walk home alone.

In response to this, some parents accuse teachers of interfering in their childs development; teachers, meanwhile, may blame parents for abdicating responsibility. This confusion means that in some areas, children are the subject of a tug-of-war between parents and teachers; in others, a vacuum is left with no responsible adult stepping up.

In this report, Joanna Williams explores the changing roles of teachers and parents in raising children, and the influence of parenting experts, a culture of risk-aversion, and Covid lockdowns. She argues that confusion over the relative roles of parents and teachers undermines adult authority in general, to the detriment of children; and suggests a path towards resolution.