IN bill proposes requiring premarital classes

[The Straight Story]

NEW ALBANY, IN (WAVE) – A Republican Indiana State Representative believes marriage preparation classes would strengthen Hoosier families, so she is sponsoring a bill to require them, but not everyone agrees. Some even call the bill government intrusion.

Before you tie the knot in Indiana, marriage prep classes may end up on your to-do-list.

"It's absolutely necessary that people should have to go through counseling together as a couple," said Tim Hancock, who agrees with the bill.

State Rep Cindy Noe of Indianapolis introduced the bill to a House committee.

"I believe maybe it's probably a good idea with the divorce rate being so high," said Laura Ward, who agrees with premarital classes.

http://www.wave3.com/story/14009505/in-bill-proposes-premarital-classes-or-extra-fee

[CTyankee]

1. There they go again!

And Republicans say they want government out of our private lives! Do they even LISTEN to their own rhetoric?

[MadHound]

2. Hmm, potential for a booming business,

Set up a marriage chapel and reception hall just across the state line of Indiana. You can wed all the couples who don't want to sign up for mandatory marriage prep classes.

What insanity.

[greymattermom]

3. at the new casinos

being built in OHIO! Marriage chapels and casinos work well in other states.

[exboyfil]

4. Totally ineffective and intrusive

but it would make more sense to have prepregnancy classes.

[The Straight Story]

5. Well, if they can show it saves money, then they should do it....

:sarcasm:

[seabeyond]

6. i disagree with it BUT.... the decision making today with marriage is piss poor.....

and hurts kids. it is a smart move for people to be a bet more serious in this decision making. but not a legal requirement.

[gratuitous]

7. I wonder if there's another way?

I think premarital counseling would be a huge boon to couples contemplating tying the knot, particularly young, never-married couples. It's probably less of an issue for couples in their 40s and older who've been married before (although I've seen friends and acquaintances making the same relationship mistakes over and over again into their 40s, 50s and beyond). In addition to the financial costs, there is a social cost as well.

Legally required counseling seems fraught with difficulties; but is there a way to helping couples out beforehand that wouldn't involve a legal requirement?

[SoCalDem]

10. High schools used to have Family-Living/Sociology classes

Usually kids at the junior level had a semester of the class. Ours involved problem-solving, basic household budgeting.

A while back, I read about a teacher of such a class & she had her students "pretend" .. They had an imaginary wage from an imaginary job they randomly drew from a hopper. The job paid pretty much what real jobs like that paid. They paired up (for class only) with another student as their wife/husband, and they had to grocery shop (from ads), rent a place(from ads) and every week each pair had to spin the "wheel of misfortune".

It included stuff like:

flat tire..must replace
broken tooth..no dental insurance
wallet stolen, just cashed paycheck
appendicitis..no insurance

etc

It made the kids really think about how much money it was going to cost.

[gratuitous]

12. I took a class like that way back in high school

Back when we were dodging mastodons on the way to and from. It did indeed raise some consciousness for students. Make it a required part of the school curriculum? There's all kinds of ideological objections that I'm sure would be raised from right and left, but I think a course acceptable to three-quarters or more of the parents could be worked out, particularly with elements of personal finance and budgeting, which would be useful even for kids not anxious to get hitched by the time they're out of their teens. Education and preparation are good.

[seabeyond]

13. no marriage under 25 and all sex must have condom AND pill or go to jail?

bah hahaha

teasin

the thing, i am seeing too many kids hurt. to many sittin in poor. too many adults not old enough to take care of self taking care of kids. the adults? i can empathize to the pain and hardship they are experiencing but they take a back seat to the kids in my book.

there are more and more kids growing up without an example of family and they do not learn from family like in the past.

teh schools are trying, but a semester course isnt doing it.

in panhandle of texas, highest rate of unwed, young mothers in nation.

[jp11]

8. Bull.

Under the bill, couples who complete premarital classes would qualify for the, now standard $18 fee for a marriage license, but if you don't take the course that would jump to $72.

It is a money maker tied to 'protecting the sanctity of marriage' in my opinion, people get married too soon and without being prepared but that doesn't mean the government should get a check for it.

Marriage doesn't need protecting if people/entities want to 'protect' marriage then those performing them shouldn't marry any two people that show up, let them force classes on the people that want to get married.

The government shouldn't be doing that, they should simply charge for paperwork/service and grant the license, discounts for using the private training companies is corrupt bull.

[SoCalDem]

9. So much for getting big govt off your back, eh?

:rofl:

[Angry Dragon]

11. Are they going to have rush and newt teach it??