By Saron Elias,
Garland High School
In a Friday morning Student Affairs Forum (SAF) session taking place in the Bluebonnet room at the Renaissance Hotel, Delegates Natalie Koch (left) and Mackie Beitsch (right) proposed the implementation of “12 weeks of fully paid parental leave.”
Koch claimed that the six weeks typically provided are not enforced by law, and that the time is typically only allotted to mothers. The human body takes “at least six weeks to recover physically from birthing,” as Beitsch said, and that this timeframe fails to take the potentially necessary time for mental health recovery into account. This new proposal will ensure that both adoptive and biological parents, consisting of any combination of gender/sex, receive 12 weeks off. Although adoptive parents do not endure a physical recovery, all families need time “to adjust” to “having this new child in their home” as Koch said.
Delegate Elise Bostian believes that this proposal should pass. Bostian argued that policies such as this are very common in other first-world countries, and that the “U.S. is one of the only first-world nations that does not actually have required paid leave for parents.” She also connected the issue to abortion, claiming that this policy will help protect those who are affected by restrictive abortion laws and enable them to raise their child more successfully.
Delegate Joshua Lee said he appreciates the inclusiveness within this proposal. Lee claimed that parental leave typically applies to “female parents, specifically parents that gave birth,” and that all parents “deserve the ability to actually properly care for [their kids].” Delegate Angela Luong was also in favor of this proposal. Luong stated that maternal involvement with the baby results in positive “growth of the child”. She believes that the proposition will contribute to an invaluable bond between mother and child.
However, not all delegates support this proposal. Delegate Elizabeth LeCompte claimed that people may “take advantage” of this paid time off by claiming to be the “biological father or mother, but not actually being the one to care for the baby.” She suggested requiring proof of legal paternity. Delegate Elie Park believes that the “financial burden” on small businesses will be too great. She worries that small businesses may not be able to even partially pay new parents for 12 weeks.
After thanking all participants, Beitsch addressed the possibility of the proposition being taken advantage of, stating that most businesses require some form of DNA test or other proof of parenthood. She also argued that “it is extremely hard to fake being pregnant” and that should the business contest a claim, it is now for the business to deal with. To address the issue concerning small businesses, Beitsch believes that it is the responsibility of businesses to care for its employees, and should an employee be let go, they can contest in court. Koch claimed that parents work incredibly hard to raise their kids, and implores her fellow delegates to give back through this proposal.