Dateline Dayton — Although I promised you an essay about my involvement with the Learning Tree Farm, I'm going to get on my soap box this week.

As you know, I have been harping about the need for a license to have children.  Last week a five-year-old was killed by her father.  First, neither parent should have brought children into the world. Her mother is a drug addict, her father has a violent temper.  Even though he was unfit to care for a child, the court awarded him custody.  Probably the easy way out for the judicial system.

Although children’s protective services was well aware of the terrible situation, it appears they did nothing.  After her father threw her off the Sunshine Parkway Bridge in Florida, children’s services did say changes needed to be made.  They will not help this poor girl. 

Both the judge and head of children’s services should be thrown in jail. Lose the key.  The judicial system and children’s services frequently make the wrong decision at the expense of the child.  No, I wouldn't know how to handle these difficult cases. But why not err in favor of the child?

Nearly daily we hear about a child being injured by a parent or guardian. Here in Dayton, a teenager was injured by his mother for eating pork chops.  She started throwing knives at him, striking him in the hand.  She had been drinking. She was upset. She was saving the pork chops for another meal.

We, are still somewhat of a civilized society. A license would afford greater protection to a child.

Time for Pride

I would be remiss if I did mention the Ohio State football team.  I am very proud of that they won the first official national collegiate championship. They were able to prove, after many said they played an easy schedule, that their one loss to a team they should have beaten merely was a hiccup. National champions! 

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net