When I worked with Gerald Patterson, John Reid, Patty Chamberlain, and others (they’re now at Oregon Social Learning Center), Gerry would sometimes say something similar to what you ask: “Why don’t we have an required high school class on parenting?”

I’d bet that some folks would object on religious or freedom grounds, but it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea. Learning to use basic, non-punitive behavior management skills would make a lot of lives lots easier.

Carolyn Webster-Stratton’s group does have a prevention component. Read about it at their site; follow the link shown in the main article here.