This is just too weird: “Fathers in Norfolk can claim up to �25 to help fund activities with their children under a new parenting skills scheme: Men who sign up to the Active Dads Project, run by the Norfolk Learning and Skills Council, have to agree to take their children on six outings, which could include cinema visits or fishing trips.” This program, as detailed on the BBC Web site is intended to encourage Dads to spend time with their children.

But maybe what these dads need are Humanity Classes instead, something that reminds them that procreation doesn’t end with an orgasm, but actually extends into the territory of responsibility….

I don’t get it: spending time with my kids is a definite highlight of every day for me, and all the Dads I know are quite enthused about the role. For me, being a Dad is perhaps the best part of having grown up.

It just seems really weird to have parenting classes that have to resort to crass capitalism for Dads to want to get involved with their own kids. Maybe instead of paying for the outing, the government agency in Norfolk could just distribute “101 free ways to have a great time in Norfolk with kids” or something similar? Or even commission the writing of just such a book and offer it for free to fathers in the community?

There’s also a subtle message that you can’t have fun with children unless you spend money, which is patently false. Kids worldwide are thrilled to go to the park with their parents, go for a walk, bike ride, or even just play games together. Does everything end up revolving around money after all? I don’t think so.

A justification for this program is interesting too: “a survey which suggested the pressures of work meant British fathers spent less than 15 minutes a day with their children.” Maybe that points to the priorities of the father just as much as their hectic business schedule? How many of these 15-minute-a-day dads still have time to spend 45 minutes at the pub each evening on the way home?