Adult responsibility for children requires both personal knowledge of this child and professional knowledge of children as a class. Ordinarily these two forms of insight are held by different adults. In general, the parental form of knowledge best equips the adults to choose the appropriate course of action. Parental insight by contrast, is not easily transferable to the professional. The parent, like the client of the lawyer or architect, may be in a weaker position originally to identify the options - but in a superior position to decide among those given.
Professionals are more helpful as servants than as masters.
Caring improves decisions by keeping the adult's attention focused over a period of time. Caring flourishes in permanent and intimate relations, but professionals cannot afford such a continuing relation with each client, nor would it be appropriate. Though professionals who serve children are marginally affected for good or for ill by the fates of their clients, making the right decision is most important to the person who must live with the child. Thus parents are also the most accountable. The parent best satisfies these three criteria in the vast run of cases, at least with respect to the child's liberty.