The family relief bill signed by President Clinton allows fathers time off for parenting responsibilities but few men have taken advantage of it because the corporate and cultural message sent to men is that this isn't acceptable by management or peers. The Fatherhood Project demonstrates the crucial importance of the educational setting as a bridge to fathers. Men are frequently quite involved but public and social policies tend to drive them underground. Schools need to reach out to include fathers We need to train teachers to think of fathers as partners in their children's education. We all need to work to change the message in the corporate culture to make it acceptable for fathers to take time off for parenting responsibilities.
Society tends to stereotype men as wage earners and disciplinarians.
We need to overcome these stereotypes and empower fathers to play an active and broader role in their children's lives. We need to recognize the role the media plays in our perception of family life and the role of fathers. We need to help fathers think about their role in child rearing and encourage them to consider how they can promote home based activities to build competency and confidence in their children.