Teachers' Perceptions of the Parenting Abilities of Their Secondary Students with Mild Mental Retardation

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Abstract
Twenty-two teachers of secondary educable mentally retarded (EMR) students were interviewed about their perceptions of their students' parenting aspirations and abilities. Results indicated that teachers believe that the majority of their students expect to marry and have children. However, EMR secondary students were perceived as varying in their ability to competently assume a parenting role. Some were judged to have characteristics that would allow them to become good parents, while others were perceived as capable of being trained or doing adequately with support, and still others were felt to lack the attributes necessary for adequately parenting offspring. It was recommended that educators provide a comprehensive, realistic, and practical course in sexuality, intimate social relationships, and parenting for EMR students in secondary programs.