There is a proposed ballot initiative in Colorado to require the completion of a “marriage education” class for couples before any ceremony is held and champagne is popped. Despite what could be validly criticized as undue government interference in private lives, given the state of marriage in the U.S. and sky-high divorce rates, this ballot initiative is worth a try to see if any action can be taken to ameliorate this crisis in marriage.
The goal of the proposed marriage education classes is to better psychologically prepare individuals getting married about how their lives will change with marriage and introduce them to the new roles they will be expected to assume. This education will help them realize what they are really getting into before they say “I do.”
A total of 10 hours of pre-wedding education will be required. But if it is the second time either the bride or groom is walking down the aisle, 20 hours will be required. A third time will require a full 30 hours of education.
The curriculum for these classes, if passed, will be developed and overseen by the Colorado State Board of Marriage and Family Therapist Examiners. This board will also have the honor of issuing the “Marriage Course Completion Certificate” at the end of the class. The couple would be responsible for the cost of the education, not the taxpayers. The initiative also includes a tax cut for couples who continue to come to marriage education classes each year and is justified by reducing the piles of taxpayers’ money spent on divorce every year.
In order to get the initiative on the ballot in November, 86,105 more signatures are needed by the Aug. 4 deadline.
Sharon Tekolian of the California-based group Kids Against Divorce believes education will improve the situation. “Education is the key to success in every aspect of life. This will have a positive impact on marriage,” said Tekolian.
Statistics appear to support her. Research shows that the divorce rate among college graduates is significantly less than the divorce rate for those without a college degree. While a 10-hour class on marriage is in no way comparable to a college education, something is still better than nothing.
With the divorce rate in the U.S. hovering somewhere around 50 percent and Kids Against Divorce estimating that $112 billion in taxpayer money goes to divorce proceedings and unwed childbearing each year, this ballot initiative deserves to be given a try.
I admit it is a new, more personal governmental intrusion on private life, but it cannot hurt to give it a try and see if it makes a difference. If it saves just a few marriages, the meaning it will have for those individuals (not to mention the money saved by the taxpayers) will be well worth the risk.
Besides, if a couple cannot commit to a few hours of education together, how can they reasonably commit to life together?
