Focus on Fatherhood draws attention abroad
United Future MP and men's issues champion Marc Alexander is delighted that Parenting Week in Christchurch is drawing
attention from across the Tasman with ABC Television sending a film crew from Sydney.
ABC's Science and Educational programme 'Catalyst', which screens in Australia on Thursday evenings, will feature
several Christchurch families and the importance of a father in the home.
Mr Alexander says "It is well documented that there is an alarming number of children growing up in a fatherless home
and are attending kindergarten and primary school without a male role model.
"What we will discover at the seminar this Wednesday evening are the cold, hard facts. The growing lack of positive male
role-modeling result in consequences that are contributing to a dysfunctional society.
"For the sake of our children and their future we must do something about it now. The educational seminars and excellent
strategies which will be discussed are the very empowering social ingredients which can be implemented in our daily
lives at home, and is our contribution to Parenting Week," he said.
This Wednesday evening Bruce Ellis, who is based at the Psychology Department at Canterbury University will be reporting
on his research paper -'Does Father Absence Place Daughters at Special Risk for Early Sexual Activity and Teenage
Pregnancy?'.
The Focus on Fathers evening, which has been warmly endorsed by United Future leader, Peter Dunne, is being hosted at
Marc Alexander's electorate offices in Christchurch city.