Kids without Parenting Skills

OK, I am on my soapbox. Now I know why most of our parents don't have parenting skills. Because they were kids when they became parents. I had a child say today that his/her mom was going to be 24 tomorrow. Well he/she just turned 9 a few months back. I said, "Didn't you just have a birthday?" He/She said, " Yes I'm 9 my mom was 14 when she had me. So another student speaks up. My mom was 14 when she had my brother/sister. And then another, My mom was 15 when she had me. Well no wonder they don't have any parenting skills. They were kids when they became parents and never had their teenage years. Of course our great country is doing it's best and we now give parenting classes for parents of students. But as you guessed it those that need it don't show up. They don't even know they need it. I remember conferencing with one of these parents and after I had made a suggestion for a consequence the question was can I do that? And where were the parents of these teenagers? Not using their parenting skills. I know some will sneak around and you can't help that, but don't we know where our young teenagers are and who they are with? Ok, I will stop. Don't even get me started on all the kids in my classroom that are being raised by Grandparents because the parents just don't want to be a parent or take responsibility. Of course that leaves me with the two that I am raising because one just didn't want to mess with them anymore and dropped them off at the children's home and refused to take them. I always thought a parent's love was just there and responsibility, well I didn't know it needed to be taught to our children that children are a responsibility.