Perfectly reasonable question and one I would expect a parent to ask. First of all when I talk about agency and instructor standards for classes this is what I am referring to. This is one of mine. I require parents to be present for several reasons. First of all is I am not a baby sitter. I have seen parents drop off kids, say they have an errand to run, and come back an hour late. Not fair to the instructor and not fair to the kids.
Second. It is no secret that parents are not nearly involved in their kids lives as they should be. Oh in many cases they control them with stupid stuff like playdates, structured athletics instead of just simple sandlot pick up games that we used to enjoy and the like. They take them to dance and ballet and sit there and push and prod but don't let them be kids. Or they live their own lives through the kids. I want them to just sit there and watch their son or daughter be a kid.
Next is the fact that kids lie. Simple as that. Sometimes they don't mean to or they just don't think but how often do parents ask what homework do you have and the answer is "not much" or " I did it in study hall" and a few days later see a note from the school? This way the parents know exactly what I require of their kids, when, and why. No grey area there.
Next is a liability issue. From many angles. I have state clearances the same as any teacher that say I'm not a perv. But how many have been falsely accused of something when a kid got mad at them (I know that comes from many having been rightly accused and they should be). No danger of that either with mom or dad sitting right there. Peace of mind for me and them. Hate to have to think of that but we live in a society where it is a reality.
Next is the liablilty issue from a physical sense. All it takes is a kid to fall at the pool and twist an ankle or need stitches. Rather than get POA's from every parent that I can authorize a doc to treat them let the parent do that. It is their job.
Finally- Scuba is a family activity. Why shouldn't the parents be involved. If a parent is so wrapped up in their own lives that they can't take a couple hours twice a week to spend real quality time with their kid in an activity that has the potential to form an even stronger bond, what does that say about that family? There is so much pushing and shoving for attention in many families due to outside influences with employers not caring about the family health of their employees, insisting that the dad or mom put a stupid company first, all these so called "organized activities" and the like that why would you not want to be in a situation where it's just you and your kids? No outside pressure, no cell phone with the a hole boss calling, no batting coach yelling at your 12 yr old(and that is really retarded, I hear of 8 and 10 yr olds with them- moronic), just you and your son or daughter enjoying the feeling of diving.
I want parents there because dammit, they should be!