MR

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:10 am**

Absolutley insane...

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1815845,00.html

As summer vacation begins, 17 girls at Gloucester High School are expecting babies—more than four times the number of pregnancies the 1,200-student school had last year. Some adults dismissed the statistic as a blip. Others blamed hit movies like Juno and Knocked Up for glamorizing young unwed mothers.

But principal Joseph Sullivan knows at least part of the reason there's been such a spike in teen pregnancies in this Massachusetts fishing town. School officials started looking into the matter as early as October after an unusual number of girls began filing into the school clinic to find out if they were pregnant. By May, several students had returned multiple times to get pregnancy tests, and on hearing the results, "some girls seemed more upset when they weren't pregnant than when they were," Sullivan says. All it took was a few simple questions before nearly half the expecting students, none older than 16, confessed to making a pact to get pregnant and raise their babies together. Then the story got worse. "We found out one of the fathers is a 24-year-old homeless guy," the principal says, shaking his head.

Good god. :shock:

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:13 am**

VERY SAD!! :cry:

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:16 am**

I was dumbfounded when I heard this. What in the world are those girls thinking? I heard one of the girls slept with a homeless man because she didn't have a boyfriend. WTF!!!!!!! :shock:

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:24 am**

The self esteem of these girls must have been rock bottom for them do do this.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:26 am**

Unbelievable.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:27 am**

Someone let Aynsley know about this town. :lol:

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:30 am**

ebake02 wrote:The self esteem of these girls must have been rock bottom for them do do this.

One of the TV reports talked about how they were "lonely" and wanted to get together with each other and raise babies (at 15 years old!?!). So they purposely went off and had (UNPROTECTED!) sex hoping to get pregnant. Stupid stupid stupid.

You know, when I was 15, and and my friends and I were looking for things to do together...

... we went to the mall or the movies! Jesus H!!!

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:33 am**

NealIsGod wrote:Someone let Aynsley know about this town.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:36 am**

bluejeangirl76 wrote:
ebake02 wrote:The self esteem of these girls must have been rock bottom for them do do this.

One of the TV reports talked about how they were "lonely" and wanted to get together with each other and raise babies (at 15 years old!?!). So they purposely went off and had (UNPROTECTED!) sex hoping to get pregnant. Stupid stupid stupid.

This shows why schools need to expand their sex education programs not not put it on the back burner.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:47 am**

ebake02 wrote:
bluejeangirl76 wrote:
ebake02 wrote:The self esteem of these girls must have been rock bottom for them do do this.

One of the TV reports talked about how they were "lonely" and wanted to get together with each other and raise babies (at 15 years old!?!). So they purposely went off and had (UNPROTECTED!) sex hoping to get pregnant. Stupid stupid stupid.

This shows why schools need to expand their sex education programs not not put it on the back burner.

This is a school that actually provides free daycare for student mothers and gives free pregnancy tests. The problem here isn't sex education, it's parental education. The fact that these are teenage girls who have never been told about the responsibility of bringing a child into this world is mind boggling. Sex education should encompass more than explaining how everything works and handing out free birth control. It should be relentlessly drilled into these kids heads what a monumental responsibility and financial burden it is to have a child at that age -- not to mention your youth is officially over. This is a case of tragic stupidity and immaturity.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:50 am**

ebake02 wrote:
bluejeangirl76 wrote:
ebake02 wrote:The self esteem of these girls must have been rock bottom for them do do this.

One of the TV reports talked about how they were "lonely" and wanted to get together with each other and raise babies (at 15 years old!?!). So they purposely went off and had (UNPROTECTED!) sex hoping to get pregnant. Stupid stupid stupid.

This shows why schools need to expand their sex education programs not not put it on the back burner.

This doesn't have a blessed thing to do with sex education. It has to do with idiots and likely parents who haven't done their job.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:51 am**

conversationpc wrote:
ebake02 wrote:
bluejeangirl76 wrote:
ebake02 wrote:The self esteem of these girls must have been rock bottom for them do do this.

One of the TV reports talked about how they were "lonely" and wanted to get together with each other and raise babies (at 15 years old!?!). So they purposely went off and had (UNPROTECTED!) sex hoping to get pregnant. Stupid stupid stupid.

This shows why schools need to expand their sex education programs not not put it on the back burner.

This doesn't have a blessed thing to do with sex education. It has to do with idiots and likely parents who haven't done their job.

Yeah, parents who like to blame schools and the media for their mistakes.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:55 am**

NealIsGod wrote:
conversationpc wrote:This doesn't have a blessed thing to do with sex education. It has to do with idiots and likely parents who haven't done their job.

Yeah, parents who like to blame schools and the media for their mistakes.

And this time even the school is doing that. They're blaming that movie "Juno" for for glorifying teen pregnancy. Starts with the parents though. Always.

I can't even get past the part where they CHOSE to go and have unprotected sex with WHOEVER. It makes me want to just scream. :evil:

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:57 am**

bluejeangirl76 wrote:
NealIsGod wrote:
conversationpc wrote:This doesn't have a blessed thing to do with sex education. It has to do with idiots and likely parents who haven't done their job.

Yeah, parents who like to blame schools and the media for their mistakes.

And this time even the school is doing that. They're blaming that movie "Juno" for for glorifying teen pregnancy. Starts with the parents though. Always.

I can't even get past the part where they CHOSE to go and have unprotected sex with WHOEVER. It makes me want to just scream.

Juno didn't glorify teen pregnancy AT ALL! WTF?!!

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:57 am**

ebake02 wrote:This shows why schools need to expand their sex education programs not not put it on the back burner.

No. This is why PARENTS need to pay attention to their kids!!!!

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:00 am**

Barb wrote:
Juno didn't glorify teen pregnancy AT ALL! WTF?!!

I'm just the messenger. LOL!

"Others blamed hit movies like Juno and Knocked Up for glamorizing young unwed mothers."

:roll:

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:02 am**

Sorry. It's the parents.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:14 am**

conversationpc wrote:
ebake02 wrote:
bluejeangirl76 wrote:
ebake02 wrote:The self esteem of these girls must have been rock bottom for them do do this.

One of the TV reports talked about how they were "lonely" and wanted to get together with each other and raise babies (at 15 years old!?!). So they purposely went off and had (UNPROTECTED!) sex hoping to get pregnant. Stupid stupid stupid.

This shows why schools need to expand their sex education programs not not put it on the back burner.

This doesn't have a blessed thing to do with sex education. It has to do with idiots and likely parents who haven't done their job.

The problem is that the schools are afraid too teach sex because of the parents and the parents are too self absorbed to teach their kids about that stuff so I guess the blame is on both sides. Or in this case maybe the school was a little too supportive.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:17 am**

Angiekay wrote:
ebake02 wrote:This shows why schools need to expand their sex education programs not not put it on the back burner.

No. This is why PARENTS need to pay attention to their kids!!!!

In possible defense of parents here...

We adopted our daughter at the age of six from an orphanage in Estonia. She has RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder), which basically means that he has real trouble developing a loving, lasting attachment to us. Kids with this disorder act out in all sorts of ways: violent temper tantrums (been there), hurting and/or mutilating animals, setting fires, even attacking others or parents. To go along with this, the birthmother's drinking also caused some brain damage and, in these kind of kids, they have little impulse control and the rational side of the brain does not communicate well with the emotional side of the brain (the two hemispheres of the brain do not communicate like in a normal person). As a result, we see behaviors that most parents either don't see or have a much easier time correcting. It's been a real struggle every step of the way. I could easily see my daughter doing something like this one day, through no fault of how we parented her. This doesn't speak for all kids but please keep in mind that when kids do something this dumb, it isn't always the fault of the parents. So while it's likely that the parents could be at fault, it isn't necessarily so.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:32 am**

conversationpc wrote:In possible defense of parents here...

We adopted our daughter at the age of six from an orphanage in Estonia. She has RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder), which basically means that he has real trouble developing a loving, lasting attachment to us. Kids with this disorder act out in all sorts of ways: violent temper tantrums (been there), hurting and/or mutilating animals, setting fires, even attacking others or parents. To go along with this, the birthmother's drinking also caused some brain damage and, in these kind of kids, they have little impulse control and the rational side of the brain does not communicate well with the emotional side of the brain (the two hemispheres of the brain do not communicate like in a normal person). As a result, we see behaviors that most parents either don't see or have a much easier time correcting. It's been a real struggle every step of the way. I could easily see my daughter doing something like this one day, through no fault of how we parented her. This doesn't speak for all kids but please keep in mind that when kids do something this dumb, it isn't always the fault of the parents. So while it's likely that the parents could be at fault, it isn't necessarily so.

You're taking this to an extreme unlikelyhood just to argue with me aren't you!? :lol:

Reading several different stories and news sources of this topic, I would venture your story is not the case in this scenerio.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:36 am**

Each and every situation is different; however I venture to guess in this town that these girls who had the pact where very similiar in many ways. I'm sure experts can dissect the situation to the nth degree trying to diagnosis and differeniate differences but its the commonalities that make this situation unique and throw in economics, environment and an assortment of other things you will have a very interesting study on the current mentality and sexual practices of middle class suburban teenagers. This is a research study or dissertation waiting to be written.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:37 am**

How about the fact there were to hit movies this last year that glamourized teen pregnancy? That sends a REAL bad message to our kids.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:40 am**

ebake02 wrote:
bluejeangirl76 wrote:
ebake02 wrote:The self esteem of these girls must have been rock bottom for them do do this.

One of the TV reports talked about how they were "lonely" and wanted to get together with each other and raise babies (at 15 years old!?!). So they purposely went off and had (UNPROTECTED!) sex hoping to get pregnant. Stupid stupid stupid.

This shows why schools need to expand their sex education programs not not put it on the back burner.

Are you out of your fucking mind? Sex education is the REASON for shit like this happening. These girls TRIED to get pregnant, that's what tipped the authorites at the school clinic off. They know how to have sex, they just have no clue about the emotional shit storm they are in for.

Sex Ed too early leads to being a bit too inquisitive, without having the emotional make up to understand the decision.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:42 am**

Well give it a couple more weeks or a few months and there will probably be some Hollywood producers scoring the town. At this point, as they say "the horse is out of the barn'; nobody will care whose fault it is as long as they get a few hours of fame and can be on television.

Posted: **Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:54 am**

Angiekay wrote:
ebake02 wrote:This shows why schools need to expand their sex education programs not not put it on the back burner.

No. This is why PARENTS need to pay attention to their kids!!!!

I actually agree with BOTH of you here. Angie is right, though, that if more parents would...I don't know...actually RAISE their children instead of sticking them either in front of the TV or in day care 40 hours a week from the time they can hold their heads up, gee...we MIGHT not see some of these problems. Parenting is all about making choices, folks, and too many people make the EASY or the WRONG ones!

(your situation excepted, PC...I feel for you.)

Posted: **Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:26 pm**

RossValoryRocks wrote:How about the fact there were to hit movies this last year that glamourized teen pregnancy? That sends a REAL bad message to our kids.

Glamourized? You mean Juno? What others? I hardly think films are changing the way kids think. More like Brittney & Jamie Lynn are glamourizing teen pregnancy. Ooh look how cute, Brittney's with her kids at the park. Awww. If you're blaming media influence, go after Extra, ET & shit like that.

Oh & speaking of Jamie Lynn, and her kid's daddy, why the hell isn't he in jail? He obviously had sex with her, and she was underage at the time. WTF?

Posted: **Sun Jun 22, 2008 11:49 pm**

ebake02 wrote:
conversationpc wrote:
ebake02 wrote:
bluejeangirl76 wrote:
ebake02 wrote:The self esteem of these girls must have been rock bottom for them do do this.

One of the TV reports talked about how they were "lonely" and wanted to get together with each other and raise babies (at 15 years old!?!). So they purposely went off and had (UNPROTECTED!) sex hoping to get pregnant. Stupid stupid stupid.

This shows why schools need to expand their sex education programs not not put it on the back burner.

This doesn't have a blessed thing to do with sex education. It has to do with idiots and likely parents who haven't done their job.

The problem is that the schools are afraid too teach sex because of the parents and the parents are too self absorbed to teach their kids about that stuff so I guess the blame is on both sides. Or in this case maybe the school was a little too supportive.

Well I don't know about that school, but my kids in public school get a very extensive sex ed in SIXTH GRADE. I mean they knew the basics of it before this, but this class taught them EVERYTHING. 2 of mine came home and they had learned about EVERY TYPE of "sex" there is, pregnancy, birth control, every disease. At that age they weren't even afraid to come home and talk about it. We had extensive discussions about everything they had learned, things they were confused about. And then I got into the morality of it and what we believe as parents. (of course that's when my son got grossed out cause he realized mom and dad have sex, don't think he ever thought about it until then :lol:

) We even talked about what the impact of pregnancy would have on their lives and their dreams.

My point is, I sat my kids down and we talked about the other side of sex, not just the scary things they learned or the technical things they learned. Some of these kids don't have parents to take the time to do that or even be an example to them. In some inner city schools, being pregnant can be almost a status symbol. Some of their moms had them in high school. I don't know this school so I cant' judge but I blame home too.

Posted: **Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:31 am**

JrnySuxBalls wrote:
RossValoryRocks wrote:How about the fact there were to hit movies this last year that glamourized teen pregnancy? That sends a REAL bad message to our kids.

Glamourized? You mean Juno? What others? I hardly think films are changing the way kids think. More like Brittney & Jamie Lynn are glamourizing teen pregnancy. Ooh look how cute, Brittney's with her kids at the park. Awww. If you're blaming media influence, go after Extra, ET & shit like that.

Oh & speaking of Jamie Lynn, and her kid's daddy, why the hell isn't he in jail? He obviously had sex with her, and she was underage at the time. WTF?

Right on those counts too...the age of consent in Louisiana is 15 or 16 I believe...so that's why he isn't in jail.

Posted: **Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:38 am**

RossValoryRocks wrote:
JrnySuxBalls wrote:
RossValoryRocks wrote:How about the fact there were to hit movies this last year that glamourized teen pregnancy? That sends a REAL bad message to our kids.

Glamourized? You mean Juno? What others? I hardly think films are changing the way kids think. More like Brittney & Jamie Lynn are glamourizing teen pregnancy. Ooh look how cute, Brittney's with her kids at the park. Awww. If you're blaming media influence, go after Extra, ET & shit like that.

Oh & speaking of Jamie Lynn, and her kid's daddy, why the hell isn't he in jail? He obviously had sex with her, and she was underage at the time. WTF?

Right on those counts too...the age of consent in Louisiana is 15 or 16 I believe...so that's why he isn't in jail.

I saw Juno and didn't think it glamourized teen pregnancy at all.

Posted: **Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:42 am**

RossValoryRocks wrote:
JrnySuxBalls wrote:
RossValoryRocks wrote:How about the fact there were to hit movies this last year that glamourized teen pregnancy? That sends a REAL bad message to our kids.

Glamourized? You mean Juno? What others? I hardly think films are changing the way kids think. More like Brittney & Jamie Lynn are glamourizing teen pregnancy. Ooh look how cute, Brittney's with her kids at the park. Awww. If you're blaming media influence, go after Extra, ET & shit like that.

Oh & speaking of Jamie Lynn, and her kid's daddy, why the hell isn't he in jail? He obviously had sex with her, and she was underage at the time. WTF?

Right on those counts too...the age of consent in Louisiana is 15 or 16 I believe...so that's why he isn't in jail.

The age of consent in LA is 17. However, this question has been asked more than once....this may help. :wink:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 751AA9Pozm

MR

OT: Pregnancy Pact at high school

OT: Pregnancy Pact at high school