Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

Woah!

[url=http://www.wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13824956]Teen pregnancy epidemic hits Memphis high school - WMC-TV 5 - Memphis, TN[/url]

Ninety students who attend Frayser High School in Memphis are currently pregnant or have already had a baby this year. The stunning number means nearly 11 percent of the school's approximately 800 students are already experiencing the trials of parenthood.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

Reminds me of my old high school. I don't think we had 90 pregnant/had a baby students in one year but it definitely seemed like it. Everywhere you looked you'd see a pregnant girl. Before classes started they'd hang out together too, there'd be one group of like 10-15 girls who either had big stomachs or had recently had a baby and all they would talk about is their kids and stuff like where to buy what and etc. I used to know one girl who had 2 kids by the time she became a senior. My school used to offer free condoms to try and help but even if kids took the condoms I doubt they used them, just because sex is better without it.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

When there is no shame in these actions then this what you get. They also probably heard the goverment will give you money to suport the child and buy things. I'd bet 90 to 99% of these girls come from sgl parent families. I can't believe this can happen today with all the social programs to keep this from happening.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

I can see it now. their add campaign will be "Just Call Me Ho" instead of "Just Say No".

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

Wow, there was one teen pregnancy in my entire four years in high school. I wonder why there's such a disparity from school to school.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=firstdown;778213][B]When there is no shame in these actions then this what you get[/B]. They also probably heard the goverment will give you money to suport the child and buy things. I'd bet 90 to 99% of these girls come from sgl parent families. [B]I can't believe this can happen today with all the social programs to keep this from happening[/B].[/quote]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Sounds like we need some more social programs asap!!! [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I dont really get what shame has to do with it though. Should sex ed try to cast more shame in teaching about sex?[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I remembering playing a away basketball game against TC Williams in HS and it seemed like half the girls in the stands had babies. [/FONT][/COLOR]

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

NO problemo.......Uncle Sam will raise em'

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=firstdown;778213]When there is no shame in these actions then this what you get. They also probably heard the goverment will give you money to suport the child and buy things. I'd bet 90 to 99% of these girls come from sgl parent families. I can't believe this can happen today with all the social programs to keep this from happening.[/quote]

It's also a shame when there are religious groups and "moral" people who oppose sex education or prohibit things like condoms or birth control pill. In the end, a lot of this happens because of ignorance, and if our political system would do something about it, instead of having the petty arguments that you and I just had, things would be better.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

I didn't realize there were so many teen pregnancy experts on the warpath!

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=olive523;778286]I didn't realize there were so many teen pregnancy experts on the warpath![/quote]

You learn something new everyday.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=EARTHQUAKE2689;778288]You learn something new everyday.[/quote]

So true

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

Teaching abstinence doesn't work, that's why there's a boom in teen pregnancy. An expert told me that.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=Ruhskins;778242]It's also a shame when there are religious groups and "moral" people who oppose sex education or prohibit things like condoms or birth control pill. In the end, a lot of this happens because of ignorance, and if our political system would do something about it, instead of having the petty arguments that you and I just had, things would be better.[/quote]

If you read the article they give away condoms. When Iwas in school they did not give out condoms and they did not have mich is any sex education and we did not have these problems. You really think these girls are getting knock up and then finding out that having sex is the reason. They have more programs in school then ever before but the problem is worse. Maybe we are in need ofmore morals but we can't have that in public schools.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=firstdown;778311]If you read the article they give away condoms.
THose dam moral people always causing touble.[/quote]

My point was that each side of the political spectrum accuses the other side, while ignoring the problem in general (like your accusation of social programs and my example of what someone in the left would comment regarding this situation).

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=Ruhskins;778314]My point was that each side of the political spectrum accuses the other side, while ignoring the problem in general (like your accusation of social programs and my example of what someone in the left would comment regarding this situation).[/quote]

I don't see it that way. One side wants to do things one way and the other feels their way is better or the correct way. We then end up with something in the middle.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=firstdown;778311]If you read the article they give away condoms. When Iwas in school they did not give out condoms and they did not have mich is any sex education and we did not have these problems. You really think these girls are getting knock up and then finding out that having sex is the reason. They have more programs in school then ever before but the problem is worse. Maybe we are in need ofmore morals but we can't have that in public schools.[/quote]

lol the world is a far different place from when you or even I were in school

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=Mattyk;778320]lol the world is a far different place from when you or even I were in school[/quote]
Only because people think that way. Morals are morals.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=firstdown;778321]Only because people think that way. Morals are morals.[/quote]

A lot more outside pressures. Kids are exposed to a heck of a lot more at younger and younger ages making education and guidance even more important. It's a different world, morals are great but only a piece of the puzzle.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=Mattyk;778325]A lot more outside pressures. Kids are exposed to a heck of a lot more at younger and younger ages making education and guidance even more important. It's a different world, morals are great but only a piece of the puzzle.[/quote]

You take that and then add in the break down of the family structure and you have these problesm. If a child has the proper up bringing their chances get allot better. You can't replace dad with a goverment program. We have spent billions trying but it has not worked.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

Well, what do you do? Take away financial support for those in need? It's not like anyone is making a killing by having babies.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=Mattyk;778327]Well, what do you do? Take away financial support for those in need? It's not like anyone is making a killing by having babies.[/quote]

Not sure.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=firstdown;778335]Not sure.[/quote]

At least we agree on something

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

It is way past time to look at the ACTUAL facts (if they can be discerned) and go where ever it might take us to..try and find out some real answers....as painful as it might be. Playing political games, making nice and throwing more programs and cash is going nowhere but down the toilet........

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

Evidence based practice, it's out there already. It's a good place to start.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

There are a million factors at play. Poor parental guidance, lack of sex education, the typical stuff. But also:

- Lower-income areas often have single parents raising kids. So it's the world the teenage girl grew up in; if mom can raise me all by herself why do I need to be married to have a child? It never occurs to them, it was just the world they were brought up in.

- You know what they say about idle hands. These kids usually are not keeping busy enough. Parents should have them joining the yearbook club, or playing sports, or playing an instrument, or cheerleading, or choir, or dance, or theater, whatever. Just have them doing something to keep them busy.

- You know how high schools are, there are popularity tiers. All it takes is for two or three of the tier 1 girls in school (they're usually the attractive ones) to get pregnant at the same time, and all of a sudden at that school being pregnant is in style. Or at least any stigma is removed from it.

- I do think Firstdown is right, where there's shame coming from the peer group, the stigma remains strong, even when a few of the popular girls get knocked up.

- And then sometimes kids just screw up. You can be an honor student with a loving mom and dad at home, the whole nine yards. But the condom breaks, or a momentary display of indiscretion and going unprotected leads to pregnancy. They're kids, sometimes they do dumb things, even the bright ones.

I'm scared to death for the time when my girls reach their teenage years. I'll be the dad sitting on the porch in a rocking chair in the dark, with a shotgun on his lap.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=Schneed10;778380]There are a million factors at play. Poor parental guidance, lack of sex education, the typical stuff. But also:

- Lower-income areas often have single parents raising kids. So it's the world the teenage girl grew up in; if mom can raise me all by herself why do I need to be married to have a child? It never occurs to them, it was just the world they were brought up in.

- You know what they say about idle hands. These kids usually are not keeping busy enough. Parents should have them joining the yearbook club, or playing sports, or playing an instrument, or cheerleading, or choir, or dance, or theater, whatever. Just have them doing something to keep them busy.

- You know how high schools are, there are popularity tiers. All it takes is for two or three of the tier 1 girls in school (they're usually the attractive ones) to get pregnant at the same time, and all of a sudden at that school being pregnant is in style. Or at least any stigma is removed from it.

- I do think Firstdown is right, where there's shame coming from the peer group, the stigma remains strong, even when a few of the popular girls get knocked up.

- And then sometimes kids just screw up. You can be an honor student with a loving mom and dad at home, the whole nine yards. But the condom breaks, or a momentary display of indiscretion and going unprotected leads to pregnancy. They're kids, sometimes they do dumb things, even the bright ones.

I'm scared to death for the time when my girls reach their teenage years. I'll be the dad sitting on the porch in a rocking chair in the dark, with a shotgun on his lap.[/quote]

Shame is probably not the correct word but it seems now days people seem to think its just Ok for a 16 yr olds to be getting knocked up. I don't think we need to go back to the days when we would ship our daughter off for 9 months but they need to know that getting knocked up at a young age is wrong. When I was in high school maybe one or two girls got preg. and were seen kind of like out cast. That probably is not totally right but it seemed to work. All I know as we have made it more acceptable the problem has become much worse. That goes for allot of things with teens now days.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=Mattyk;778327]Well, what do you do? Take away financial support for those in need? It's not like anyone is making a killing by having babies.[/quote]Not necessarily financial support, but sex ed programs and grant money being thrown at this will have the same effect as religious groups teaching abstinence.....None. The benefit of the religious groups, they don't cost any Fed or state/local tax dollars, their efforts are on their own dime & time.

From the article:
- After-school and in-school programs [B]funded with grant money[/B], operated by a local non-profit that already does some work for city schools.
- A [B]$250,000 advertising campaign[/B] targeted at the Frayser community that is based on research done in focus groups at the school.
- A [B]federally funded[/B] component that emphasizes the responsibility of young men, operated through a Memphis hospital
The city of Memphis is also a partner in the initiative, and could offer some support, possibly through the [B]Social Innovation Fund[/B].

Hog1 is spot-on: "throwing more programs and cash is going nowhere but down the toilet........ "

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=firstdown;778391]Shame is probably not the correct word but it seems now days people seem to think its just Ok for a 16 yr olds to be getting knocked up. I don't think we need to go back to the days when we would ship our daughter off for 9 months but they need to know that getting knocked up at a young age is wrong. When I was in high school maybe one or two girls got preg. and were seen kind of like out cast. That probably is not totally right but it seemed to work. All I know as we have made it more acceptable the problem has become much worse. That goes for allot of things with teens now days.[/quote]

Yeah call it what you want, but I remember the one girl that got pregnant while I was in high school was derided and ostracized from her social circle. Shame, derision, whatever. There's no stronger force for a teenager than his/her peers thinking poorly of them. If the kids think it's actually cool to be pregnant in high school then they're all in trouble.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

I highly doubt kids think its cool to be pregnant. I think they just dont realize what they are dealing with and they just think they wont get pregnant. The thought of sex and it's pleasures are much more short-term than pregnancy, and younger people always focus on the short term.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

It happens because demand for sex must forever be increased with incentive after incentive. Promoting an environment with disincentives to having sex is archaic, repressive, and obviously unfit for a for an "advanced" society with governments who have infinite money to spend.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=hooskins;778494]I highly doubt kids think its cool to be pregnant. I think they just dont realize what they are dealing with and they just think they wont get pregnant. The thought of sex and it's pleasures are much more short-term than pregnancy, and younger people always focus on the short term.[/quote]

Not that they think it's cool, but the stigma is gone. I'm quite sure there's a number of those kids that think 'well if suzy cheerleader seems happy with a kid then maybe it's not so bad, so who needs a condom, sex feels better without it anyway'!

All in the name of rationalizing their desire to have unprotected sex.

Ultimately we'll never know because we can't get inside their heads, but that's my take. If other kids thought it was slutty to get preggers in high school, and they derided the pregnant teens for it, more of them would reconsider that condom decision.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

That's a good point.

Like all causes, I am sure it is a combination of all factors. Lack of stigma, foresight and education.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=hooskins;778494]I highly doubt kids think its cool to be pregnant. [B]I think they just dont realize what they are dealing with and they just think they wont get pregnant.[/B] The thought of sex and it's pleasures are much more short-term than pregnancy, and younger people always focus on the short term.[/quote]

How come the left says thats kids need to make up their own minds, they can do this and that on their own but when they FU they blame it on the kids not being old enough to understand their actions? Can't have it both ways. You really think these kids cannot look around at school and see all the other girls pregnant and not put the two together?

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How can you blindly call me the left, when you have no idea what my political position really is? I lean to the right on several issues and I don't vote tickets.

I have mentioned this before, but thing aren't just black and white; left and right. The sooner you realize that the better off you will be. Otherwise you are no better than any of the polarizing nutjobs in the media.

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=hooskins;778674]How can you blindly call me the left, when you have no idea what my political position really is? I lean to the right on several issues and I don't vote tickets.

I have mentioned this before, but thing aren't just black and white; left and right. The sooner you realize that the better off you will be. Otherwise you are no better than any of the polarizing nutjobs in the media.[/quote]

Ok, your an independent, a free thinker but your post always have a left leaning view.

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I have never discussed genetic research, corporate gains taxes, local politics(county and lower), etc. with you. I lean pretty far right on all those areas.

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Well at least in Memphis they're making babies instead of killing themselves and each other

[url=http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13861351]Police: Teen died at MMU of self-inflicted gunshot wound - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-[/url]

[url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/18/police-at-least-3-shot-at-california-high-school/?hpt=T2]Police: At least 3 shot at California high school – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs[/url]

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=hooskins;778689]I have never discussed genetic research, corporate gains taxes, local politics(county and lower), etc. with you. I lean pretty far right on all those areas.[/quote]

So when we talk those issues Matty and Saden can call a wacky conservative.LOL

Re: Memphis High School Dealing with Pregnancy Boom
 

[quote=SmootSmack;778692]Well at least in Memphis they're making babies instead of killing themselves and each other

[URL="http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13861351"]Police: Teen died at MMU of self-inflicted gunshot wound - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-[/URL]

[URL="http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/18/police-at-least-3-shot-at-california-high-school/?hpt=T2"]Police: At least 3 shot at California high school – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs[/URL][/quote]

Well at least the first guy didn't decide to go shooting up the school before he killed himself. Sad to think at that age life could be so bad to end it all.