"It's hard to raise a child when you're still a child."
Our current system of public education does not stigmatize teenage mothers, as it used to do. They are not told to leave high school for a time and "come back after childbirth" and we'll-pretend-nothing-happened. Nowadays pregnant teenagers attend school all the way until their due date, and then after they give birth they attend special schools where they receive free child care and other special services that are expensive to provide. In effect, the system spends lots of money to ensure that being a teenage mother does not mean the end of one's education.
We read Patrick Welsh's opinion in class (comments), and now I would like you to add your own thoughts. In effect, does the current school system contribute to teenage pregnancy? Does the system (either consciously or unconsciously) tell young woman that is it OK to get pregnant so young? Contribute to teenage pregnancies? And if it does, would you be in favor of withdrawing these expensive educational services for pregnant mothers? Why? EXPLAIN!
And what about sex education -- or lack thereof -- in the public schools to prevent unwanted pregnancy and STDs? Rely on parents only to provide guidance on sex education? What about "abstinence only" sex education programs?
Please post your response to these questions by the beginning of period 6 on Friday April 30th, 2010.
"Reducing teen pregnancy and birth is one of the most effective ways of reducing child poverty in the country."
Jordan Brown
