The obligatory “high school girls make pact to get pregnant, and succeed” post
posted at 11:29 am on June 19, 2008 by Allahpundit
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There are fads, my friends, and then there are fads.
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…
The girls who made the pregnancy pact—some of whom, according to Sullivan, reacted to the news that they were expecting with high fives and plans for baby showers—declined to be interviewed. So did their parents. But Amanda Ireland, who graduated from Gloucester High on June 8, thinks she knows why these girls wanted to get pregnant. Ireland, 18, gave birth her freshman year and says some of her now pregnant schoolmates regularly approached her in the hall, remarking how lucky she was to have a baby. “They’re so excited to finally have someone to love them unconditionally,” Ireland says. “I try to explain it’s hard to feel loved when an infant is screaming to be fed at 3 a.m.”
Any theories? It screams hoax, but the principal’s corroboration rules that out. The article hints that the phenomenon may have been triggered by an economic downturn in Gloucester, but if that were true this sort of thing would happen periodically everywhere. Likewise the boldfaced part about kids so desperate for love that they’d be willing, literally, to manufacture it. When I read it I thought of the Salem witch trials as another example of teen group psychology being capable of some mighty interesting ideas when the dynamics are just right, but as to what those dynamics are and why this idea, I haven’t a clue.
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I feel I should clarify that my daughters were in long term relationships.
The oldest had been dating her bf for 2 yrs and then went on to date him for another 5 before he decided they needed a break. She then met her now husband and has been happy ever since. The youngest also had been seeing the same boy for several years. They have broken up since then and she has not dated or slept with anyone else since they broke up.
They do not believe in one night stands and do not sleep around. They have respect for themselves.
becki51758 on June 19, 2008 at 1:47 PM
Now that’s funny!
But I thought it was the rhythm method.
juanito on June 19, 2008 at 1:48 PM
I hope I didn’t come off as too critical. I disagree with you on the birth control but I applaud you for giving time and love to your kids.
shick on June 19, 2008 at 1:54 PM
what’s the big deal? If they want to have babies it’s their choice. Last I looked we were still a free country( but that may change in 6 months).
It’s not as if they were raped, as if they were not provided birth control etc.
This is what you get when you say its ok to have premartial sex. If our society condones poen, unwed mothers, divorce etc why not this?
You can’t have the fruit without the sin.
unseen on June 19, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Truly gifts from God.
Nonfactor on June 19, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Yep, a gaggle of 17 year old girls running around so desperate to have sex that they’ll bed a homeless man. Used to happen to me all the time.
Potfry on June 19, 2008 at 1:36 PM
anyone seen photos of the little darlings?
max1 on June 19, 2008 at 1:58 PM
shick on June 19, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Not at all, Im not offended and I appreciate your kind words.
I just didn’t want anyone to think I was advocating for teens to have random, indiscriminate sex with anyone they choose. :)
becki51758 on June 19, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Remember when a hickey was enough?
Way to go Mom and Dad. And kudos to the friends that not only joined in on the pact, but the one’s that kept their mouths shut.
Winners, each and every one of them.
ej_pez on June 19, 2008 at 2:02 PM
This is what happens when you trust the state to raise your kids.
NTWR on June 19, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Interesting. I’m not a parent, but I’m automatically opposed to the idea of giving birth control to my hypothetical kids.
Though the fact that you stressed abstinence and took them to church regularly does change things.
I was raised in church and taught strict abstinence, but I wasn’t a virgin on my wedding day. I made it until I was 20 and married the guy as soon as we graduated college. At that point we’d decided that we were going to get married anyway and rationalized that only money was preventing us from obtaining that magical piece of paper which would make sex OK.
I got birth control on my own and kept the information from my mother, knowing it wouldn’t help, but when she finally found out later on, she gave me a talk, basically affirming what she still believed, which hadn’t changed, then finally agreeing to not ask me about this ever again, knowing it would only ruin our relationship.
Because I wanted to be able to talk to my mother about it when it first happened, part of me wants to do something different for my own hypothetical children, but I’m not sure what that would be.
I don’t like it when people assume kids are just going to do it anyway (and I don’t mean you at all). I think that’s a self-fulfilling prophesy. Then again, I’m also not sure the best way to deal with a child who has already decided to have sex. Aside from locking them up, there’s really no way to prevent that.
Esthier on June 19, 2008 at 2:15 PM
I tried that, it just didn’t have the right “ring” to it, but hey, whadaIknow, I’m Baptist.
We don’t even look at each other in bed if the lights are on.
CBarker on June 19, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Esthier on June 19, 2008 at 2:15 PM
It wasn’t an easy decision, but I knew that I didn’t want them raising children on there own as I had to do. I should say that I was on birth control when I got pregnant, so I knew it isnt 100%.
I am also thankful that my daughters trust me enough to talk to me about things going on in their lives. That was the one thing I never had with my own mother. I was afraid to tell her anything.
becki51758 on June 19, 2008 at 2:28 PM
We plan on teaching our children abstinance, but I’m glad we have a few years for that because I’m not sure what the upper limit of that abstinance should be (marriage, maturity level, job, not under my roof anymore). Neither my husband nor I were virgins on our wedding day, but my husband was abstinate until he felt he was emotionally ready for it. My experience is not really for this site. I do believe also in explaining to our kids about birth control, especially to our daughter. I was not on the Pill in high school because of sex, but because I had hormonal issues (endometriosis). I still take them now, not to stave of pregnancy, but because I really do have to in order to function. If my daughter suffers from similar conditions, damn right she’s going on BC. Being on the Pill did not give me the notion to have sex, and I’ll make sure Sophie knows that too.
My daughter has been real interested in pregnancy lately (at 5!), so the talks have already begun. We’re open and honest with her. It’s our job to make sure she doesn’t end up like these girls.
One thing I’m thinking about too - there is no shame to recieve government handouts, is there? I’ll admit, I was on WIC when the twins were born, as I had just been released from active duty and my husband was stationed 3000 miles away (and we needed the help on his E-5 salary). But I was so ashamed of it, and as soon as we could, we dropped it even though we were still eligable. If there were more of a stigma felt by more people, maybe girls like these would think twice. Just saying.
Anna on June 19, 2008 at 2:31 PM
someone may have noted this already, but………
i thought women were supposta have more sense than men
maybe the ‘Smarter-than-Men’ thing doesn’t kick in until chicks are 18, but…….using a homeless guy as sperm donor? Is that covered under the new nationalized health plan?
Janos Hunyadi on June 19, 2008 at 2:36 PM
I’m going to Gloucester to get some after work.
Geronimo on June 19, 2008 at 2:52 PM
I am not trying to be funny or cute on a very serious topic.
It is just that I work at a hospital, and when I saw the headline, I was expecting Allah to link us to a story about Anchor Baby Citizenship.
The practice of illegals having anchor babies is common at my hospital.
ColtsFan on June 19, 2008 at 2:58 PM
One thing I’m thinking about too - there is no shame to recieve government handouts, is there? I’ll admit, I was on
Seperated E-5 myself and used WIC. I remember the stigma myself. But I also remember that we really needed the help.
Unfortunately there isn’t much of a stigma on government handouts anymore. The thoughts, “I will provide for my family.” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” have been replaced with “The government needs to provide for my family and my neighbors family.”
shick on June 19, 2008 at 3:33 PM
If they’re single mothers, they can go on welfare in MA, right? A friend used to work in a mental health clinic that catered to Mass Health patients and would hear young girls talk about having babies as a “free ticket.” One girl said she was going to get pregnant so the state would put her up in an apartment and she wouldn’t have to deal with her parents anymore.
Spolitics on June 19, 2008 at 3:50 PM
Which is a shame. My inlaws’ church set up a rotating system where members would stop by and bring me food and company (if I wanted it). They also took my daughter to bible school (mostly to get her out of the house to give me a break). I had about 20 different families volunteer for this, and it makes me tear up to this day.
I think the government should get out of the charity business and let local organizations handle it. Those who truly need help (food/shelter/clothing) can get it, and those looking for a free handout will learn how to work for a living. Oh, and it would save taxpayers oodles of money. Three birds, one stone… I must be insane. ; )
Anna on June 19, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Anytime in the summer, if you drive through South Boston you’d be sickened by the number of kids walking around with strollers who live in the projects. It’s a perpetual way of life down there.
Geronimo on June 19, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Stop with the common sense already Anna.
Geronimo on June 19, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Yeah, I know. It’s sick and twisted that I think like that.
Anna on June 19, 2008 at 4:10 PM
I’m thinking that the best thing I can do with my children is to make sure I am approachable. I always want my daughter and son to feel comfortable opening up and discussing their problems with us. And if it means talking about BC, then so be it.
Our children are taught our moral order of things - school, college, job, marriage, THEN babies. But I will certainly not stick my head in the sand and scream LA LA LA LA LA if my girl wants BC. The choice to have sex may not be the right one, but at least she would be responsible enough to protect herself from pregnancy or STD’s.
since she’s just 9, I have a few years yet to revise my opinion, but for right now, that’s pretty much how I feel.
pullingmyhairout on June 19, 2008 at 4:12 PM
I agree that it is important that children be able to talk to their parents.
Though I also want to make sure I’m helping set guidelines.
I like the idea of not letting them date until they’re a certain age. If they’re not left alone with the opposite sex, then having sex will at least be harder.
But like you said, pullingmyhairout, I have plenty of time to change my mind. I don’t even have any kids yet. I really think about this stuff too much. It annoys my husband when we have these hypothetical conversations, but I figure if I can get an idea now, then maybe later we’ll save ourselves some heartache.
Shame seems to have vanished from our culture altogether. Whether it be out-of-wedlock births or living off of taxpayer money, it doesn’t seem to matter.
And it’s not that I think people should necessarily be down on themselves if they need help or get pregnant without getting married, but they shouldn’t act as though it’s OK.
Esthier on June 19, 2008 at 4:35 PM
What most people tend to ignore is the complexity of a family. What works for one, won’t work for the other. You did what you felt was best, and it worked.
It is too easy to say “that’s not what I would have done”, or to insinuate that there was a “better” way.
The proof is in the puddin.
I am glad those days are over.
right2bright on June 19, 2008 at 4:38 PM
The big deal is unprepared girls who have children end up being a burden on society. It shows a breakdown of society on several fronts:
Moral
Responsibility
Education
To name just a few. This is how you lose a generation. Just ask the black community. Having unwed mom’s (70%) is devastating.
In a prison (of 1,500+ or -) on Mothers day, the admin made a big deal out of sending out Mothers day cards. They assigned people who could write and help create a meaningful Mother’s day card and note. It was a huge success, and the writers were overwhelmed.
When father’s day rolled around the did the same thing…two letters were sent out.
Got to any juvenile detention center, or a high school for troubled teens, then see how many have both parents.
Then come back and say, having a child without a father is not big deal…
right2bright on June 19, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Medicaid accounts for roughly 20% of state budgets…Go figure…
Nozzle on June 19, 2008 at 5:52 PM
“…. someone to love them unconditionally,”
Nearer to the core these teen girls with low self esteem warped the world to think - “It’ll make me feel more important, I’ll be cool, it’ll be fun, and I’ll show ‘them’ who’s in control, and why not somebody will pay for the baby anyway”. Not being capable to think in a rational manner to avoid life’s pitfalls to the point 17 girls go along with a crazed group pact mentality to make long-term life decisions with no regard for themselves, the baby, or their family is a big parental issue. Knowing how many of the 17 came from 1 parent or broken household could be make an interesting correlation if known.
Michael Graham is co-hosting Glen Beck tonight and I can’t imagine it won’t be part of the show. It’s been a huge discussion in New England today.
wubu on June 19, 2008 at 6:25 PM
My youngest daughter has just heard about this on the news.
Her response was…and I quote ” Oh My God..how ridiculous! What is wrong with those girls? ugh I am sick of girls saying ohh..I want to have a baby, they are sooo cute! Dont they think about the poor babies? They need to grow up!”
I just had to share! lol
becki51758 on June 19, 2008 at 6:35 PM
What amuses me is at the end the school’s nurse and doctor resign in protest because the school won’t allow them to issue birth control prescriptions without parental consent. Hello! Birth control only works when girls don’t want to become pregnant.
Brainster on June 19, 2008 at 7:12 PM
Well, you’re doing something right. Be proud.
Geronimo on June 19, 2008 at 8:18 PM
I saved so much money on beer this year.
2Tru2Tru on June 20, 2008 at 12:16 AM
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