Gloucester High pregnancy pact story-- *updated*

[maxter]

Time Magazine link here

Pregnancy Boom at Gloucester High
Wednesday, Jun. 18, 2008 By KATHLEEN KINGSBURY

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 question of what to do next has divided this fiercely Catholic enclave. Even with national data showing a 3% rise in teen pregnancies in 2006—the first increase in 15 years—Gloucester isn't sure it wants to provide easier access to birth control. In any case, many residents worry that the problem goes much deeper. The past decade has been difficult for this mostly white, mostly blue-collar city (pop. 30,000). In Gloucester, perched on scenic Cape Ann, the economy has always depended on a strong fishing industry. But in recent years, such jobs have all but disappeared overseas, and with them much of the community's wherewithal. "Families are broken," says school superintendent Christopher Farmer. "Many of our young people are growing up directionless."

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."

The high school has done perhaps too good a job of embracing young mothers. Sex-ed classes end freshman year at Gloucester, where teen parents are encouraged to take their children to a free on-site day-care center. Strollers mingle seamlessly in school hallways among cheerleaders and junior ROTC. "We're proud to help the mothers stay in school," says Sue Todd, CEO of Pathways for Children, which runs the day-care center.
But by May, after nurse practitioner Kim Daly had administered some 150 pregnancy tests at Gloucester High's student clinic, she and the clinic's medical director, Dr. Brian Orr, a local pediatrician, began to advocate prescribing contraceptives regardless of parental consent, a practice at about 15 public high schools in Massachusetts. Currently Gloucester teens must travel about 20 miles (30 km) to reach the nearest women's health clinic; younger girls have to get a ride or take the train and walk. But the notion of a school handing out birth control pills has met with hostility. Says Mayor Carolyn Kirk: "Dr. Orr and Ms. Daly have no right to decide this for our children." The pair resigned in protest on May 30.

Gloucester's elected school committee plans to vote later this summer on whether to provide contraceptives. But that won't do much to solve the issue of teens wanting to get pregnant. Says rising junior Kacia Lowe, who is a classmate of the pactmakers': "No one's offered them a better option." And better options may be a tall order in a city so uncertain of its future.

—with reporting by Kimberley McLeod/New York

[maxter]

And this from wbztv.com here

Gloucester Teens Had Pact To Get Pregnant

GLOUCESTER, Mass. (WBZ) ― There's a stunning twist to the sudden rise in teen pregnancies at Gloucester High School. Seventeen students there are expecting and many of them became that way on purpose.

Time Magazine first reported that nearly half of the girls confessed to making a pact to get pregnant and raise their babies together. None of them is older than 16.

Schools Superintendent Christopher Farmer told WBZ's Bill Shields Thursday the girls had "an agreement to get pregnant."

Farmer said these are generally "girls who lack self-esteem and have a lack of love in their life."

"The common threat is the lack of self-esteem and purpose in life, and a lack of a sense of direction," said Farmer. "Young women wanting and needing affection."

Principal Joseph Sullivan has not returned calls from WBZ for comment.

Sullivan told the magazine that the pact wasn't the only shocking incident.

"We found out one of the fathers is a 24-year-old homeless guy," he told Time.

Last month, two top officials at the high school's health center resigned in a fight over contraceptives distribution.

Medical Director Dr. Brian Orr and chief nurse practitioner Kim Daly support confidentially giving contraceptives to students. They were outraged about resistance from Addison Gilbert Hospital, which administers the state public health grant that funds the school clinic.

Normally, the school has about four pregnancies per school year.

According to Time, school officials started looking into the spike in pregnancies after an unusual number of girls came to the school clinic for pregnancy tests. Some came by several times.

"Some girls seemed more upset when they weren't pregnant than when they were," Sullivan told the magazine.

The pregnant girls and their parents turned down requests to be interviewed.

A recent graduate who had a baby during her freshman year told Time she knows why the girls wanted to get pregnant.

"They're so excited to finally have someone to love them unconditionally," Amanda Ireland, 18, said. "I try to explain it's hard to feel loved when an infant is screaming to be fed at 3 a.m."

Ireland also spoke with WBZ about her young pregnancy.

"I don't call it a mistake because the way I look at is everything happens for a reason," Ireland said. "But, no, she was not planned."

WBZ has also tried to contact Mayor Carolyn Kirk and Public Health Director Jack Vondras. Both are said to be out of town this week.

Beyond the social implications of the pregnancies, there are some legal questions being asked, including whether the men who fathered the babies will face charges of statutory rape.

[ValleyO]

Originally Posted by maxter

"We found out one of the fathers is a 24-year-old homeless guy,"

EWWW What were these girls thinking?!?! And what is the school thinking by allowing babies to become accessories in a learning enviroment?

[leothelnss]

"No one has provided a better option?"
Maybe try parenting. Maybe try grounding your stupid, sexed up kids so that they can't go around fulfilling promises to their friends to get pregnant!! What the hell?? This is soo sad. They're children themselves!

[compulsivepurse]

The girls sound like morons. Really. Even at 14 & 15 I knew that getting knocked up could ruin your entire future (at least for several years - IF you graduate and can get back on your feet.)

[ragamuffin]

This story really upsets me. I have mentioned before that I had my son when I was 15.
It was the hardest thing I have ever done, I finished school in two and a half years and I have gone on to be quite successful in my career. But I know that I would have never been able to do it with out the help of my loving and supportive parents.
These girls have no idea what they are in for! I missed so much stuff in high school but I was to busy trying to finish high school and working 3 jobs while trying to raise a toddler, to be able to go out to football games and house parties. I wouldn't change my life for anything, but I sure as heck would never recommend it. I wouldn't say that they have ruined their lives, but they have made things so much harder for themselves. It's so sad that they have done this over a silly pact that they have made with their friends. It is a very unfortunate situation.

[caxe]

I always wonder what's wrong with women who say they want to have a baby because it will "love them unconditionally."

Um, actually, no, it won't! LOL Ask the parent of any teen out there.

As for these girls...this is just trifling; it's very sad. Their parents must be super-proud.

[Nymph]

This is CRAZY!!!! Why would anyone get pregnant on a pact, just for "unconditional" love?!?!?!

[Pursegrrl]

Frightening.

[LoVe YoU!]

its very sad to make a pact! i am 19 i cant wait to have children, but thats after i have enjoyed eveything i can and i would never make a pact with friends.

[QueenOfDa702]

STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, I cant say it enough. Thats for the dumb little girls AND their parents!

[JuiceBox]

They all feel like a baby will provide them with love they dont have but I'm sure as hell newborn babies won't show you love at all!

[Emotus]

^ puberty does that. It mess up your hormone and turn you into a emotional wreck.
They are in the stage when they need loads of attention and love. However, that was a very wrong approach. :/

[Sternchen]

Originally Posted by JuiceBox

They all feel like a baby will provide them with love they dont have but I'm sure as hell newborn babies won't show you love at all!

Nah, with all the screaming they do they make you feel like the hate you!

[LV-PRADAfanatic]

that a stupid idea...