# 86 Pregnant teens in one school **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 15, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716 "2011-01-15T14:39:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/21 "2011-01-15T23:33:10Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > I got your app for that right here baby… Uh huh, more like they got the clap for that… ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/22 "2011-01-16T03:15:05Z")
Looking up the [demographics](http://www.memphis.edu/planning/pdfs/Frayser_Turning_Pt.pdf) for Frayser, why am I not surprised? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/23 "2011-01-16T06:12:25Z")
I am picturing the new class that every girl in school will be required to attend. Teacher: “Repeat after me. N. Nnnnnnnnnnn.” Class: “N. Nnnnnnnnnnn.” Teacher: “O. Ooooooooo.” Class: “O. Ooooooooo.” Teacher: “No. Nnnnnnnnnnnoooooooo.” Class: “No. Nnnnnnnnnnnoooooooo.” Teacher: “Ok study hard tonight. There’ll be a quiz tomorrow.” ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/24 "2011-01-16T07:03:27Z")
Is the principal wearing the pants in this school? ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/25 "2011-01-16T07:13:49Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > **Rushgeekgirl** , have you been [reading this GD thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=592963)? Nope I just noticed the article was about my nearest school in my neighborhood and since I know the people around here I thought I’d offer my opinion. I’m not exaggerating for effect or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/26 "2011-01-16T07:17:21Z")
> [@athelas](#): > > Looking up the [demographics](http://www.memphis.edu/planning/pdfs/Frayser_Turning_Pt.pdf) for Frayser, why am I not surprised? And there are actually much worse parts of the city. I wonder what the pregnancy rates are at some of those schools. I know they have low graduation rates. My brother taught at one of the worst for years and said his biggest problem was 10th graders coming into his Am His class who couldn’t even read. How do so many keep getting passed on through without being able to read? ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/27 "2011-01-16T16:11:20Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > And there are actually much worse parts of the city. I wonder what the pregnancy rates are at some of those schools.? # With an unwed mother rate of 72%, I dont see what is so surprising, nor usual, about 86 teenagers from a Memphis school being pregnant. \ ***Rate of Black Unwed Mothers Soars to 72 Percent** Date: Monday, November 08, 2010, 6:45 am By: Jesse Washington, AP National Writer > **[Black America Web](https://blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles%2Fnews%2Fthe_state_of_black_america_news%2F23335)** > > Your one stop for all things Black America! | Breaking national news, entertainment news, celebrity news, Black-owned businesses, and Black history facts. \* ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/28 "2011-01-16T16:42:49Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > My brother taught at one of the worst for years and said his biggest problem was 10th graders coming into his Am His class who couldn’t even read. How do so many keep getting passed on through without being able to read? Because at the very least they will be accussed of being mean and misunderstanding teachers. Or so incomptent as teachers that it was THEIR fault the little shits couldnt learn to even read. As well as a good possibility of being labeled outright racists. A old friend of mine went to a school where pretty much everyone was passed from one grade to the next no matter what. He (and they?) called it “social promotion”. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/29 "2011-01-16T17:52:13Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > # With an unwed mother rate of 72%, I dont see what is so surprising, nor usual, about 86 teenagers from a Memphis school being pregnant. > > \ ***Rate of Black Unwed Mothers Soars to 72 Percent** > > Date: Monday, November 08, 2010, 6:45 am > By: Jesse Washington, AP National Writer > > [Black America Web](http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/the_state_of_black_america_news/23335) > \* 72% of children being born to unwed black mothers is is not at all related statistically to 86% of black teenagers being pregnant within a 12 month period. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/30 "2011-01-16T18:39:05Z")
Look, I’m sorry, but I just can’t get off while wearing a condom. That sure was a fucked up, crazy weekend, though. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/31 "2011-01-16T19:41:29Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > # With an unwed mother rate of 72%, I dont see what is so surprising, nor usual, about 86 teenagers from a Memphis school being pregnant. > > \ ***Rate of Black Unwed Mothers Soars to 72 Percent** > > Date: Monday, November 08, 2010, 6:45 am > By: Jesse Washington, AP National Writer > > [Black America Web](http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/the_state_of_black_america_news/23335) > \* Black unmarried women isn’t quite the same as the rate of teen pregnancy although Memphis is majority black and this is the influence on our children. Hell I’m white and I’m a single parent influencing my own daughters so we can leave black out of the equation I reckon. What is definite is that we live in a very poor urban area. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/32 "2011-01-16T20:27:38Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > Did anyone here ever just say no because they felt that they weren’t ready? I waited until I was 21 by choice - but then, I’m a statistical outlier in so many ways I don’t have any illusions I’m a representative sample of anything. Well, maybe that not everyone jumps into sex in their teens. No religious crap or repression or anything, I just didn’t feel ready in high school, didn’t date my first couple years in college, then, when it happened, it felt perfectly natural and uncomplicated and yes, we even used birth control. In fact my boyfriend of the time insisted on it just as strongly as I did. Like I said - weird. (I’m glad I did it that way, though) ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/33 "2011-01-16T20:40:14Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Because at the very least they will be accussed of being mean and misunderstanding teachers. Or so incomptent as teachers that it was THEIR fault the little shits couldnt learn to even read. As well as a good possibility of being labeled outright racists. > > A old friend of mine went to a school where pretty much everyone was passed from one grade to the next no matter what. He (and they?) called it “social promotion”. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with social promotion if you put remediation programs in place. Once a child is older, not promoting them can bring on it’s own host of problems. You can move a child up with his/her grade while doing intensive remedial work after school, during school and during the summer. However, most schools can’t afford that type of intervention and many parents can’t afford tutoring on their own. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/34 "2011-01-16T20:49:45Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > There isn’t anything inherently wrong with social promotion if you put remediation programs in place. Once a child is older, not promoting them can bring on it’s own host of problems. You can move a child up with his/her grade while doing intensive remedial work after school, during school and during the summer. However, most schools can’t afford that type of intervention and many parents can’t afford tutoring on their own. Well, if the schools or parents generally ARENT doing anything remedial, that kinda kills the “not wrong” part of it now doesnt it? And thats pretty much exactly HOW you get someone in the 10th grade, or Og forbid a high school graduate, that can’t read (or whatever other absurdly low level of academic achievement that happens to upset people). ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/35 "2011-01-16T20:56:56Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Well, if the schools or parents generally ARENT doing anything remedial, that kinda kills the “not wrong” part of it now doesnt it? And thats pretty much exactly HOW you get someone in the 10th grade, or Og forbid a high school graduate, that can’t read (or whatever other absurdly low level of academic achievement that happens to upset people). Oh, I know. I teach at a CC so we see this all the time. My only point was that social promotion, in and of itself, is not inherently bad. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/36 "2011-01-16T21:06:29Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > # With an unwed mother rate of 72%, I dont see what is so surprising, nor usual, about 86 teenagers from a Memphis school being pregnant. > > \ ***Rate of Black Unwed Mothers Soars to 72 Percent** > > Date: Monday, November 08, 2010, 6:45 am > By: Jesse Washington, AP National Writer > > [Black America Web](http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/the_state_of_black_america_news/23335) > \* I dont get it, OP doesnt mention race (though I cant say I’m surprised Susassan plugs it in). Is this all Black school and neighborhood? ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/37 "2011-01-16T21:24:26Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > I dont get it, OP doesnt mention race (though I cant say I’m surprised Susassan plugs it in). Is this all Black school and neighborhood? It is mostly black. We also have a large Latino community in Memphis but that area of Frayser is almost exclusively black. My daughter’s school is right on the edge of Raleigh and she is one of two white students out of an entire elementary school. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/38 "2011-01-16T21:31:09Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Oh, I know. I teach at a CC so we see this all the time. My only point was that social promotion, in and of itself, is not inherently bad. Unless there’s a good reason for promoting students who can’t read for 10 years I don’t see anything positive at all about it. I realize some students are right on the edge and maybe allowing them the security of their peers but if it’s the same program that allows children to be passed on with no regard of their progress how could that ever be good? I like my daughter’s charter school model, but I don’t know how well it will work when she finishes elementary. They go by subject like the older grades with different teachers and different levels. Like for instance my kindergarten age daughter may have math class with a second grade level student but she’d stay with the KK class for reading. There is no way a student would pass on to the third grade level math class unless they passed the class and the exit test. It’s individualized but I have yet to see what will happen when they have a student who spends three years in a kindergarten level class. I’m sure they have some sort of work-around for those cases too though. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/39 "2011-01-16T21:59:04Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I waited until I was 21 by choice - but then, I’m a statistical outlier in so many ways I don’t have any illusions I’m a representative sample of anything. Well, maybe that not everyone jumps into sex in their teens. No religious crap or repression or anything, I just didn’t feel ready in high school, didn’t date my first couple years in college, then, when it happened, it felt perfectly natural and uncomplicated and yes, we even used birth control. In fact my boyfriend of the time insisted on it just as strongly as I did. > > Like I said - weird. > > (I’m glad I did it that way, though) Well there’s nothing wrong with it if that’s what you want and at least to me it seems like a good thing to teach our kids. My daughter waited until she was twenty. Of course now she’s making up for it, but she’s smarter about it than I was when I was having sex with boys in the bushes behind the community center at 14. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/40 "2011-01-17T00:22:10Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > Well there’s nothing wrong with it if that’s what you want and at least to me it seems like a good thing to teach our kids That’s pretty well how I feel about not waiting–nothing wrong with it if that is truly what _you_ want to do and you’re not just doing it so a boy will like you, or so a guy won’t call you frigid or a tease, or because you’re sick of fighting about it, or any of the other shitty reasons I’ve heard from teenage girls. It just seems like when girls start having sex at 13 and 14 and 15, it’s usually for one of the shitty reasons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716.md?page=3)