# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/41 "2011-01-17T01:05:52Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > Yeah we all heard the blue-ball speech but by the eighties we knew better. Knew better than what? Are you suggesting “blue balls” aren’t real? ---
**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 17, 2011, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/42 "2011-01-17T01:06:45Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > 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. You listed my every reason at that age. I had no clue. I knew about sex and I knew sex could lead to babies. I just had absolutely no sense of responsibility for my own body. I was just so desperate to get myself a boyfriend and I thought that was the way to do it. It seemed to work for a while anyway. It sure wasn’t because I wanted to get off or even feel that tingle. I just wanted to be given attention. And I feel like this is a lot of the reason behind these girls. Not EVERY girl obviously. But working with some of these girls over the years, something really touches me about how vulnerable they are and how desperate they are for attention. And they’re so poor around here having a baby can be a step up. ---
**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 17, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/43 "2011-01-17T01:08:11Z")
Or rather it can _seem_ like a step up. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/44 "2011-01-17T01:57:15Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > Lots of teenagers who use abstinence as their BC method _use it incorrectly_ … Just brilliant **Manda JO**. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/45 "2011-01-17T02:47:45Z")
Anal. Because I _care_ about my future. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/46 "2011-01-17T03:09:57Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > 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. The OP talks about 86 pregnant teens, which isn’t the same as 86% unless the school has exactly 100 female students. In fact, one of the linked articles says: > [@](#): > > the teen pregnancy rate for Memphis fluctuates between 15 and 20 percent, which is almost twice the national average. > In the school’s zip code – the pregnancy rate is about 26 percent. ---
**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 17, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/47 "2011-01-17T03:16:49Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Knew better than what? Are you suggesting “blue balls” aren’t real? What’s blue balls? ---
**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, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/48 "2011-01-17T03:47:09Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > You listed my every reason at that age. I had no clue. I knew about sex and I knew sex could lead to babies. I just had absolutely no sense of responsibility for my own body. I was just so desperate to get myself a boyfriend and I thought that was the way to do it. It seemed to work for a while anyway. Yeah, sounds like my friends who started that early. They were pretty much trying to buy love/attention with pussy. One of them lost her virginity to the guy who ate flies for money, who she’d never been on a date with, on a hotel bathroom floor full of sand. She to this day doesn’t know for sure if he used a condom or not; she didn’t hear him put one on and was utterly horrified at the notion that she could have touched his penis and made sure. Because she didn’t know him well enough for _that_. I shit you not. I couldn’t even begin to make this happy horseshit up. Sex ed, as such, just isn’t enough. ---
**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 17, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/49 "2011-01-17T03:57:10Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > The OP talks about 86 pregnant teens, which isn’t the same as 86% unless the school has exactly 100 female students. > > In fact, one of the linked articles says: I stand corrected. Somehow I thought it was 86% in one particular school. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/50 "2011-01-17T04:54:11Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > or they like the feeling of being doted on when they’re pregnant. You get special privileges in school when you’re pregnant. You get excused from classes when you’re pregnant. You get attention and presents when you’re pregnant. And then you get a pretty new dolly plus it might keep your boyfriend from straying. Now [why would they think that?](http://celebritypregnancy.sheknows.com/wp-content/images/2010/08/Farrah_Abraham_Teen_Mom_Us_Cover.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/51 "2011-01-17T09:31:01Z")
> [@](#): > > That said, as a high school teacher, I think there are plenty of kids–especially girls–who don’t know they can say “no” to sex, and it is a lesson worth teaching. [Checks forum] This is totally anecdotal, but many kids are very “hot to trot” in high school, but some kids–especially girls–aren’t. They just mature at different rates. Some of those girls are in sexual relationships, and some get pregnant, and in more than a few cases I’ve thought it was entirely because they felt the sex, at least, was expected of them. It’s not that they were forced, or manipulated, but that they saw sex as sex as something you let boys do. It would not be a bad thing for someone to make it clear to them that they have the right to say no.But, obviously, BC should be available as well. Excellent post Manda JO!!! Almost exactly like the mentally retarded kids I’ve known who think that girls HAVE to be boy crazy and be “boyfriend” “girlfriend” even though they actually really don’t have a CLUE about sophisicated romantic relationships. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/52 "2011-01-17T13:07:03Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > Yeah, and Yahoo! is reporting that there’s 90 girls pregnant there. Anyone pay attention to the guys who are doing their part to get them that way? What do you have in mind? Medals? I’m thinking trophies, like in little league. ---
**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 18, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/53 "2011-01-18T03:30:03Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Knew better than what? Are you suggesting “blue balls” aren’t real? No I’m suggesting it’s not my responsibility to ease a teenage boy’s case of blue balls. ---
**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 18, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/54 "2011-01-18T03:31:53Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > Now [why would they think that?](http://celebritypregnancy.sheknows.com/wp-content/images/2010/08/Farrah_Abraham_Teen_Mom_Us_Cover.jpg) I have never heard of those people. I don’t have a TV so I miss out on a lot when it comes to celebrities. ---
**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 18, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/55 "2011-01-18T03:40:21Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > What’s blue balls? > **[Men's Health Resource Center](https://www.everydayhealth.com/mens-health/)** > > Men's health includes conditions like Erectile Dysfunction, Low Testosterone, Prostate Health and more. Read more to know prevention tips, and treatment options to help men lead healthier lives. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/56 "2011-01-18T06:01:25Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > [Men's Health Resource Center](http://www.livestrong.com/article/12486-blue-balls/) Why is he smiling? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/57 "2011-01-18T13:07:54Z")
The school should start a good day care program, possibly with the mothers and fathers taking turns being excused from class, celebrate motherhood, fatherhood and childhood and forget this just say no stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/58 "2011-01-18T14:04:18Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > The school should start a good day care program, possibly with the mothers and fathers taking turns being excused from class, celebrate motherhood, fatherhood and childhood … How do you get hold of those fathers? And does this reduce the rate of high-school pregnancy? ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/59 "2011-01-18T14:23:20Z")
IME the fathers of many of the babies will not be at the school. Some will attend other schools (and some in this school will have babies with women at other schools) and quite a few will not attend school. Some will be drop outs and not a few will be older: 19-25. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716/60 "2011-01-18T15:23:45Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > How do you get hold of those fathers? And does this reduce the rate of high-school pregnancy? If the fathers want to participate in loving and raising their child they are welcome. I at first left out celebrate fatherhood in my post, but thought it should be added. It is not intended to reduce the rate of high school pregnancies per se, but to challenge the current system that is failing us, including just say no abstinence programs , birth control, with it’s failures, the stigma of secret abortion and the pressure to abort out of shame and fear and the IMHO false notion that a baby will close doors for a teen. It also challenges the current educational system, with it’s rules to hold back young adults to the level as children far too long, and not recognizing their adult needs, including sex and children as part of their very being. This represents a great educational opportunity far better then (insert subject such as ‘algebra’ here) does for the majority of students. We all have been in school saying when will I ever need (insert subject here) in real life. And for most of us we will never need to know, or put into use (insert things like ‘law of cosines’ here). Raising a community of children from infancy on is real life, and for mothers (and fathers who step forward) it is a valuable life skill, arguably the single most important one in all humanity, and for the most part schools teach how to avoid it. When someone gets to highschool they should have a basic understanding of core subjects and be able to start selecting their life path. It is not needed for all to master every high school subject, we are a community of people, each with different strengths and weaknesses and made to draw on each other, to come together as a community, so on rare occasion when you need to use the law of cosigns your neighbor would be the one who can help you. Raising children in a community that the school children can draw upon is a potentially great benefit and resource to the mothers and babies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/86-pregnant-teens-in-one-school/567716.md?page=4)