This is bugging me....

[katrina]

i was recently watching britians youngest mums and there was an 11 year old who had recently given birth on it! she got pregnant with her first time having sex!

[Pembroke_Corgi]

There have always been incompetent parents, it's not new to today's world. There always have been and there always will be, most likely.

The notion of "childhood" is actually a very modern idea. I'm not advocating that parents treat their children as adults by any means, but I don't understand how parents are less able than they used to be. Teen pregnancy has actually drastically declined in the last 15 years.

[CathyBogart]

Teen pregnancy has actually drastically declined in the last 15 years.

Do you have a link to that statistic? I'd like to share it elsewhere for another discussion.

[Cataholic]

While I am all for parental responsibility....sometimes even great parenting just doesn't do the trick.

[Twisterdog]

While I am all for parental responsibility....sometimes even great parenting just doesn't do the trick.

Absolutely true.

I have seen and heard about and personally know children who were raised by loving, caring, competent, excellent parents ... and the kids are absolutely horrid little beasts.

And I have also seen and heard about and personally know children who were raised by abusive, absent, clueless, manipulative, addicted worthless excuses for parents ... and the kids buck all the odds and do very well for themselves.

I do NOT believe in passing the buck. I do firmly believe in doing to best job you can raising your children, taking responsibility and teaching your children responsibility. But, saying that parents are ALWAYS to blame when a child "goes bad" is simply very wrong. Sometimes bad kids happen to good parents ... and visa versa.

And sometimes a good kid does a few bad things, or has a few bad months, or a few bad years. Things happen, children are their own people with their own ideas, morals and ethics, no matter how hard we try to mold them.

IMO, the only people who truly know with 100% certainty the single best way to raise children to have them turn out exactly right ... always seem to be the people who have never had children themselves.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Do you have a link to that statistic? I'd like to share it elsewhere for another discussion.

Yeah, I found a few decent web pages. Basically, they all say that since 1991, when there was a short peak in teen pregnancy, it has steadily declined since then. Here are a few links:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/01news/trendpreg.htm

http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/PUB...t/fsprechd.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/02...teenbirths.htm

Could have fooled me on this one...

Mugsy, it is too bad that you see so many young girls that are pregnant. However, the data shows that overall, the rates have declined. Perhaps your school needs to implement a sex education program earlier.

[mugsy]

Teen pregnancy has actually drastically declined in the last 15 years.

Could have fooled me on this one... We have at least 3 girls pregnant where I teach. 1 7th grader and 2 8th graders. Last year I had one of my 8th grade girls who had gotten pregnant in 7th grade, have the kid and come back to school. The 8th grade girls wanted me to come to her shower...what is THAT about? I think not. I have, personally, seen a HUGE increase in teen pregnancy and it's only getting worse. Until we figure out a way for it not to be a status symbol, the problem is only going to get worse.

[Pam]

Could have fooled me on this one... We have at least 3 girls pregnant where I teach. 1 7th grader and 2 8th graders. Last year I had one of my 8th grade girls who had gotten pregnant in 7th grade, have the kid and come back to school. The 8th grade girls wanted me to come to her shower...what is THAT about? I think not. I have, personally, seen a HUGE increase in teen pregnancy and it's only getting worse. Until we figure out a way for it not to be a status symbol, the problem is only going to get worse.

How sad. My kids are grown so I am not *in the loop* about such things any more. Mugsy, are these girls keeping their babies or giving them up for adoption? I hope they are choosing to give them up as these babies will have a tough road ahead being raised by moms who are children themselves.