Teenage+Pregnancy

Teen Pregnancy  Overview

The idea of teenage pregnancy has become more prevalent within current society. Since the year 2001, the rate of teenage pregnancy has continued to rise, according to B. Grome author of The Four-Week Challenge. The research conducted by Grome contributes the increase of teen pregnancy to media outlets such as reality television shows and movies. These new forms of entertainment are viewed as glorifying the idea of being a teenage mother and in turn, young teenage girls are increasingly becoming pregnant. Even though teenage pregnancy rates have decreased in the United States, the state of Georgia is ranked as number ten in having the largest number of teenage mothers nationwide (GCAPP.org). This presents a problem because to match those statistics, the state of Georgia is ranked forty-eight in the nation for graduating high school students. The only two states that rank lower than Georgia are New Mexico and Nevada. Of these students that do not graduate high school in the state of Georgia, forty-four percent of these high school dropouts are teenage mothers (GCAPP.org). With these alarming statistics, it would rightly be assumed that programs would be implemented in order to maintain the highest population in high school, regardless if a student is pregnant or not. However, “Pregnant and parenting teen mothers have exceptionally low probabilities of completing their schooling and thus show weak employment prospects” (Fershee, p.4). Teenage mothers are less likely to continue and complete their education because they do not have the support system needed to do so. Many school districts do not offer alternative methods for continuing education. Locally, the Muscogee County School district located in Columbus, Georgia offered a Teen Parenting Center for young mothers. This was a school that was developed to provide parenting skills and child care opportunities to teen-age mothers in an effort to decrease the drop-out rate for this group of students” (WLTZ.com). The school was required to close due to budget cuts in 2011. With this program being eliminated, the district saved a total of 2,464,560 dollars.

Even though the district did save a sufficient sum of money, the closing of the school left hundreds of pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers desolate; with no choice but to return to their original assigned school. This then posed the problem of childcare services for these teenage mothers and the special attention and specific services needed for these young ladies to not only become but remain successful students. By the district discontinuing the entire Teen Parenting Center, it has unfortunately left some students no choice other than to drop out of high school and focus on taking care of their child or children.

Trend or Issue? Even though the words trends and issues seem to have similar definitions, they also have stark differences. These two words tend to overlap when reviewed as a whole; however they are able to use specific details to allow distinction. The idea of a trend can be viewed as something that has begun to emerge and become popular within a specific demographic. Trends are expected to either fade away or grow into issues. If a trend surpasses obstacles and is around long enough, it will evolve into an issue. An issue is described by the Webster dictionary as “something coming forth from a specified source”. The concept of teen pregnancy and accommodations made for these new mothers can both be related to issues and trends. These subjects are related to both trends and issues because teen pregnancy may start off as a trend, but the effects of teen pregnancy on teenage mothers and society will eventually develop into an issue.

Trend The idea of teen pregnancy is a trend. This idea is evident when reviewing the statistics based around teen pregnancy. The number of teen mothers has increased since 2001. With the popularity of teenage mothers via reality shows and other social media outlets, teen pregnancy is almost glorified. Other research has been done around the concept of teen pregnancy and “some researchers link teen pregnancy to a widespread alienation and rebellion against traditional societal norms” (K.Fersee). If statement by K.Fersee is correct, teen pregnancy is simply a trend. This is similar to the rebellious phase that teenagers go through while developing into young adults. Teenagers may get pregnant to diffuse the societal norms that are placed upon them. However, while the act of getting pregnant is a trend, being a teenage mother that needs accommodations to obtain a successful educational career is an issue. Issue As these young women become pregnant and want to expand their education or continue their education, the accommodations that are needed for them to be or remain successful become an issue. These accommodations become an issue because it is a problem that derived for a specific source, this source is pregnancy; teen pregnancy. Making accommodations or adjustments to the school curriculum is an issue because it involves students, educators, laws, and parents. There is more than one factor involved when creating or adjusting the standard education path to adhere to specific students. According to the Title IX Educational Amendments Act of 1976, educational programs must make accommodations for students who are pregnant or new mothers. The school that was closed in the Muscogee County School district was an excellent example of accommodations made for teenage mothers and pregnant teenagers. At this school, students did not only receive a high school education, but they were taught how to be parents as well. Even though the Teen Parenting Center was closed in Muscogee County, a new program has been implemented to take its place. This program is called “ The Second Chance Homes”. With "The Seconds Change Homes" program, teenager mothers are provided a stable living environment and support to complete their high school education. The objective of the program is to give "teenage mothers a second chance at success" (GCAPP.org). Not only does the program offer educational services, it teachers students parenting and life skills. The program is similar to the Teen Parenting Center, however; this is program created and funded by the state of Georgia and the services offered are statewide and not limited to a school district. The Second Chance Home that is located in Columbus, Georgia is referred to as the Weracoba 2nd Chance home. []. The link can refer anyone who is interested to the program coordinator for the Second Chance Home. The program is affiliated with a larger state funded program named Twin Cedars. The overall objective of both Twin Cedars and The Second Chance Home is to provide the building blocks needed to build positive futures.

Opinion Overall, the idea of closing the Teen Parenting Center was not the best decision made by the district. Closing the center removed all sense of normalcy these young teenage mothers had. Even though the center was an extra expenditure not required by the state, the services and life skills taught there can never be duplicated. The Second Chance Home is a very good program offered within Muscogee County, however this program focuses on providing teenage mothers with a stable living environment and the completion of their GED. By encouraging the completion of a student's GED, it can be assumed the student has already dropped out of high school. This does not assist with lowering the drop out rate among high school students. This is a good program for young mothers who have already given up on school, but for the young teenage mothers who are still in high school and do not want to leave the classroom setting, this is not as beneficial.

Download a copy of a proposal focused on this education trend/issue here:

Annotated Biblography //Georgia// //campaign for adolescent power and potential: Second chance homes//. (2013). Retrieved from [|www.gcapp.org] This website describes a program targeted to assist young teenage mothers graduate high school and become successful citizens.

Grome, B. (2011). The four week challenge: Student mothers, maternity leves, and pregnancy-based sex discrimination. Albany Government Law Review, 4(2), 538-561). This article discusses how a four week program has been introduced to teenage mothers in Denver, CO that allows them four weeks of maternity leave before they return to school.

Fershee, K. (2010). An act for all contexts: incorporating the Pregnancy Discrimination Act into Title IX to help pregnant students fain and retain access to education. Hofstra Law Review, 39(2),281-327. This journal article discusses in great detail and length the changes and entitlement that pregnant teenagers and mothers have while receiving a high school education.

Shearer, L. (2012, November 27). Georgia's high school graduation rates near bottom in U.S.//Athens Banner-Herald//. Retrieved from onlineathens.com This newspaper article discusses how Georgia is at the bottom ranking in high school graduation rates throughout the entire United States of America.

//Tap school program voted out//. (2011, June 13). Retrieved from [|www.wltz.com] This news reported highlighted the closing of the TAP high school and gave specific reasons why the closing was deemed necessary.