Teenage mum story.

[Shipstabber]

Our local news programme last night featured a story about a girl who managed to pass her GCSEs despite having a baby around exam time. The story had a congratulatory 'didn't she do well' light-hearted tone, which I found disturbing. I'm not saying her acheivements shouldn't be acknowledged but to make it seem like she was more special than her classmates, who managed to take their GCSEs without getting knocked up, seemed wrong. Plus, should we really be celebrating a 15/16 year old who knows nothing about abstinence, safe sex or contraception?

[WoWo]

Totally agree. She should have failed her Biology and Socail Studies exam by default.

[butter1]

Agree with you Shipstabber... and I also like WoWo's response! ha ha.. 

[Ward-Minter]

I suppose if there were  GCSE's in "how to get a council flat" and "designer fake Burberry prams" she would get A**'s

[c00ky83]

I bet it didn't tell you her grades.  And I bet the kid had a comedy name.

[Shipstabber]

I don't know the grades but the child was called Ebony, which IS pretty funny for a white kid.

[january_bug]

White kid called Ebony... EXCELLENT!  Least it wasn't Chardonnay, or just Donnay! lol

I do agree that teen pregnancy is not something to be congratulated.  Although, pregnancy does seem a great way to pass exams.  One of my friends (in her mid 20s can I just say) fell unexpectedly pregnant at Xmas (failed pill, and with her long term partner).  Anyway, just after gorgeous baby E was born, H (the mum) had to take more of her financial adviser exams - the toughest yet.  Knackered from raising a new born baby (of course will the full support of E's Dad) she somehow managed to pass, and texted me to say that she reckons having the baby was what did the trick!

Mind you... I'm not saying it's a method I'd try... or recommend!! :-p

[libertie]

Jeez........

[spinchimp]

You very unpleasant smallminded individuals....

[Miss Zippy]

I see your point that it would be appear to be taking the 'glory' away from all the other hard working students.  However, surely it's a positive thing that this girl is being applauded for managing to pass her exams under such stress because at least she might inspire other girls in her predicament to continue with their education rather than resign themselves to a life of low paid work or state dependency?

[Grimalkin]

I agree with the last 3.  As a 25 year old (childless)student I'm feeling a bit humbled by her to be honest, not least as I only got 4 As and 6 Bs at her age.  I hope that there are supports in place which enable her to realise her ambitions rather than judging and condemning her  - apparently she wants to be a doctor. 

[january_bug]

Good point Miss Zippy.  I meant to say much the same thing myself and I'm rather embarassed that I forgot to.  It is true that the girl deserves credit for continuing her education and studying hard.  I personally don't mean to rubbish all teenage mothers.  Just because they've had kids at an age before I even possibly could have done, isn't a problem to me.  I just really feel that where teen pregnancies are mentioned, sex education needs to be highlighted.  Young people in this country (in general) need to learn.  It's not just about getting pregnant anyway, these children (for they are only children themselves) are spreading diseases amongst themselves.  Joy comes from having a child, whatever the age of the parent (so I'm told, and I believe it), but no joy comes from getting an STD and potentially ended up infertile.  THAT'S the point that needs to be put across, daily if necessary. 

[Shipstabber]

spinchimp - You, on the other hand, are clearly the poster child for tolerance and even-mindedness.

 

Maybe we should all follow your non-judgemental example.

[Annielappo]

shipstabber u say does the girl know nothing about abstinence, safe sex or contraception, but I bet she has a hell of a lot of manners then you.  What does this knocked up mean? How nasty and small minded u and a lot of people who have posted a reply are. You are the ones who should be ashamed.  You know nothing about this girl or other girls who become pregnant.  A 15/16 year old girl who is pregnant (not knocked up) should be given support.  Not talked about by small minded people like yourself.  How rude you people are.  Lets hope your next question is not as bitchy as this one.

[Shipstabber]

Wow. Did you register just to post that reply?

 

I'm flattered.

 

[Ward-Minter]

What a load of do-gooding left wing social workers (i.e annielappo). I am so glad my tax and national insurance (that's what you pay when you get a job annie) goes to such worthwhile causes as your crusade.

 

Perhaps next week I could contribute to a young persons criminal club where instead of giving them hard punishment or at least prison, we could pay for a nice holiday because the little baseball cap wearing yobs are very hard done by in this moral society.

 

Get real girl.

[Annielappo]

I have a job believe it or not! .  My husband wears a baseball hat should we call him a yob too?  Or would you call a person whos job it is to look after parents who have lost there children through death a yob?  I wouldn't.  It is fine to have an opinon.  Freedom of speech I think it is called.  Although to be so bitchy, that is what I found to be  uncalled for.  Especially by women who are probally old enough to know better.  So I think it would do us well to all agree to disagree,  not to get into a slanging match about something we will never see eye to eye on.

[libertie]

Erm sorry, how exactly does failing to condemn a 15/16 year old who becomes pregnant that you know nothing about ie background upbringing etc automatically class someone as a "do-gooding left wing social worker who is most likely unemployed (?) or even a poster child for tolerance!!

Hope you don't have young children of your own, and if you do don't for one moment think that only badly brought up children from council estates fall pregnant at 15/16!

[spinchimp]

I'd love to be poster child for tolerance, but sadly I too have things I am intolerant about. I don't expect people to tolerate everything, thats not the point. What concerns me, as others have said her, is the condemnation, in unpleasant and unkind terms, of someone about whom you know nothing. Judge people on the facts not on the basis of your own prejudices.Thus endeth the sermon.

[january_bug]

Surely the judgement was originally meant to be of the newspaper, not of the child?  Even if the thread ended up off topic.  To me, if there is going to be celebration of a girl who has achieved a lot, despite adverse circumstances, then it is a tale that must be told with caution.  There is a moral to the story, which is that others must learn that this girl is exceptional, and that not all teenagers could cope as well as she has and that it isn't always possible to have it all at 16 - motherhood and a career is hard enough for women in their 30s, let along children half that age. 

I do still feel that these one off "didn't she do well" type stories are risky anyway.  A family friend of ours dropped dead on Christmas day one year, totally unexpectedly, of a heart attack.  His daughter naturally didn't cope too well and as a result her A level grades certainly do not reflect her full potential.  But she achieved results that many would be proud of, depsite adverse circumstances well beyond her control.  This girl chose to keep the baby (well, ok, she might have only realised she was pregnany after the last possible date for a termination, but it's unlikely) and I honestly don't feel that she deserves praise for that, if people who's parents or siblings die or are seriously ill, don't also get recognition for coping and succeeding.