Gloucester, Massachusetts, Discovers Teen Pregnancy Pact

Gloucester, Massachusetts, Discovers Teen Pregnancy Pact

June 20, 2008 by
Carly Hart  
Carly Hart
Carly Hart
  • Published Content: 332
  • Total Views: 509,424
  • Fans: 83
View Profile | Follow | Add to Favorites
Single page
Font Size
Read comments (20)

1,200 Student Body School Has 17 Pregnant Girls

Within a day of 17-year-old Zoey 101 star Jamie Lynn Spears giving birth to a baby girl, Maddie Briann, Time Magazine reports that a high school in Gloucester, Massachusetts,
Gloucester, Massachusetts, Discovers Teen Pregnancy Pact
Gloucester, MA
United States of America
 has discovered a teen girl pregnancy pact among its students. At last count, 17 teenage girls in this 1,200 student high school have been found to be pregnant, 4 times the number of pregnancies as last year. The school nurse became suspicious when her office was inundated with a steady stream of requests for a pregnancy test throughout the school year. Further investigation into the matter revealed that these teen girls had made a pregnancy pact and vowed to raise their babies together.

Is Hollywood to blame for this pregnancy pact?

Is Hollywood glamorizing teen pregnancy? Some would say yes. After all, the pregnancy of teen idol Jamie Lynn Spears has been all over the television and print media. Movies such as Juno, depicting a pregnant teenage girl, also feed into glamorizing teen pregnancy. However, these 17 girls in the pregnancy pact do not have millions of dollars to raise their babies. One pregnant mother confessed that the father of her baby is a 24 year old homeless man. Many of these newly pregnant teen moms reacted to the news with great joy and, according to Principal Joseph Sullivan, were disappointed at a negative pregnancy test. Some of these girls returned to the school clinic multiple times for pregnancy tests.

Or is the economy of Gloucester to blame for the pregnancy pact?

Still others blame the pregnancy pact that these teenage girls entered into on the economy of the area. Gloucester, Massachusetts, population 30,000, is a small town that depended upon fishing for its livelihood. Over the past few years, the fishing industry has declined markedly and all but disappeared, mainly due to jobs going overseas. The job loss has had a profound effect on the community. Christopher Farmer, school superintendent, said in his interview with Time, "Many of our young people are growing up directionless."

Where do they go from here?

Page: 1 2 Next »
 Print   Save Read comments (20)   Next piece
Related Video
   
RelatedRecommendedFeaturedMore By This Source
New Years Resort Packages Cape Cod Massachusetts
How about doing something really special and getting out of the city completely and spending New Years in a Cape Cod Massachusetts Resort.
By Regina Sass  |  Published 12/2/2006  |  Read more »
Early Skyscrapers of Boston, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts, unlike New York or Chicago, is not a city well known for its skyscrapers, which unfortunately means that Boston's skyscrapers go largely unnoticed by both the casual observer and architectural expert.
By Thos Robert  |  Published 6/13/2007  |  Read more »
Where to Find Wing Chairs in the Sturbridge and Brimfield, Massachusetts Area
Where do I find Wing Chairs for sale in the Sturbridge, Massachusetts area?
By Pam Gaulin  |  Published 6/13/2007  |  Read more »
Casa Blance Mexican Restaurant in Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts
With good press and bad - we decided to take in this piece of Mexico in North Andover
By cramyamel  |  Published 7/15/2007  |  Read more »
Top Sledding Spots in Massachusetts
Whenever the snows arrive in Massachusetts, here are some ready made spots where a good covering of the white stuff means excellent sledding for kids and kids at heart.
By Lima  |  Published 12/16/2007  |  Read more »
Renaissance Faires in Massachusetts
Renaissance festivals are fun-filled fantasy events that draw crowds of merry makers. Costumed characters stroll through recreations of English villages is events that are historical fun. Following are Renaissance Festivals in Massachusetts.
By Christine Bude  |  Published 4/16/2008  |  Read more »
Related information
Takeaways
  • 17 girls, 4 times the number last year, are pregnant
  • Many of the girls who entered the pregnancy pact are under the age 16
  • Upon receiving the news of being pregnant, these girls were elated.
 
Comments 1 - 10 of 20 Next >>
Comments
Type in Your Comments Below

this is to jewelsie. dont judge someone unless you've walked in there shoes. I was a teen mother. I finished high school and even went on to college where I am still currently at. I've never been on wlefare. No one has EVER taken care of my child financially except me and believe me he is well taken care of and loved. so to hell with your statistice. What these girls did was wrong but dont judge everyone else from them.
Add a Comment

Posted on 07/06/2008 at 8:07:31 PM

We should have a class in high schools on how they would car for a baby. maybe then they will learn
Add a Comment

Posted on 07/01/2008 at 1:07:06 PM

Although the pregnancy pact is now being questioned, there were a soaring number of teen pregnancies in that school and teen pregnancy is also the theme of many new shows on television (Baby Boomers) as well as recent films. Interesting article!
Add a Comment

Posted on 06/30/2008 at 5:06:35 AM

Sounds like a good place for a dirty old man, Ho-town MA
Add a Comment

Posted on 06/24/2008 at 3:06:16 AM

What these girls were thinking? Only they know. Even as adults we make these kinds of decisions. Best response was the 2020 comment, fact is this is, more of a damned if you do damned if you don't situation. Who says they are wrong in their pact? Yes, many teens raise children just fine. Think about it at one time our relatives raised kids in their teens and twentys. Who says they wont do just fine in raising them as a small community of their own. It just might work if they have the right mindset. I never had kids, as I resolved not too until I could support them myself. Yet, I also worked years and gave my taxes to help those who recieved government services. Now at thirty nine and several medical problems, I wanted my governments help. Between 18 and 49years, no children, single, you don't count. Disability, a laugh- four years and counting just trying to get what rightfuly mine. Who knows what tommorrow brings?They have to live with their decisions just as you and I do.
Add a Comment

Posted on 06/23/2008 at 9:06:27 PM

I agree with Jewelsie 100%. These irresponsible acts are draining this country. There are women that I know who were pregnant in their teens who didn't care one bit about the repercussions of their actions. They relied so heavily on the government (Medicaid) to fund everything that most working couples have trouble affording. Meanwhile, taxes are being paid by hard working individuals to support this ongoing nonsense. It is frightening how this is becoming the norm, and MANY people are too blame - the parents, the children, the media, the government, and so on. No one tries to fix the problem - everyone tries to patch it up. I know it is not easy, but whatever happened to abstinence as the first option, instead of throwing the pill and condoms out like it was candy. I know this world isn't perfect, but at the same time that doesn't mean that we all have to give up.
Add a Comment

Posted on 06/23/2008 at 8:06:16 PM

Statistically teenage mothers never finish high school, do not get adequate prenatal care, neglect the needs of the child, end up on welfare and WIC, etc. These young girls think that because they are good with a cousin or younger sibling they can handle their own child. What they do not understand is that when they have their own child they can't give it back. Sadly, the baby suffers the most. I think it is unfortunate Norplant is not given to avoid this problem. I am so tired of my tax dollars going to these stupid little girls who have no clue what it takes to raise a baby. If you can't raise it... and I mean support it with food, shelter, medical care, etc.. then keep your legs shut. Noone else should have to pay for your mistake and the cycle it will keep creating. Maybe if welfare was not an option and these girls had to rely on working to support a baby they would reconsider having one. Our government makes it to easy for teen mothers to have babies.
Add a Comment

Posted on 06/23/2008 at 11:06:56 AM

To- "Rational" - you are not smart!!!! I happen to not agree with either of you, but calling a parent stupid and negligent, as well as the girls.. is a bit much. We do not live with these parents, we do not live in this town, we are not these girls. Until you walk in another person's shoes you should be carefull what you say or preach. Lets hope you or your children, or grandchildren, never find themselves making mistakes - of this nature or degree. Parenting doesn't come with a insturctions, and some really do feel that they are doing their very best job.. so who are you tell them otherwise. and as for the girls... your right it may not be the best decision... from our perspective.. but are we in their head? Do we know what they are thinking and why? We all have our reason for things at the time--- sometimes we look back and say "hind sight is 20/20".
Add a Comment

Posted on 06/22/2008 at 7:06:35 PM

These teens will soon find out all the challenges that comes with taking care of another person.. life no longer is all about you.. every step that is taken from the point of deciding to get pregnant means you are not alone and your descions no longer only just effect you. Deciding where to put the blame for all of this isn't going to change the out come. In fact pulling together and giving these girls serious counceling and parenting classes - and asking why they decided to do this- will be more productive. And I am almost positive, when asked the question &they have to answer truthfully with some thought - most of them were not thinking. At this point stepping in to help guide them to better choices; keep the baby, give the baby up for adoption, etc... Because then they are aware of their actions. We just can' t keep going around and blaming.. It leads to laws which takes away more of our freedoms and inability to use common sense.
Add a Comment

Posted on 06/22/2008 at 7:06:04 PM

To Carole Bende Gilbert, It seems to me you've missed an important point: "...parents who are responsible for these minors". That's the problem! If the parents were doing their parental duty, there would be no need for notification. Why should the school be held responsible for contacting the parent. It is not their job to do that. These stupid, negligent parents have produced stupid negligent girls.
Add a Comment

Posted on 06/22/2008 at 6:06:31 AM

Comments 1 - 10 of 20 Next >>

Have more to say?
Become a Source on AC