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Teens' Pregnancy Pact Shocks Town

CBS News
Posted: 2008-06-19 21:52:59
Filed Under: Nation News
(June 19) It's news that has people talking in the sleepy fishing village of Gloucester, Massachusetts, reports CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller.

"I think it's awful," one woman says. "They're kids having kids."


Seventeen girls at Gloucester High School not only got pregnant, but according to some, it was no accident.

"Pregnancy was the desired outcome," school superintendent Christopher Farmer says.

"So they did it on purpose?" Miller asks.

"That's what it sounds like, yes," Farmer says.

School officials discovered the pregnancy pact after some girls seemed disappointed that their pregnancy tests from the school nurse came back negative.

"They will have a baby as part of their life to give them status," Farmer says. "motherhood gives them status."

Status in Gloucester is hard to come by. The once thriving fishing community has seen jobs drift overseas. Economic depression has left many teens trying to fill the void.

"It sort of gives you the impression of being an adult, an independent. It may give you an opportunity for unconditional love and attention from the baby and also that you give to the baby," Dr. Elisabeth Guthrie, a pediatric psychiatrist, says.

According to the superintendent, all the girls were 16 or younger. Most of the fathers weren't in high school and at least one of them was a 24-year-old man.

Amanda Ireland, mother of 3-year-old Haley, just graduated from Gloucester High. She says she's tried to warn her peers about the tough road ahead.

"Don't, don't try to get pregnant," she says. "People say, 'I know what it's like because I have siblings.' But you really don't. No one knows until they actually go through it. And it's a lot of work."

School officials have their work cut for them. They are now considering a plan to provide birth control services in the high school next fall.

Their biggest challenge is how to change the mindset in some of the girls who come here.

Copyright 2008, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

2008-06-19 21:21:35
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Recent Comments

1 - 10 of 1582
1582 comments

lash5674 09:14:17 AM Jun 27 2008

What happened to Morals? Does anyone have those anymore or do they not know the definition of the word? This is the craziest thing I 've heard. They've opened themselves to all kinds of STD's not to mention that raising children, even while married, isn't the easiest thing to do. I'm tired of hearing that if the schools provide contraceptives this may not have happened. You have to be responsible enough to go get them and you must want to use them. It's obvious that even if the school offered them, these girls had it made up in their minds to do what they did. They need psycological evaluations and a butt whoopin and JESUS. Yeah, I said it. I got butt whoopins when I was a child and it wasn't child abuse. My parents loved me enough to not spare the rod and spoil the child. I turned out wonderful and am still loved by those same parents that have been together for 45 years.

myonliiwunxo 02:53:56 AM Jun 23 2008

these girls are so stupid .. y the hell would they want to get prego? .. it makes no sense .. they said the town is in economic depression .. wouldnt that be more of a reason not to have babies .. i mean they say babies cost like 7 thousand a year .. thats money they dont have .. weather they want status or not .. go try out for a sports team or something

judib53 05:57:58 PM Jun 22 2008

I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE THE BABIES TAKEN FROM THEM, AND THEY SHOULD
GO TO JAIL UNTIL THEY ARE 21YRS OLD. TEENS NOW DAYS DON'T HAVE A CLUE.

tanoujin 11:30:32 AM Jun 22 2008

Thanks to the evil Spears sisters, we are raising a bunch of little hores. The way the media has been glorifying unwed teenager pregnancies is only making matters worse.

cntnth 09:35:35 AM Jun 22 2008

I know thoes girls had to be white, because the news and talk shows wont talk to any of the kids at the school or even show the dam school. This morning on 19 action news in Cleavland, they talked about it and than, they started showing and talking to black teen girls in Clevaland as if to say it was a black problem and not a white problem. Those people can be such assess!

lmjor 06:16:18 PM Jun 21 2008

Didn't anyone expect that to happen when a movie like JUNO came out? Then, Jamie Lynn Spears gets pregnant at 16! Why shouldn't these girls think it's "all cool"?! If my teenage daughter unintentionally got pregnant, I'd immediately take her to Planned Parenthood. Lucky for me, I only have sons. But I worry for my granddaughters in a society that promotes "facts by rote" and doesn't educate sexuality in public school. I had information in 1967 when I was in 6th grade! And, my "Sex Ed" was continued in high school. Although they didn't provide condoms back then, at least abortion became legal in 1973, for which I will be forever grateful. BTW, the girls in MA are ALL WHITE.

jcharlesbuzzby1 01:42:47 PM Jun 21 2008

im just a breeding machine yea yea ,call me girls

jcharlesbuzzby1 01:41:02 PM Jun 21 2008

free stud service here girls just call me

didis5 10:19:58 AM Jun 21 2008

Yes of course along with the birth control sex education would or should be required. Most of us had health class in school what happened to the course you had to take.

didis5 10:16:28 AM Jun 21 2008

Status my gosh these girls are really desperate to be loved. Give them access to birth control. Maybe they should be exposed to more baby sitting. Before they make these life long choices. They want go away they are yours for life. It cost money to have children. It ways heavy on the girls families to take care of these new added addition to their homes. Unless they would choose to give the children up for adoption.

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