However, the worrisome thing here is that these mothers having babies to have some to love them which reflects badly on what’s going on elsewhere and is worrisome for the future of these babies. What happens when they hit the terrible twos, let alone that phase where they all know more than their parents? Be interesting to see the child abuse rate in a few years.

One more inchoate thought fragment before I re caffinate, Children, even though they deny it, generally do whats expected of them.

I agree that our schools don’t do a good enough job teaching math, science, etc. I actually couldn’t possibly agree more. They do a poor enough job without the added distraction of babies on campus.

Let me more accurately articulate my point. I’m suggesting that schools should not make an effort to engineer away the social stigma, which is what the Gloucester school appears to be doing. Like I said, “Making the consequences of poor decisions less difficult only encourages more poor decisions.”

Not to nit pick, but there is a logical flaw in your argument. In one sentence you say the schools shouldn’t “venture into solving all of societies social ills.” However in the prior sentence you call for the schools to do just that by “educating children about this life choice and what it means.”

It is a difficult problem to tackle. The trick is to help the young mothers (or, better yet, parents) in such a manner that sends a clear signal to others that their situation is not a desirable one. I don’t think the girls should be able to bring their children to school with them any more than women in the workplace can (typically) bring theirs to work. Does that mean alternative schools, time off until the child is old enough to go to an out-of-school daycare, or something else? I don’t know. The bottom line is, though, that making the consequences of poor decisions less difficult only encourages more poor decisions.

One of the problems is that young girls with children need supportive parents more than ever, but, as you mentioned, they often lack them in the first place.

A similar, but simpler, situation involves “food stamps.” People on the government dole shouldn’t be given debit type cards that can be used discreetly, but rather should have to use a more awkward type of payment - something noticeable that causes slight delays at checkout, forcing the user to suffer the gazes of those who are paying for her food. The lady still gets her food support, but the stigma of using actual stamps instead of a debit card may encourage her to improve her lot in life and become self sufficient.

But Amanda Ireland, who graduated from Gloucester High on June 8, thinks she knows why these girls wanted to get pregnant. Ireland, 18, gave birth her freshman year and says some of her now pregnant schoolmates regularly approached her in the hall, remarking how lucky she was to have a baby. “They’re so excited to finally have someone to love them unconditionally,” Ireland says. “I try to explain it’s hard to feel loved when an infant is screaming to be fed at 3 a.m.”

Society in general, and parents in particular, are failing to give us kids the love we need so we turn to other sources. That problem is compounded by the schools taking away one of the consequences (social stigma) thereby making the cost/benefit equation more attractive.

In all honesty though, I’m conflicted about whether the lack of stigma is a good thing. On the one hand, I think it’s definitely contributing to an increase in out-of-wedlock births, which is obviously bad, but once that mistake has been made, should we not as a society embrace these girls (and any boys willing to take responsibility) and try to support them as best as possible? I’m sure you agree we should but my guess is that you feel these in-school programs aren’t the best way to do that. Is that accurate? If so, what do you propose? I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts.