Whats in the teen pregnancy pacts fine print?

Discuss the first round of this week's Dust-Up.

Comments will close after one week.

From the Los Angeles Times

Um...there's always been teen pregnancy. In the 1800s, kids got married as soon as they could reproduce (about age 13), which cut down on the "teen" pregnancy, because they were already married and considered a responsible adult by then. Times are different now, and we coddle people now that our lives are longer. Instead of teaching kids to act like a mature adult, we make excuses for them and let them be rude and ignorant. That's why college kids party. No one is telling them to grow up and be a responsible adult.

Heidi @ 8:36 PM PDT, Jun 27, 2008
Inadequately parented children have no grasp on what is allowed adults who have made wise life choices; therefore, their own decisions are based on whim and immediate gratification. Girls who have strong parental models generally choose to pursue their dreams because someones close to them have pursued them and, thus, encourage them to delay insant impulse for the payoff of larger purposes. Disorganized home environments where children are an afterthought, no matter the reason, see little value in themselves and are then able to act out their fantasies without restrictions or disapproval. That to me is the root of the problem.

Laney Bormel @ 11:56 AM PDT, Jun 25, 2008
Why would these girls hurt their future? Its not going to be easy maintaining a house, a full time job, and going to college. If they even choose to go to college. Obviously no one took the time to explain to these young girls about the stretch marks, the trauma giving birth has on your body, the fact that you will never have "ME" time again, you can't just get up and go out. Maybe they should offer classes regarding the aftermath and financial stress of having a baby. Children are blessings, but they need to have responsible adults looking after them. I understand raging hormones and what not but use protection.

Hello???? @ 1:21 PM PDT, Jun 24, 2008
I see people who have NO PROBLEM giving birth or getting females pregnent and then wanting SOCIAL SECURITY from TAX PAYERS, (and you get MEDI-CAL automaticly when you have children, even if your illegal!!!!! )All because they are now ANXIOUS and DEPRESSED-- BOO HOO, because ITS so hard!!! And you know what- they often get it. We support unconscious, immature, entilted parents. THE ONES WHO WORK!!!! It's utter BS.

economics @ 1:05 PM PDT, Jun 24, 2008
I know this isn't about "Juno", and while I'll agree that "Juno" wasn't a 'glamorous' depiction of teen motherhood, it was highly stylized and radically unrealistic. Has there ever been a pregnant teen like Juno? I can't answer. But I can tell you that for the most part, pregnant teens, their circumstances and their futures are far more bleak than the depiction in the movie. I can also tell you that most of the teen mothers I've interacted with are far less introspective about pregnancy, their own circumstances or their futures than anyone in that movie was.

Paul @ 12:59 PM PDT, Jun 24, 2008
Teenagers are out of control in this country. The pregancy rates are unbelievable. Something needs to be done. Maybe this "Baby Borrowers" show on NBC I keep seeing promos for will be the answer.

Carrie @ 12:39 PM PDT, Jun 24, 2008
Juno? really? The movie was far from a glamorous depiction of teen motherhood. And while I will admit that the underlying theme of the movie was probably benneth the average teen (if any even watched the movie), but since when did one movie and a group of insane teens because reflective of society at large. The is a fundemental problem with the logic used in this debate that any basic college education should have eliminated, and that is that everyone seems to want to over generalize about society based on OUTLIERS. These sadly misguided kids and that wonderfully funny movie are exceptions, not reflections - and certainly not the rule.

You did go Dan Quale @ 12:07 PM PDT, Jun 24, 2008
This story is probably not even true. But the fact that a school would assume that some girls would do that is because if society is ok with Britneys sis getting pregnet then other stupid girls will think it's ok, espcially when a mag paid her $$$ for the story. Anyways, everything that a kid does wrong, it's the parents fault. period.

Wake up people @ 11:53 AM PDT, Jun 24, 2008
I am a 41 year old woman, not a mother, and I understand their thinking. They are right in many ways. I think it is true that having kids connects women to their community and to each other. Also, kids are our best chance, aside from dogs, for unconditional love. I don't blame them...with men coming and going, family turning their back on you it's understandable to want solid relationships that are there for you thick and thin. However, it is not right to bring a child in the world without a father, without stability, without the ideal of providing it a decent life. Having a child to fill the emotional void is not enough.

Soliel @ 11:23 AM PDT, Jun 24, 2008
Our society defines women by their progeny, less than it once did, but more than it should. Being woman is not an experience solely defined by the ability to give birth. Some women are content with the 'role' of motherhood. Some women find that role constrictive and contrived. We are after all intellectuals, intuits, diplomats, gardeners, artists, teachers, lovers, dreamers, inventors and scientists in our own right. Mothers included. There is insignificant recognition of this 'renaissance woman.' Mother is not inclusive. Some women don't want to have children for altruistic reasons. What do we call these women?

Hopetamist @ 10:43 AM PDT, Jun 24, 2008
Next