Teen-Age Pregnancies

Lynn Smith’s article (July 16), “Teen-Age Pregnancies on the Rise,” indeed points out one of our most disturbing social problems, which is escalating each year in our nation.

With all of the facts and statistics now available, the question arises--what are we going to do to stem the tide of unwed teen-age mothers and the growth of promiscuity aided and abetted by the makers of the Sexual Revolution and those who have become their victims?

Not only is it a problem among the teen-agers who are not psychologically and emotionally ready to assume the responsibility of parenthood, it is also a problem of the countless teen-agers who have attained the adult stage and are just as ill-prepared as they are to become fitting parents.

The suggestion of giving more and more birth-control information in our schools and, as some have suggested, beginning with the seventh graders, is not a sensible answer to the very complex problem. Blinded by lust, in the heat of passion, too few will even consider the consequences of promiscuity and unwanted children. It requires sexual ethics well taught from grade school on through college for people, young and old alike to master the art of sexual self-discipline and to be able to sublimate when it is necessary to do so and to avoid promiscuity and the dire results.

Smith quotes Gayle Nathanson: “They are educated to be sexually active but not sexually responsible. Schools made a cursory attempt, but the family is often isolated.” Constructive family values for the most part are completely omitted; sexual ethics never taught and recommended. That is why, as the author stated, “everyone agrees that such pregnancies among American teen-agers is a problem--and one that is growing.”

The longstanding vacuum, the omission of constructive sexual ethics, in our sex education classes appears to be the root of that problem. There will be no lasting solution until we face up to such a reality and begin to improve the school’s curriculum.

It is counterproductive to teach about sexual behavior and birth control when we dismiss or totally ignore admonitions of the greatest philosophers and the wisdom of constructive conservative teachers who have written about this vital subject. We will see the reversal of the alarming trend when the above is given due consideration and the proper remedial action is taken, until then we will continue to reap the harvest of the Sexual Revolution and its advocates.

C. ANTONIO PROVOST

Oceanside