Some tough words from editorials by bloggers. http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/fast-times-at-gloucester-high/
http://rachellucas.com/index.php/2008/06/20/two-words-mandatory-sterilization/
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Fast Times at Gloucester High
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 jackj22 |
Fast Times at Gloucester High |
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(06/22/08 10:59 AM) |
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jackj22 |
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(06/22/08 11:01 AM) |
How do you get a clickable link?
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Gypsy |
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(06/22/08 11:06 AM) |
Here you go. Good articles:
Some tough words from editorials by bloggers. http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/fast-times-at-gloucester-high/ http://rachellucas.com/index.php/2008/06/20/two-words-mandatory-sterilization/
My goodness, what a fuss you're making! - Dorothy
True art is moral: it seeks to edify life, not to debase it, to hold off, at least for a little while, the twilight of the gods and of us. - John Gardner The Old Mermaid's Tale: The Video | Mark S. Williams' F/V Black Sheep | Sponsored by Parlez-Moi Blog |
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Gypsy |
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(06/22/08 11:52 AM) |
To the point:
I can't possibly fathom why this situation is a mystery to anyone who is paying attention to popular culture. Frankly, I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often and on a grander scale. We've allowed the rampant sexualization of girls all the way down to toddlers. Britney Spears' little sister, star of a Nickelodeon show, had a baby this week at the age of 17. Read the article I linked to for that and notice how they act like this is good news and she'll be such a great mom! OMG, like, she's so fun! The stigma of being a slut is gone, thanks to Paris Hilton and the like. You can be publicly KNOWN to be a drunken, STD-carrying, wildly promiscuous
shit-for-brains and what will happen? You'll get acting jobs, endorsement work, a fashion line, and hundreds of magazine covers. - Rachel Lucas, Driving
the Short Bus to Enlightenment
My goodness, what a fuss you're making! - Dorothy
True art is moral: it seeks to edify life, not to debase it, to hold off, at least for a little while, the twilight of the gods and of us. - John Gardner The Old Mermaid's Tale: The Video | Mark S. Williams' F/V Black Sheep | Sponsored by Parlez-Moi Blog |
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Rocky Neck |
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(06/22/08 12:30 PM) |
bingo!
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jackj22 |
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(06/22/08 04:10 PM) |
Thanks for the link, Gypsy.
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Dear GABBY |
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(06/22/08 08:35 PM) |
I am so frustrated with this whole situation , from the salty seas and teary skies of gloucester. And I wonder why the situation ultimately makes it a blame
game. Schools, family , to the Community. The School I only blame as far as endorsing mulitiple pregnancy test. The schools should dispense no more than
guidence - and possible mediation with parents and child - thats it kappok
My opionion is and has been since hearing of this pregnancy pact- should be for the family only to deal with. There are health issues, medical reasons and morals that would weigh in on each family. Let them decide what is best for their daughter and learn together what the next steps in their lives should be. Schools do not need to be putting a program in place... Stick to the education for the ones that want to learn - obviously the input the schools have put in the last few years have exceeded alot of resources and have not worked. Everyone , Community and News Hypes alike have seemingly only focused on this a pregnacy decision between abunch of tweens making a bad choice to get pregnant- If it were my daughter , yes I would have been upset at the prospect of her being pregnant , but that could have been a minor scratch of the outcome of what more possibly lies- Anybody think about AIDS - The very thought they did this so freely and tracked down even a homeless guy scares me to pieces. I would say a prayer if that is the worst that happens to this child and the unborn babies conceived- and hopefully their decisions to enter into this pact was not only careless and stupid , but could be deadly I only hope good comes out of this story that has broken to a thousand pieces -from blame to opionions- and that is talk to your kids.!Even if you dont feel like they are listening they do! Maybe even offer a confident they can trust- like an older sibling , cousin or aunt. And at least they know they will have the guidence and love comeing from their family- where it counts most |
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Gang of One |
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(06/22/08 09:15 PM) |
Is she on crack?
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Dear GABBY |
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(06/22/08 09:32 PM) |
no , Im not on crack- For that would me as you - BRAIN DEAD!!!
Summary of what I was saying- Leave the schools to teaching Childs Decisions and mistakes to families offer love and support and most of all try to explain an awareness that these kids did not venture into getting pregnant - they unknowingly played russian roulette with their lives and now the lives of the babies- Aids is a fact and it still is out there and god forbid while these girls hunted down prospect fathers there could be a price to pay- thier lives |
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emmiekay |
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(06/22/08 10:01 PM) |
Some good points made here, and I wanted to mention that I think people should be able to post their opinions without constantly being shit upon for doing so.
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Foresta Gump |
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(06/22/08 10:15 PM) |
emmiekay wrote: I agree. But sadly, it will never happen Emmiekay.
'LIFE IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES...YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET'
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MagTownPlaya |
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(06/22/08 10:33 PM) |
I think Dr. Sullivan has thrown the girls, the school and the city under the bus. The fact is, the only reason this got national headlines was because of this
supposed "pact." A pact that he, nor anyone can confirm, not even current high schoolers who went to classes with these girls. This is all
rumormongering at its best, and Sullivan provided himself as a primary source, when in fact, he can't even remember who told him about this
"pact."
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/22/pregnancy.pact.ap/index.html Not to mention, the "24 year-old homeless man" is not like a hobo sleeping on the benches on main street in downtown gloucester or in the Action Shelter. He's a kid who's living out of his buddy's house and doesn't have a permanent legal address. Calling him a "homeless man" procures a much different image than is the truth of circumstance. Now don't get me wrong. This whole situation is disgusting and disturbing and well, possibly illegal in terms of the 24 yr. old kid. But what I'm saying is that the principal could have done a much, MUCH better job of laying this out in not so dramatic terms that garnered the attention of the nation and the world. The fact that the spot light is now on us because of his inflated comments isn't doing the girls or the city's image any good. Without Sullivan's comments, there would have been no greater story for the press. |
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Kathfish |
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(06/22/08 10:46 PM) |
This is "life" sensationalized.
Last Edited By: Kathfish
06/22/08 10:49 PM.
Edited 1 times.
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Dear GABBY |
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(06/22/08 10:59 PM) |
Mag, Im sure as all stories go - they get hyped into different proportions- but the fact is there are a great number of teens pregnant
whether it was a pact or not- another fact is the schools are doling out pregnacy test -whether they high fived each postitive result or not - the schools need to stick to school - the added programs and test are not working so they need to put the resources and energy into other avenues - perhaps counseler that could guide the troubled teen and family into the right direction- the health eductions classes should not include birthcontrol pills and pregnacy test. Let families decide- what is best for their children. When the household upbringing merges into city, schools, and then media something is wrong. These teenagers are not the the first pregnant in gloucester, it happens everywhere- and has happened in the past and sure it will happen in the future no matter whom thinks they can stop it - but like I said , we can only learn from this latest drama episode - and hopefully for the mothers of young girls I can only say - open the lines of support and communication so and hopefully your daughter will respect and learn from your guidence. |
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MagTownPlaya |
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(06/22/08 11:08 PM) |
Gabby,
"The added programs and tests are not working." ---What do you mean by that? What added programs, and what isn't working? If you're talking about health classes, those have been cut, so don't worry there. But all you keep talking about are the "families." Do you really think that even a few of these girls have the type of family support to help them through this situation??? If the family structure, support and values were there, these girls probably wouldn't be in this situation. The school has done nothing to further persuade these girls to have babies. This is not the school's fault. This is the family's fault, or more correctly, lack there of. |
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gloman |
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(06/23/08 06:02 AM) |
Magtown, you nailed it.
My wife is a teacher and I am amazed at how little some parents are involved withthere children. It is a minority, but still enogh to make an impact. We should feel bad for these children. |
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ifiwanna |
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(06/23/08 06:23 AM) |
Families are supposed to 'help' their kids. These kids have no families ( to speak of) The mothers themselves have had children much too early in life,
and lived off the 'system' That is what these girls see... we have all the programs in place to allow them to do it. ( childcare; rent subsidies; WIC,)
They stroll those babies around the school, all are gushing over the babies. It is glorified!
And, not to get off the path here, but most of these girls are not Gloucester born and bred. Lots from out of town/state. Not that it matters where they are from, but look around. We are not the only city in the nation with an increase in teen pregnancy. How did we make national / world headlines???? The family unit has broken down into disrepair. There arent many 2 parent families around anymore. They dont want teaching of sex in school. Where do we go from there??? |
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Dear GABBY |
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(06/23/08 07:17 AM) |
the added programs I was referring to was I guess an assumption -
I assumed the program that handed out condoms , pregnancy , test , and talk of birthcontrol 2 weeks ago came with some guidence and lifes lessons. But if the schools have zeroed out health ed ., where are they getting the health ed proper sex talks from. The streets? I cant stress it enough - there are SST's out there that are growing rampard - some curable some not such as herpes , to aids that will ultimately effect these girls for life. These girls all have families -some supportive more than others Im sure. But we as a city and nation cannot control that. And we need to butt out. Pregnancy test , birthcontrol , and other things should not be part of these girls school days. Schools should have yes possibly referrel services through guidence counseler , but when I say what ever the school is doing now is not working , because I feel that the situation of late is proof that there 1/2 ass involvement is not working. The resourses and energy of mulitiple pregnancy test is 1/2 ass- especially when their only avenue after finding mulitple postitives is to go to the media!!! When I say its the parents responsibilitys - I mean just that - There are good families and bad families ,intact homes , and broken homes, and its sad when it comes to the latter- but ultimately they need to turn to whom evers care they are now under and tell them the situation regardless. Let them decide what to do. For our resources and energies need to be focused on things we only can control |
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MagTownPlaya |
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(06/23/08 08:02 AM) |
well, just remember gabs that when you start to assume, all you do is make an ass out of u and me. mostly you though.
and the two health directors resigned in an attempt to highlight the lack of attention and concern being drawn to the situation at the high school. these girls could have otherwise gone to the free clinic in beverly to get these tests/and or birth control. but the issue at this point isn't contraceptives or pregnancy tests gabby! neither of those things would have hindered or prevented these girls from getting pregnant. its the fact that they had no moral family support or values instilled in their lives, nor was there any back up in terms of pregnancy and sex education at school due to cuts. this is what happens when you have broken families, broken formulas for education and a broken city infrastructure. |
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Sigurdr |
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(06/23/08 09:56 AM) |
ifiwanna, I would also agree that these girls are missing something at home. But, do you know for a fact that these pregnant girls were born to teen mothers
themselves? How many of them live in subsidized housing? How many are not born and bred gloucesterites? And if it doesn't matter, why bother saying it?
Did you run a survey to find all of this information? If you are basing this all on rumors and innuendo, what is your point?
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ifiwanna |
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(06/24/08 10:31 AM) |
sig my point is YES, I do know that a lot of the information is true. They are not all from teen mothers, but a lot are from single parent families. It doesnt
matter that a lot of them are from ' out of town' & came here for support..because now we have them here.. we cannot send them back. ( the day care
has been a draw in many cases) Many are from single parent families who also think 'Its' Great!" ( it beats having them with AIDS was a comment I
heard from one) I saw mothers taking photos when the media was interveiwing them. That shows me a lot. ( glorifying it...trip to NYC to be on a talk show...etc
) It is truly their 15 minutes of fame. My point is they need education and support from somewhere. Most dont have a good support system in place.
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