Eight teenage pregnancies reported in three months

Posted by
Staff Writer
in News Links, Top Stories
Wednesday, March 3. 2010
Comments (12)
Teen pregnancy is a growing problem in Banks County and one that Banks County Family Connection wants to focus heavily on as part of its three-year plan.

The Banks County Family Connection Networking Group met Tuesday, Feb. 23, to continue work on the three-year plan.

Ashley Smith, Banks County Health Department, reported that in the past three months, eight Banks County High School students have become pregnant.

“This is just eight we know about, there could be others who went somewhere else,” Smith said.

The group agreed that students need to be educated early about making the right choices. This pertains to sex, teen pregnancy, alcohol use, marijuana use, tobacco use, etc. The group recommended starting with elementary school children, grades 3-5 and up.

Another cause for concern is the fact that the number of babies born to mothers with less than 12 years of education has remained steady over the past five years. The teen birth rate has declined over the past few years, but Banks County’s rate is still higher than the district and the state rate. In 2007, there were 32 births to teenagers ages 15 to 19.
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#1 Concerned Banks parent on 03/03/10 at 04:04 PM [Reply]
It shouldn't take an alarming number of teen pregnancies for someone to take notice. One teen pregnancy is too many in my opinion.
Yes, we should be educating children starting in Elementary School, but it is not only the school system's job. Parents need to be involved in their children's lives! Don't leave it up to teachers and administrators to raise your children for you! Pay attention to what your children are doing, and who they are hanging around. Let kids be kids and quit encouraging your teenagers to have adult relationships with their boyfriend/girlfriend. I have a child in middle school, and one in high school, and I see this entirely too much. Encourage your children to focus on the important things in life, such as school and your grades and future. This is an epidemic in our county, let's take charge and change it!
#1.1 Trissy on 03/20/10 at 10:37 PM [Reply]
WOW !! This is a big deal and some people choose to turn there heads and just say its not so. But in fact it is ! I have two children ages 9 and 14 both boys and I can tell you that as of right now they know that they can ask me anything. I talk very open to then sometimes too open, but I want them to know what they have to face and know what different things mean! Its not all the schools job, my GOD parents its yours you had your child now make sure they know what they need to know to understand about sex and make it to were they feel that they can come and talk to you and be open. My two boys know and feel that they can come and talk anytime they need to and yours should too. OPEN YOUR EYES !!
#2 student of bchs on 03/05/10 at 08:56 AM [Reply]
yes, there has been WAY to many teen pregnancies. It seems like every other day im hearing about one of my friends being pregnant. I just think its rediculous! I mean use protection people, it aint that hard.
#3 Anonymous on 03/05/10 at 09:37 PM [Reply]
I've got a better idea student. Just don't have sex until your married.
#4 LOL!! on 03/06/10 at 09:27 AM [Reply]
Are you SERIOUS?!? We aren't living in the 1950's; and JUST because you tell you teen NOT to have sex until they are married, sure DOES NOT mean they will obey you!! They are human, we are human, YOU are human. The BEST thing to do is to teach them about protection in EVERY way possible and hope and pray they will use their BRAIN to make the right choices. Whatever that may be. You can only TEACH your children so much...the ultimate choice is in their hands.
#5 amazed! on 03/06/10 at 01:19 PM [Reply]
Why say anything? They'll only head to DFACS to get a check. Indeed, why not tell them an additional check awaits for each additional child. Dang, we can even add some illegal immigrants to the pot, and hand them checks as well. What a wonderful country we live in. (frowning behind the screen).
#6 amazed as well!!! on 03/06/10 at 09:17 PM [Reply]
This last comment is so true as well!! Along with President O's new TV commercial, stating that 1 in 8 Americans go to bed hungry...? Yeah, we know this...it's been rough on every walk of life this past year. And then the government wants us to send what money we DO have over to Haiti and Chilie??? Along with the check line at the DFACS office...?? His idea goes hand in hand!! Government...gotta love it! Yeah right!!!! :-(
#7 Anonymous on 03/06/10 at 09:36 PM [Reply]
Yes, I'm very serious. Just because it's 2010 and not 1950 shouldn't allow us to compromise what's right because "everyone else is doing it". Are we going to water down our values because it's 2010? I agree that unfortunately there are more teenagers having sex than are not and that it's impossible to follow your children around everywhere to keep them from having sex. I agree also that the best plan is to teach them the right thing to do and hope that they heed your words when you're not around to look after them. Teenagers should know that not only is there a risk of pregnancy but also of various diseases, ruined reputations, a sense of guilt, and the removal of what could have been shared only with their eventual spouse. I agree also that I would rather a teen have protected sex than unprotected sex,but no sex at all is the best way to go. If there are any teens reading this know that having sex before your married isn't worth it, it's consequences far outweigh its benefits. There are so many other things you could be doing than wasting time in physical relationships that most always lead nowhere other than heartbreak.
#8 student of bchs on 03/08/10 at 07:56 AM [Reply]
i think that the parents should give a rats rear end about their children!!! They should actually care and watch them.. and not give them a chance to get pregnant. Because if you get pregnant when u are still a child then you are very STUPID.. and there isnt such things as accidents!!!
#9 bchs2007 on 03/08/10 at 12:22 PM [Reply]
As a former BC student from 5th grade on, I would like to say that in all my years, and yes I said all my years from 5th-12th grade. We NEVER recieved a sex education class. Other than a health occ class in high school that you yourself had to sign up for and it in itself was not intended only for sex education. There is to much talk and not enough action as far as I'm concerned. Your parents should talk with you yes, but did you ever think of it like this... Parents giving you advice is one sided, hearing it from someone else that does not know you and will not judge you regardless of circumstance is also needed. We have all been there, did you hang on your parents every word? I think not. We all know what it's like to think "I love him, I'm going to marry him no matter what you say..." goes. I've been there, and as a mother I know one day I will be having this conversation with my daughter (that of which I'm not looking forward to). I believe abstinence should be taught, I also believe that the right precautions should be taken for those who do not believe in abstinence. They need to know both sides. Preaching "Don't have sex til your married" does not do anything but push them to want to go against you. Teaching about both choices, being open minded that not all kids follow the same path is what needs to be in place here. Let them think it's there choice and they will be less likly to do it. It should be a more open subject so children and yound adults aren't afraid to ask questions about it. I myself have adopted an ask and tell policy with my daughter... If she's old enough to ask me the question regardless of where she heard it I'm going to tell her the truth (age appropiate mind you) but the truth in itself. I hope that by her being able to come to me and ask me questions and being open minded will keep her from wanting to go find out first hand. Everyone needs to take a step back and remember what it's like to be young, in love, and stupid. Wrong and right don't matter then. Your independance is whats important. So teaching abstience and protection and letting them feel like it is ultimately thier choice is the best policy.
#10 tdbear on 03/25/10 at 07:46 AM [Reply]
NO DOUBT, Ask them to be smart teens and not have sex until they can actually say this is the last person i will ever be with and if they were to get pregnant the child would have 2 responsible adults to be there day and night. If you cant say you are ready for that with your partner then be smart and wait to have sex. Its not a trick question. We are in a world with worrying about hurting feelings or making someone mad rather than love and family and helping each other make the right decisions. Our world is going to hell and we as people must make a stand and turn things around for our childrens fuctures. Kids are becoming kid moms and thats sad. How can u raise a child when u are a child!!!!!
#11 kevin on 03/27/10 at 10:57 AM [Reply]
when the school offered sex ed to my teenagers i said okay ! then when they got home i asked what they learned for this class. then i got on the computer and googled the health dept s.t.d.'s found graphic photos of what the s.t.d.'s. do to the human body needless to say my teenagers were grossed out and somewhere in the back of their mind they will always remember what can happen to them if they choose to have sexual relations with someone
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