I am so overwhelmed right now, that it is hard to write about one thing that we have talked about. So many thoughts are running through my head during class and after class that it is hard to get it down to a few paragraphs. However, I will try.
I wanted to focus on two topics that I felt the most passionate about, so I chose teen pregnancy or sex ed, and drinking. These were the topics that I wanted to share my opinion and my thoughts about in class the most.
My experience with teen pregnancy is probably different from most. I had 7 friends/acquaintances in high school that got pregnant. A few were pregnant more than once. So, I know first hand the effects, and troubles that come along with having a baby in high school. So, I got to thinking... Why are we, as teachers, not being educated about dealing with girls who get pregnant in high schools. Yes, we got one lesson on it our last semester of college. But what about dealing with young single moms who have strong beliefs about their child? How do we deal with that? I have no clue, because we don't talk about it. Teen pregnancy is taking over the country. Ok, that may be dramatic, but it feels like it with shows like Teen Mom and the celebrity that those girls have found. So, I wonder is everyone else freaked out about dealing with these moms? or reacting to these girls? Also, another question why don't we ever talk about the dad? We go on and on about the troubles the mom faces but what about the dad?
Now when it comes to drinking I might have a different view than others, surprise surprise. I grew up in a house that let me drink a glass of wine at dinner and a beer at the lake. I strongly think that it is because of that, I can drink socially without getting smashed at an event. I however think that it is never the right of the teacher to support underage drinking. I agree that it is the role of the PARENT NOT THE TEACHER. We have to be role models for our students not support illegal things. It is not our job to push our beliefs and judgments on our students, it is to steer them in the direction that isn't illegal. Even though I will raise my future children to drink responsibly, I will not speak of that with my students because it is not my place.
ED460 Personal and Social Well Being is a course taken by college students in education during their student teaching semester. Topics covered include: poverty, child abuse, bullying, drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, counselors' role in school, adolescents and choices, and the use of technology.
Okay good point about the Dad in a teen pregnancy situation! I always just think of the Mom, never the Dad but what you wrote really opened up my eyes. I also agree with you on us as teachers being educated about dealing with teen pregnancy. It is bound to happen we just need to all face reality and buck and deal with it!
ReplyDeleteI thought you raised a very good concern with the issue of pregnant teens, Margarett. As teachers, we will need to work with these students and provide them with resources to get through their present situation. Many cities/towns have resources for pregnant teens. At home (WA State), I knew a family who ran a shelter for pregnant teens. They would provide food and lodging and help the young women to care for their children. Also, there are many crisis pregnancy/pregnancy aid centers around the country that provide resources for young mothers. These services are generally free as well. I also agree that the dads need to be involved. They should be helping the mother and their son/daughter; the mother should not be left to struggle on alone. Especially in schools where the girl may be expelled from the school, the guys need to be held accountable for their actions. As teachers, we should provide support for these young mothers/fathers who aren't ready to do this on their own. We need to be educated as to what options there are for teens so that we can direct them to help that we can't give them ourselves.
ReplyDeleteMargarett I love your post and I agree with so many things in it. I have thought about the young mom in my classroom almost more than any other issue while preparing to be a teacher. And quite frankly I don't know what i am going to do, but I know it will happen. My band director called me out on it last year after I had that incident with the girl at Leavonworth. I don't know Margarett, I honestly jsut pray that I can have a good enough relationship with the girl that I can steer her in the right direction. That we can talk about it and I can help her see the light in it all and help her decide what truly is best for her and her baby. I wish I could give you a better answer, but I reallly cant especially cause I think every girl and every situation is so different. But I just hope that when it happens that I'll be able to first love her, and help her with every emotion, every hurt, every struggle that she is going through and then help her to see what everything that is good about the baby and give her options and help her see what is best for the baby.
ReplyDeleteWow! I agree with you on everything. When addressing or giving advice to a pregnant teen, I would help her find healthy solutions for her and the baby and let her decide what avenue to take. However, I would never suggest abortion. If after I help her find other solutions than abortion and that is the avenue she decides to take, then I will at least know that I tried to give her as much education and as many solutions that I could. That is my shpeel that I know you already know.
ReplyDeleteMargarett, get ready for my case study tomorrow/today...or whenever Dr. O decides to let me present it. I totally agree that teen pregnancy has been very overlooked even in our school here at BC. It may be because here, we are pushed to live in a different culture that doesn't promote it, but I don't think it means that we should forget about it or disregard it. Like you, I've had a lot of personal experience with teenage motherhood through my friends. They seemed to be overlooked at our school, and maybe that's how they wanted it to be, but I think they deserve more than that. They need all the help they can get!
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