News >> Browse Articles >> Scandals
Teens Get Pregnant Because of "Motherhood Pact" With Friends
UPI
June 19, 2008
A group of expectant Massachusetts high school students said they decided to get pregnant as part of a motherhood pact with their friends.
School officials became suspicious in October after the number of girls asking for pregnancy tests in the Gloucester High School clinic unexpectedly spiked, Time Magazine reported Wednesday.
Seventeen students were pregnant by this school year’s end, at least four times more than last year, the report said.
Principal Joseph Sullivan said almost half of the expectant girls, all aged 16 or younger, admitted they became pregnant after making a pact with friends to raise their children at the same time.
Gloucester residents have said the pregnancy spike could be an indirect result of the area’s declining fishing industry and struggling workforce.
“Families are broken. Many of our young people are growing up directionless,” school superintendent Christopher Farmer said.
(c) YellowBrix 2008 
kstiltner1
about 1 month ago
1326 comments
This is aweful. I think we need more parenting
curlyd
2 months ago
80 comments
So tragic- babies haviing babies.
easydamsel
5 months ago
20 comments
what on earth were they thinking of.......?girls should respect and uphold the teachings of their mothers,instead of following the shallow deceitof peers,that's only if mothers are calm enough to allow their childrn learn freom them...
beebeenurse
5 months ago
8 comments
Well i guess this is GOOD News for Labor & delivery nurses lol. Otherwise this is sad because they are babies themselves soon to raise babies. there young teenagers who are young in mind and are gonna realize there mistake when they get older. A baby is a serious responsibility!!! Its not a doll that you can just put down when you dont want to play with it? If they wanted to have children together theys hould have planned to go to college and then get married around the same time then have children together? (But marriage is a serious responsibility too). But back to teenage moms. I know there parents are sad about this. Sometimes people need to think of others before they make decisions like that but then again there teenagers!
armstrongcj
5 months ago
96 comments
It is nice to have a child but why not wait until you are out of school. This is sad that they are all pregnant when they are still babies themselves.
bloodsidhe
5 months ago
20 comments
I really hate to say this but maybe it was not just the girls's idea. I know I am financially bad off at the moment and I am scared of my Wic-coupons running out, because Milk costs as much as gasoline. Maybe there is an economic factor to this pact? Not that it was thought through, because you definetely spend more then what you get in help for the baby, diapers alone... I feel sorry for those girls, there life is going to take a south turn for about a decade. Bye- Bye youth and easier options for education. I am going to school with three kids, not so easy and mine are 5,6 and 14.
Margs
5 months ago
4 comments
It is nice to have a baby but do you really want to have a baby and you are a baby yourself... come on girls think about it
nlpl
5 months ago
2 comments
i don't even have children and i'm scared for them!
mashell4
5 months ago
564 comments
I agree charlita, its all fun and games now until they really have to change their lives for a baby!!
charlita
5 months ago
2992 comments
this is real sad!These girls don't have a clue what they're in for.
nurse112
5 months ago
42 comments
Yikes! What is going on?