Do you think that by home educating... - Page 4

[hottmama]

Originally Posted by Momma Aimee

I think IT has changed -- there have always been sexually active 13 year olds (or child abuse, or drugs or whatever), yes .. but it it more common now.

I was 13 in 1985 and the BIG scandle of our whole 8th grade year was TW a cheerleader KISSED a football player ont eh football bus -- OMG it was HUGH.

My Newphew gos to a school that is 5th to 8th -- adn there are 3 pregant girls in the 8th grade and the sad thing is now one is shocked.

That's an interesting perception, since teen pregnancy rates have dropped almost by half since 1990 (according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy). And this link: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/04news/lowbirths.htm shows that pregnancies amongst 10-14 yr. olds are at the lowest rates since 1946, and in 2002 were half that of 1990.

[WhaleinGaloshes]

Not to pump up a peripheral point, but sexual activity among kids under 19 has decreased from when we (I'm a 70's baby, too) were that age.

The Kaiser Family Foundation's Teen Sexual Activity Fact Sheet

Over the last decade, the percentage of all high school students (9-12th grade) who report ever having had sexual intercourse has declined. At the same time, among teens who are sexually active, rates of contraceptive use – including condom use – have increased. Both factors help to account for the decrease in teen pregnancy rates in recent years.

the CDC's Trends in the Prevalence of Sexual Behaviors

Percentage of 9th through 12th grade students who have:

Ever had sexual intercourse -- Decreased, 1991—2007
Had sexual intercourse with four or more persons during their life -- Decreased, 1991—2007
Currently sexually active -- Decreased, 1991—2007
Used a condom during last sexual intercourse -- Increased, 1991—2003; No change, 2003—2007
Drank alcohol or used drugs before last sexual intercourse -- Decreased, 2001—2007
Ever taught in school about AIDS or HIV infection -- Increased, 1991—1997; Decreased, 1997—2007

Caution is totally warranted, but I think it is helpful to have the bigger picture.

[SagMom]

Originally Posted by Momma Aimee

I was 13 in 1985 and the BIG scandle of our whole 8th grade year was TW a cheerleader KISSED a football player ont eh football bus -- OMG it was HUGH.

My Newphew gos to a school that is 5th to 8th -- adn there are 3 pregant girls in the 8th grade and the sad thing is now one is shocked.

We all have our own anecdotal examples--that doesn't prove an overall change in things. (I knew of 2 pregnancies in our 8th grade class, and that was in '75.) And there are a lot of variables--what's shocking in one community is often taken in stride in another. I used to work with teens in a nearby city and knew many who had a couple of kids in tow. Actually, the high school had an on-site daycare for the students' children.

In the past, pregnant teens got married, or they were sent away to "homes" to have their babies (which were then adopted,) or they went to alternative schools or had abortions. Teen pregnancy is just not as hidden as it used to be.

[Dar]

My mom worked as a social worker in 1966, in the Hough area of Cleveland. One of her client was a 12 year old new mama with a 24 year old mother.