I found out today, which I had already suspected that one of my students with LD is pregnant. She is only 13 and the father of her baby is 41 and he has run off. I feel I have no one to talk to about this, don’t want to tell other teachers, not their business, so I figured maybe someone on this forum has gone through this. Today she has been staying in my room talking to me about it. It really breaks my heart. She told me she wondered how she was going to be able to take care of her bunny and her soon to be child. The child is due in December. She is finally seeing a doctor today. –—Also someone came to our school, poured gasoline on 6 buses, and set them on fire. Total devastation for our school. Just a very weird day….Thanks to all who read this….I feel much better that I told someone.
Re: Student is pregnant....
First of all, get Department of Health and Human Services involved! It is your responsibility to report child abuse and this is CHILD ABUSE. There are many questions that have to be answered in this case. When you notifiy Child Welfare, they will know what to do in the better interest of the student. As a teacher you will play an important roll in her sad situation. Be there for her emotionally (sounds like you already are), and hopefully the place she goes for her prenatal care will offer free prenatal classes to help her learn about everything that will be happening with her body, and learn how to take care of her baby-to-be. I know that you are in an odd situation and don’t won’t to come between the student and her parents, etc. I feel the best thing to do is to REPORT IT, answer her questions honestly (only if she asks), and continue on with her education in class. So sad to here about the burned buses. It is scary to here everything that goes on in our world today. I will say a prayer for you, your student, and your school. Good luck.
Re: Student is pregnant....
Thank you…The Health Dept. was notified, that is why she finally admitted to being pregnant. The police are involved, I am just here for moral support…
Re: Student is pregnant....
Maybe you could remind her about adoption being an option…many adoptive parents will accept and open adoption if she want so to have some contact w/the child.
What are everyone’s views about keeping pregnant girls in the reg. public school - or the teen “fathers” if known?
Re: Student is pregnant....
I am a parent, I believe they should be allowed to be in school, the last thing a single parent needs is to be a high school dropout, life is hard enough as it is. Obviously we would wish there to not be any unwed teenage parents but the reality is they are there, most need the help of caring adults and I for one would be one of those caring adults if I was needed.
I teach in alternative ed/Special Ed. I am a 44 year old male in California, and I happen to have a 14 year old daughter, (never been pregnant) so the fact of fatherhood might color my responses.
So, we see this situation often.
Remind her number one about prenatal care.
Is abortion on her mind at all? If she wants to get one, the sooner the better.
She can get assistance from the District Attorney or the “Child Support Division” to get $$$ from the father. (Of course, if you send him my way, I might cut him into small pieces with a chainsaw and feed him to the local vultures.)
Help her to keep her education on track.
Tell her that a lot of teachers and schools out there are willing to give her a second chance.
Her moods will probably be extremely varied and unpredictable.
Discuss with her the dangers of exposing the baby to tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs in utero.
Do her parents know?
John