Say Anything Blog

Is anyone teaching these kids what condoms are for?

I wonder what the demographics are here.

Couldn’t find anything on the city itself, but Stark County (in which Canton resides) went Kerry 51-49.  Basically, split.

If you’re looking for a good explanation, it might have something to do with the Football Hall of Fame being nearby…

Sorry, link

Seth you do not know that they weren’t.

I never said you were a christian by the way, you have made your views very clear here for some time and my religious views are closer to yours. I agree there are some great rules to live by in the bible.

However, ther is only one known fact here these kids were practicing unprotected sex.

“This has gotten to horrible proportions,” said Redmond. “I wish I knew the answer to why it’s happening.”

:::raising hand:::  OOOOOooo OOOOOoooo I know!!!  I know!!! 

They’re HAVING SEX!!!!  Maybe someone should suggest that the “planned parenthood” approach to sex education is NOT the best approach.  Perhaps RELIGION and RELIGIOUS values should be condoned rather than MOCKED.

but, maybe that’s just me being stupid… after all, why do I think that it’s possible for these kids to abstain from sex?  What the hell is wrong with me????

That would be pretty funny!  But it would, simply, show that they weren’t getting the message to the kids. 

I’m not Christian.  I’m closer to Atheist, but follow the principles in the bible because it makes for good society.  Abstaining from sex (until in a committed relationship) makes for good society.  They should be teaching that.  The parents should be teaching that.

However, ther is only one known fact here these kids were practicing unprotected sex.

That “fact” is not established either.  NO contraceptive is 100%.  Odds are that they were not using any, but it is not established as “FACT”.  They could have put the damn condoms on wrong.

Of course the answer has been there all along religion, how could we have mised that.

I do not know it for a fact but I would be willing to say that some of the pregnant kids were in fact exposed to religion if not from good God fearing homes.

You know what would be funnier than hell (pun intended) if it was a private christian school.

The school itself looks pretty racially diverse, deifnatley not suburban white bread. The median income is just a little over $28k a year with property taxes running in the 1.5% range.

I could not find anything about their sex education programs or philosophies at all.

I have a couple of emails out asking or more information we will see what that garners.

Who mocked religion?

I was mocking the idea that, that was the simple solution.

(Of course, I also think that anyone who says sex is a need should be slapped and told that God gave us hands for a reason, so my sex ed theories are rather suspect.)

This one made me smile.

This is far from surprising, when you consider that there are forces in our culture who actively promote irresponsible behavior.

Yes, condoms & other methods of contraception are effective, but Rob’s right: nothing is more effective than just not having sex. This is a message that needs to be drilled into our children’s heads.

It looks like there’s generation of kids who, in large part, have a very poor understanding of personal responsibility. Somewhere along the way, the message is getting lost.

Not good. Not good at all.

Is it wrong that I read the line “Only one thing is sure: Schools don’t impregnate children” and immediately thought, “Only because male students don’t get pregnant.”

How many student/teacher sex stories have come out recently?  The ones that’ve been getting the most airtime are the female teacher/male student ones, but I’d wager there’s a number of them that go the other way.

Regardless, they definitely need to review the sex education priorities in that school.  I don’t care for abstinence only education, but I think that any sex ed class should definitely emphasize that minors aren’t equipped (emotionally or financially) for the consequences of sex, and should avoid it.  (Of course, I also think that anyone who says sex is a need should be slapped and told that God gave us hands for a reason, so my sex ed theories are rather suspect.)

Feh, the lapse in personal responsibility is a far bigger issue than teenage pregnancy. 

Why should these kids think they’re responsible for their sexual actions when they see their parents suing McDonald’s for making them fat?

Our whole society has a personal responsiblity problem.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

When condoms are used correctly they are very effective.  They probably should have been on birth control.  It’d be interesting to see what kinds of sex ed they receive from their schools/parents/friends.

Perhaps RELIGION and RELIGIOUS values should be condoned rather than MOCKED.

This really doesn’t have anything to do with religion.  It has more to do with teaching kids common sense.  If you don’t have sex, you can’t get pregnant or knock up your girl.  Period.  Yes, condoms are effective, but not perfect.

When condoms are used correctly they are very effective.

Yes. Effective.  But not as effective as not having sex.

They probably should have been on birth control.

Well, seeing as how they’re all minors, they probably shouldn’t have been having sex.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Our whole society has a personal responsiblity problem.

All the more reason to send the Bush twins to a boarding school. 

And the crowd roars.

Rob got all of that one.

My first thought was an erosion of personal responsibility, that is the phrase of the day every day at my house.

One other thing and I am not trying to put the blame on this just opening it up for discussion.

I wonder how many came from single parent homes? Or homes where both parents work 40+ hours a week?

My first thought was an erosion of personal responsibility, that is the phrase of the day every day at my house.

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Seriously !!!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder how many came from single parent homes? Or homes where both parents work 40+ hours a week?

I’d love to see the demographics for this school…

Richard wrote:

My first thought was an erosion of personal responsibility, that is the phrase of the day every day at my house.

Article wrote:

Whose fault is it that more than 13 percent of Timken’s girls are with child? Some would say fault-finding isn’t a fruitful exercise, but in this case, it’s critical. Suspects range from movies, TV and video games…

I blame it on Shakespeare. Guys read Romeo and Juliet, and all of a sudden they think it’s OK to start screwin’ around with 14-year old girls behind their parents’ backs.

Good thing they’re not reading Macbeth… Bush would need a lot more bodyguards. 

I’m still waiting for people to blame Plath and Dickinson’s poetry for teen suicide…

Yes, condoms & other methods of contraception are effective, but Rob’s right: nothing is more effective than just not having sex.

*Abstinence is great, but if you have sex, please use contraceptives.

If kids can’t hold those two ideas in their head at the same time, sex education is the least of our problems. For example, they have no knowledge of rudimentary logic.

Rob.... I am VERY proud of you.  You too Seth.  I think Richard hit the nail on the head when he wondered how many of the pregnant girls were from single parent households or households where both parents work.  I think that kids today have too much freedom, too much money, and too little supervision.  Today’s parents just don’t get it.  Kids need parents in their lives.  Money is not the bottom line.  Cut corners and somebody stay at home with the kids.  They don’t need cel phones and video games.  Board games are a lot less expensive than video games and they work to bring families together.  Spending TIME together works.

I think that kids today have too much freedom, too much money, and too little supervision.

Funny, I’ve always felt the opposite… I’ve always held that too much supervision, too much control, is part of the problem.  It’s the coddling of our children mentality that leads to reckless teenage and adult years.  If a child is held within arm’s reach until they are 13, 15, or 18, and then given basically complete freedom, as many children are, they feel free to go nuts and run wild.

I was given a lot of freedom growing up and it got me into trouble sometimes.  But the trouble I got into was far tamer than the trouble I would get into with sudden freedom as a teenager.  It was this freedom as a lad that helped me to understand responsibility and self discipline.

Magnum, Control is relative.  How much control is needed to keep the kid on the straight and narrow is what parents need to determine.  It’s different for each kid in each environment. Another factor is the amount of experience and rational the kid has.  With experience comes wisdom.  Wisdom is the ability to extrapolate an outcome to a future event, avoid the negative outcomes, realize the consequences, and consider how these consquences will apply to their life.

The amount of wisdom the child exhibits should modify how much control a parent exerts.

Supervision is not control.  Control is negative… supervision is knowing where your kids are and what they’re doing and being part of their lives.

Well, more families probably could survive on more than one income if there were less teenage pregnancy.  But that aside, MI has a point.

Still, too many parents use the “two jobs” thing as an excuse for not raising their kids responsibly.  Too often things like video games and television get the blame too.  That’s just wrong.  Ultimately, the blame should always be laid at the feet of the parents.

Outside of a few extraordinary circumstances, there’s nobody who has more direct influence on kids then parents.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Good call Carol.  It matters how you think of it!  Thinking of it as “Control” seduces the psyche into trying to maintain the control.  Thank you, your Wisdom is noted!

Cut corners and somebody stay at home with the kids. They don’t need cel phones and video games.

Sure, hell, I’d love to not have to have a cell phone.  But the plain fact is that most families cannot survive on one income.

MI’s point, I believe, was that parents often blame and “cause a fuss” over things like video games to draw attention away from their own poor parenting.

As for “ownership society,” that applies here as well.  Parents “own” their children in that they are ultimately responsible for them.  Thus parents (and not government or television producers or celebrities or video game makers) are ultimately responsible for making sure kids turn out ok.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

From South park… Blame Canada!

He’s saying blame anyone but yourself, as the parents of South Park did…

I’m not too sure of the point though…

What’s happening is that these big bosomed beyotches of Germanic descent are FINE, and the young fellas round these parts are, well, young fellas.

Now stop over analyzing shit, ya’ll are annoying me.

Additionally, people today seem to think that they NEED new cars, TV’s, JET Ski’s, New Homes, expensive duds, etc, etc. People who don’t earn enough to provide the basics on one income are more rare than you let on.

I agree completely.  But, isn’t that part of the consumption-driven “ownership” culture of which the right speaks with such admiration?

Ultimately, the blame should always be laid at the feet of the parents.

modern instances said, “Let’s all blame them and cause a fuss, before somebody thinks of blaming us!”

What is your point supposed to be here? I tried to discern it and I am at a loss.

But, isn’t that part of the consumption-driven “ownership” culture of which the right speaks with such admiration?

No. The “ownership society” or “culture” term involves the subject of a citizen owning his retirement, healthcare, etc. and not the the government owning and controlling it.

But the plain fact is that most families cannot survive on one income.

BS!  Pure BS!

100 years ago, many generations of families lived in the same home as was tradition.  Today, through our own greed to HAVE, we have moved away from that tradition.  Those who are unable to make it on a single pay check, may still have this as an option to make sure that their child or children get proper parental supervision. 

Additionally, people today seem to think that they NEED new cars, TV’s, JET Ski’s, New Homes, expensive duds, etc, etc.  People who don’t earn enough to provide the basics on one income are more rare than you let on.

Add to that that MOST people do not fall into the poverty level as further bunking of your statement.  Poverty in the US is WAY less than 50%.

It comes down to personal responsibility, personal ethics, and DRIVE!

But, isn’t that part of the consumption-driven “ownership” culture of which the right speaks with such admiration?

NO!!!!! Not if there’s no self control to go with it.  We’re (at least I am) CONSERVATIVES.  Part of the definition is to be responsible in storing something away.  Making a nest egg to take care of yourself.  Using less than you make. 

You can’t squirrel away if you’re spending everything.

I also believe in parenting before recreation.  I had a good 28 years to play before I had kids.  This is part of being responsible.  Once you have kids, your second duty is in caring for your kids.  Second only to caring for your own health.  Entertainment is much father down the list.  The only way to ensure that your morals are being passed to your kids to is spend time with them.  As much as possible.  This means that one or both parents will have to work less or not at all.  To make that work, you may have to eat Ramman (sp) a lot more. (I’m not actually suggesting that Ramman is a healthy meal.  I was using Ramman as an analogy.

What’s happening is that these big bosomed beyotches of Germanic descent are FINE, and the young fellas round these parts are, well, young fellas.

Now stop over analyzing shit, ya’ll are annoying me.

Hear ye, hear ye.

MI’s point, I believe, was that parents often blame and “cause a fuss” over things like video games to draw attention away from their own poor parenting.

Exactly, as sung by the parents of South Park in the movie I linked to.

Yeeeaaah Seth....  You’re exactly right.  If parents stop buying fancy homes, jet skis, boats, etc;etc;etc.  Quit stopping by the local drive thru for supper and then put the kids in front of something to entertain them. Save money by eating healthy.  Use fewer prepared foods.  Go back to real cooking.  Cut out fast foods entirely.  I took my grandkids to McDonald’s and the bill was $40.

Video games aren’t the total cause of kids’ problems.  Plunking your kids down in front of TV or video games in irresponsible parenting.  Rob lived until he was eight without TV.  He was reading Hardy Boys before kindergarten.  He doesn’t even have cable TV now.

If parents would feed their kids properly, give them fewer things to keep the kids out of their hair, and best of all...spend time with them, the world would be a better place.

Hardy boys huh......

That really explains a lot.

Not if there’s no self control to go with it. We’re (at least I am) CONSERVATIVES. Part of the definition is to be responsible in storing something away. Making a nest egg to take care of yourself. Using less than you make.

Which is why Bush is the most fiscally responsible president since Reagan.

You’re exactly right. If parents stop buying fancy homes, jet skis, boats,

Yeah, I see lot’s of those in urban Detroit.

Bush?  Fiscally responsible?  Nay, my friend.  He cut taxes, but still spends too much.  Just like every other politican in D.C. with a few exceptions.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Yeah, I see lot’s of those in urban Detroit.

How about $400 basketball shoes?  How about spinners and bling on pimped out rides?

Whatever MI… Believe what you want.  It’s all George Bush’s fault that we don’t take more from the Rich to give to the poor so they can buy prime rib every night at Ruth’s Chris.

Now I have heard it all fiscally responsible....Blahhhhh.

Tell him to stop this is killing me ......Blahhh hahahhahha.

[...] Remember that high school in Ohio where thirteen percent of the girls are pregnant I blogged about a few days ago? It turns out that the school’s mascot is The Trojan. [...]

How about $400 basketball shoes?

No. If you say $150 shoes, we’re more in the ballpark.

How about spinners and bling on pimped out rides?

Parked in front of burnt out nasty houses. It’s ghetto fabulous. Detroit is filled with people like this.

as a resident of a related area of this school...you guys don’t see what that school district deals with. timken is in the heart of whatever ghetto canton has. it is a poor area. would you expect anthing else from the ghetto...both parents work, but when both are working at mcdonalds, the parents can’t exactly afford to have one of them stay at home. you must remember bob taft...a republican is ohio’s governer...jobs are leaving ohio, and the whole state is going with them...the only people who aren’t leaving are the poor. when you don’t have an xbox, tv, or computer, most people get bored...and have sex. don’t blame it on religion b/c what you need most in that school is free birth control.

the funny thing was that i was searching for the new high school that is the most expensive in the state, which is a township or two over from timken.

when you don’t have an xbox, tv, or computer, most people get bored...and have sex

I guess that playing outside or concentrating on studies isn’t an option.

don’t blame it on religion b/c what you need most in that school is free birth control.

How about personal responsibility? Or is that asking too much?

Natasha,

You seem to be Female, let me ask you a question.  Have you ever broken up with a guy that you didn’t sleep with?  Now compare that level of hurt to how you felt with someone you broke up with after having sex (especially if you had an orgasm with him).

You might be interested to know that women go through a Neuro-Chemical change during orgasm that sort of bonds the brain to that person.  When you "break up" you go through actual withdrawals. 

Now, imagine you’re in your teens again (if you’re not still) and the emotional train wreck that we ALL are during those days.  Imagine getting pregnant and the added hormonal changes that a woman’s body goes through.  The potential emotional impact just isn’t worth the short term pleasure.  The Human psyche can handle a lot of stress, but it doesn’t make for a happy life.  Starting out having sex at an early age reduces your chances for a successful life by massive percentages. 

Is it guaranteed that every teen who engages in sex will be a failure?  Not at all...  it just reduces the likelihood of success.  

BTW: Success is how you define it.  Setting and achieving personal goals is success.