Pregnant Teens

Not too many people pay attention to the news and events going on in the world anymore, but when it comes to a teenager being pregnant then the whole school knows about it. It is becoming to be something that is seen more and more throughout the high schools not only in APS and schools in Colorado, but as well as the schools in different states.


Girls and boys are starting to become more sexually active at younger a age, which gives a lot of them more of a chance of becoming a young mother or father while they are still in high school or even middle school. Having a baby and being pregnant is, “such a life changing event,” said Ms. Tuner the principal here at Rangeview. Young mothers do not always know or are unaware of the opportunities and help for them that their schools may have. In the APS school district they do offer support and help for the young mothers and parents that need it.

One thing that girls should know is if they are pregnant is that it is a good idea to talk to the school nurse about it. This way the nurse can help you throughout the day if it is needed.

Some options that RHS offers teen mothers a support group, and there are two classes that are offered at Gateway called Baby Basics and Positive Parenting. The support group for pregnant and teen mothers meets every Wednesday at 3:30 with Mrs. Grant, the nurse, and Ms. Shamburg.

The Baby Basics class at Gateway is offered to students who are pregnant; this class will help students become more responsible and effective parents through parenting skills and practices to help assist them. The Positive Parenting class is for those who are already young parents and helps them build an independent lifestyle for them and their child. It also helps them learn how to manage their money and provides them with their legal rights. These classes are not only offered for the young mothers but as well as the young fathers.

These two parenting skills classes are only offered at the following APS schools; Gateway, Hinkley and Central and RHS will provide bus transportation to Gateway if needed. The main focus and goal that the schools want to give the girls is the support and care that they need. As well as making sure that they graduate and finish high school.

At William Smith they have a daycare service that allows parents to have the aid of daycare service. The cost for the daycare is pretty little the young parent or parents will have to only pay seven dollars a week for childcare. Once the kids become older there is a daycare service at Pickens Technical College that becomes available to those.

Other options for the young mothers to finish high school are to take online classes to get their GED or finish the classes they need to, so they can graduate. These options sometimes work better for those who wish to stay home and that way they can manage school work to fit around their schedule.

There are so many options for young mothers they are just not always aware of them but they should not feel like they are alone because they have support all around. “Until you have a child you don’t know how hard and how much responsibility it is,” said Ms. Turner. This is so true because people will judge and criticize all they want but if they were in the same situation as these young parents they would then see things very differently.

-Erika Short