Playing victim at taxpayers expense.

Seems no one has to suffer the consequences of their actions. Here's a recent example:

Birth leave sought for girls (from the Denver Post)

Pregnant students in a Denver high school are asking for at least four weeks of maternity leave so they can heal, bond with their newborns and not be penalized with unexcused absences.

The request is unusual in Colorado's public schools, where districts tend to deal with pregnant students or new moms with specialized programs or individualized education plans.

Denver Public Schools has no districtwide policy, leaving it up to schools to work out plans for students to continue their education.

Two counselors from East High School approached the school board last month, saying the policy at their school is unfair and inconsiderate because it forces new moms to return to school the day after being discharged from the hospital or face being charged with unexcused absences.

"My initial reaction is if we are punishing girls like that, that is unacceptable," said Nicole Head, one of the counselors who brought the matter to the school board last month. "We've got to do something."

East High School administrators could not be reached for comment over the winter break, but district officials say they are reviewing the policy on absences to make it "friendlier" to new moms, said DPS spokesman Alex Sanchez.

Kayla Lewis, who is five months pregnant and a senior at East, requested that the board establish maternity leave for students at a Dec. 20 public hearing.

"After you have the baby, your body needs time to heal," the 18-year-old said.

That is true, said Dr. Sarah Grope, pediatrician at HealthOne's Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver.

"To just assume that two days after having a baby they can go back to school is ridiculous at best," Grope said. "During that time, they should be able to do their schoolwork and give time to bond with their children."
School-board member Michelle Moss was baffled that schools were giving girls unexcused absences after birth.

"It's critical that these young women have a chance to bond with their babies," Moss said. "Maybe we do need a policy. Clearly, as a district, we have to look at what is going on with our young women. We've got to look at the birth-control issues and teen pregnancy and how we best help them deal with it and still graduate."

Denver has one of the highest teen-pregnancy rates in the state. Of every 1,000 girls ages 15 to 17, 54.5 will become pregnant in the city, compared with 24.3 throughout Colorado, according to state health statistics.
The district has a school for pregnant teens and new moms, Florence Crittenton School, but it has a waiting list. Plus, many students want to remain at the school where they started, said Head, the counselor at East.
Cherry Creek, Adams 12, Jefferson County and Douglas County school districts have policies in which students work with counselors and principals to devise plans that will keep them in school.

Several districts have special schools with child-care services for new moms. Others have programs that allow students to receive high-school credit.

"When a girl tells us she is pregnant, we advise her to work one on one with her counselor and go from there to see what they can work out," said Michelle Ancell, spokeswoman for Cherry Creek Schools.

"The counselor plays middleman between the principal and the student," said Melissa Reeves of Jefferson County Schools, who added that the district has started a computer-based credit-recovery program that students can use during evening hours.

Douglas County has had a program for 19 years called WINGS, or Winning in New Growth Situations, that offers support and instruction for the girls once a week, allowing them to earn elective credits in nutrition and parenting. The program has 20 students, said coordinator Susan Anderson.

The district has a school that begins at 4:30 p.m. for new parents that is attached to Highlands Ranch High School. Students also are able to stay in their schools, but that is not easy for many new moms, she said.
"Day care is very difficult, hard to come by and expensive," Anderson said. "We just work really hard to make sure kids graduate high school. We know it's so important."

Teen mothers face a challenging future, with many dropping out. A third of teen moms receive their high-school diplomas and 1.5 percent get college degrees before they turn 30, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

"If there are young mothers asking for maternity leave, the board should listen to them," said Lori Casillas, executive director of the Colorado Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting, and Prevention. "If they think it is a barrier to graduation, the board should look at that."

Her organization advocates that schools provide child-care services for new moms. Too many girls drop out after giving birth, and schools must do something to keep them, Casillas said.

Students at one high school in southern Colorado wanted to set up a child-care center, but the principal forbade it, saying it would encourage teen pregnancy, she said.

"There is no evidence that has ever happened," Casillas said. "I don't think schools have been proactive at creating policies that encourage young mothers to remain in school. Schools need to say, 'What if you do come back, then what?'

"Schools need to say, 'This is what we do to support your learning.' That's not happening."

So because little Miss Suzy Creamcheese couldn't keep her pants on, the taxpayers will help shield her from the payback of her promiscuity. Wonderful.

This quote sums up the problem; "My initial reaction is if we are punishing girls like that, that is unacceptable," said Nicole Head, one of the counselors who brought the matter to the school board last month. "We've got to do something."

No numbnuts, the girls are placing themselves in the way of consequences for their own irresponsible behavior. Period. End of story. Don't do the crime unless you can do the time. We can talk to the cows come home about the influence of bad parents, lack of morals, peer pressure, etc. Sooner or later, when you act like an adult you should shoulder the responsibilities of adulthood. The truth of it is that everyone of us has to learn to accept our actions entail consequences, some of them undesirable. In the case of teenage mothers that would be having to work extra hard to finish a decent amount of schooling.

I can respect those who suck it up and tackle the problems they face. Being a standup individual who doesn't wimp out with excuses commands some respect. This isn't an example of that. This is more of "victimhood" mentality that spares someone the price they should pay for their acts.

Hey, don't get me wrong. I'm no Goody-two shoes recoiling in horror and disgust that young girls might get pregnant. It happens. Everyone makes stupid decisions, some of mine deserve awards for an exceptional lack of thought. There aren't any stones being thrown from my glass house. My point is that when you make choices you accept the inevitable results of them and don't expect anyone else to bail you out. That applies to everyone, even teenage girls. While we're on the topic, the fathers of the babies should be dragged into paying some kind of consequence also. But that's a subject for another post.

Ms. Head wants to do something? Start pushing for abstinence amongst the local teens. Or if she has to opt for artificial means of birth control I'd suggest an aspirin. Have the girl place one firmly between her knees when she hops into bed with her boyfriend and I can almost guarantee NO ONE will get pregnant as long as that aspirin stays in place.

Keep bending over backwards to prevent anyone from suffering the consequences of their acts and the result is: Denver has one of the highest teen-pregnancy rates in the state. Of every 1,000 girls ages 15 to 17, 54.5 will become pregnant in the city, compared with 24.3 throughout Colorado, according to state health statistics.

Who'd a thunk it?