Imagine yourself looking at a positive pregnancy test or looking at your girlfriend’s test. You have all these random impulsive thoughts going through your head. You don’t know what to do and you suddenly feel “stuck”.
Where would you go for help? Pregnant students and expecting parents at West Leyden High School may or may not be familiar with the resources and supports available for this school year.
As of right now, Leyden High School District 212 does not tolerate discrimination towards martial or parent status. This includes pregnancy and according to the Leyden Parent Handbook it says, “Prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, order of protection status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, homelessness and marital/parental status, including pregnancy”.
According to the “Supporting the Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting Students” article it says, “While not required by Title IX, some school districts have established programs to help pregnant and parenting students stay in school, graduate, and acquire the skills needed for parenting.” The programs that are being provided in school are meant to help students with peer support and give encouragement to help prevent any feelings of isolation that they may experience. Programs like these also help “reduce the dropout rate, provide comprehensive prenatal care, and improve the health of student parents and their children.”
It is much more common for teen pregnancies to be overwhelming and scary to many girls. West Leyden graduate class of 2024, Mari, shares how she felt “anxious” and “scared” when she found out she was pregnant. She had also felt like her life was going to be over when she saw that positive test in May. She was and is still supported by her family members and friends. Leyden had not known about Mari’s pregnancy because she found out in May, the month she graduated from West Leyden High School.
Research says, “Teen fathers are seen in a more negative light compared to teen mothers. This is because some fathers are uninvolved in their children’s lives.” (“Supporting the Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting Students.) Unfortunately, the child’s father isn’t present in their lives anymore. “When I told him I was pregnant, he didn’t care,” she says.
Many of the girls who get pregnant during high school want to graduate high school and college to pursue their dream careers. Counselor at West Leyden High School and past health teacher, Stacey Schlaud, shares “If you are not ready to bring a baby to this world, don’t have intercourse with someone.” Mrs. Schlaud also thinks being pregnant as a teen is some sort of “a wake up call” to them and pursues them more to want to graduate and go to college to finish the education that they want. “A lot of those times, those students have ended up doing very well,” she says.
When the school knows about someone’s pregnancy, they need a medical note from their doctor to be “medically excused” and qualify for a home bound tutor. They would stay in their current classes but get a tutor that meets with them 5 hours a week and provides the help that they need to stay “afloat” in their classes.
Student pregnancy can be avoided but if you end up with a child, there are many programs Leyden and other schools can provide to help you stay on track in your education and also know more about becoming a parent and being prepared.
