After the the Mesa, Ariz. high school yearbook devoted two pages to teen parents, some school parents complained about the message the school was sending to their kids.
“It makes it look cute,” parent Shelly Adams told 12 News. “And it’s wonderful that they’re still in school and they’re trying to finish up their education, but at the same time, it doesn’t really convey the reality of what they are going through.”
The pages, titled “I’m working a double shift,” feature teen parents or expecting high schoolers along with interviews about how difficult it is to raise a child and attend school.
Parent Kathee Merkley told The Republic that she heard one high school student talk about gluing the two pages together.
In addition to complaints from parents, a spokesperson for the Mesa public school system expressed disapproval of the pages honoring teen moms.
“A yearbook is to commemorate the achievements of the students, particularly the senior class,” spokeswoman Helen Hollands told The Republic. “Probably this would not fall into that category.”
Hollands added that the school is “100 percent behind” student parents and their decision to complete their education.
Image via 12 News and The Republic
I have no problem with schools and school districts doing everything they can to support and help make teen moms and their children successful. I absolutely support the idea of sharing these girls stories whether on Teen Mom or in high school newspapers or other publications, but I don’t think these girls should get a prominent spot in the yearbook. That’s taking it a bit too far.
From what we can see of the page, it’s not like they’re glamorizing it.
Just more people looking for something to be shocked (SHOCKED!!!) about.
“Hollands added that the school is “100 percent behind” student parents and their decision to complete their education.”
they just don’t want to hear about it.
From my own personal experiences in Mormonland, they seem to want/expect their daughters to start pumping out little Mormons as soon as they are able to breed.
In one of my first stints in Utah, I was there for 3 months with a guy from NJ and another from Phoenix. They came to the conclusion that we must all be gay since not only were none of us married, but none of us had children, even though we were in our 20s. And no, I am not kidding. We actually had an admin asst ask us one day because everyone in the building was so curious.
Looks like it’s time for Sniffit to 'splain again:
People in AZ with names like Shelly Adams, Kathee Merkley and Helen Hollands
are complaining about yearbook pages from teen moms featuring a big fat quote at the top from a teen mom named
Aurelia Benavidez
Did I make that clear enough for everyone or shall I continue my 'splainin?