I’m feeling a bit numbed regarding the news and hoopla over 16-year-old actress Jamie Lynn Spears’s teen pregnancy. Ultimately, my view is that, as a young TV star, Spears is a role model and, any way you cut it, her pregnancy will send a very confusing message to young girls.
Teen pregnancy has been a constant issue for our state. Hawaii continues to be ranked among the top 10 states with the highest teenage pregnancy rate. I feel much of the problem Hawaii has with this issue is the lack of education in schools and the culture of acceptance that exists in this state.
Parents and teachers should use this time in the wake of this news to talk to their kids about sex and the risks involved in sexual relationships at a young age. In addition, attention should be paid to how Nickelodeon reacts to this news and how it handles future episodes of Spears’s show, “Zoey 101.”
A few good resources about teenage pregnancy nation- and state-wide:
- Stiffer Penalities for Those Who Graffiti
- Random Drug Testing Required for Teachers
- Teachers Are Working Almost Twice the Normal Working Hours
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