Why not go back how it was in the 60's when my parents were in school, if a girl got pregnant, she could no longer attend school and instead was expected to get a job straight away to get an apartment and prepare for the child. It wasn't uncommon either for the father of baby to drop out of school as well and the two would wed in a private ceremony. Society basically said to these teen parents that "If you think your mature enough to get it on, then you're mature enough to handle an adult workload. Get used to it." Most teen parents back then did not get help from their parents, they were then considered adults and were completely on their own. They were simply told, sink or swim.
I know that sounds harsh and draconian, but maybe we should start imposing the same for our kids. We've catered and coddled children of this generation to the point that they can barely dress themselves by the time they graduate high school, and yet they are getting knocked up at younger and younger ages. We're having 14 year old girls WANTING to get pregnant because they look at all the government handouts they would become eligible for. Motherhood for them is a selfish thought and often act as they reap the benefits of the government programs while pawning their babies off to the nearest relative so they can go out and party like hooligans with their friends.
I think if a minor becomes pregnant - because they are still minors, they are NOT eligible for WIC or Food Stamps as they are often still living at home with a parent. But however the minor is granted a hardship work license meaning if they are under the age of 16, they are eligible to work up to 20 hours per week. They had this baby, they might as well chip in and actually help pay for it by earning wages. When they turn 18 - the age of consent - they should be moved to government housing, and may apply for either food stamps OR WIC, but not both, as Food Stamps would cover the products used by WIC and WIC covers the same things as Food Stamps do. The mother is required to hold down a 40-hr/wk job, provide adequate childcare with a consistent daycare or relative while on the job, the parent must remain on birth control until the age of 21 to continue to be eligible for government benefits. This way the parent can't just sit around and ask for a handout, the parent has to prove that she is pulling her load and the government covers what she can't by taking it out of her paycheck before she even sees it, what she receives after deductions, and government assistance withdrawals, is what she gets to take home to spend on the children such as toys, clothes, etc.
I know this sounds really out there, but a program that gets you on your feet and assists those only who can prove they are pulling their load is a lot less costly than our current handout program by putting those in assistance in jobs, and those on this assistance are actually paying for it, not the rest of the taxpayers that have to foot the bill for them.
At 21 after having showing proof they can handle things on their own after a number of years of supervision, they are released from the program while being allowed to remain in government housing, except they will be responsible for having to take the money aside to pay the rent on time as well as all other expenses. They will have to wait 5 years before reapplying for any other government assistance programs. Again when they do they will have to prove they are pulling their load with a 40 hour per week job and a significant financial need such as the father has quit helping financially, or a recent illness that has prevented one or both parents from working, and they have completely exhausted all other resources such as sick leave, vacation days and any savings they might have.
OR parents seeking to complete a GED or a College Degree can prove that their quality of life would substantially improve with higher education, and would commit to completing a program of study within a specified time frame, and show that they do not have the financial means to pay for higher education themselves.
If I can hold down multiple jobs while also going to school, then I know that many, if not all single moms out there can and should be able to hold down at least one full-time job and go to school at the same time. Due to technology there is no reason why they cannot. They can take classes at uni during the day and in the evening, as well as online which can be done at any time. Its not a matter of what the mother wants - its a matter of doing what has to be done to survive.
I still stated where I stand, Koko. Sorry...
Who's to say those 119 would have still not gotten pregnant without the $1.00 a day. You are attempting to assign cause and effect without sufficient data to do so. But then, that's what those who preach abstinence normally do, so it isn't surprising at all.
Typical.