Yay, Texas! We're No. 1!

drivingrl
drivingrl Posts: 1,448
edited July 2007 in A Moving Train
... In teen birthrates.


http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/072607dntexteenbirthrate.ac717295.html


Study: Texas leads nation in teen birth rate 7:50 AM CT
07:52 AM CDT on Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Associated Press
HOUSTON - Texas had the nation's highest birth rate among teenagers ages 15 to 19 in 2004, according to a newly released study of children's health.

The Kids Count study, which is updated annually by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore, said the Texas rate of 63 births per 1,000 teens remained the same from 2003 to 2004.

Texas tied New Mexico and Mississippi for the top spot in 2003, but both of those states saw their rates decline in 2004. The average rate nationally was 41 births per 1,000 teens in 2004.

Texas mirrored the rest of the nation in reporting a steep decline in teen births since at least 1990.

"Texas has been showing improvement, but other states are showing more improvement," said Frances Deviney, director of Texas Kids Count and a senior research associate for the Center for Public Policy Priorities in Austin.

According to the study, Hispanic teens are more than 31/2 times as likely as Anglos to have a baby. Blacks are more than twice as likely as their white peers to give birth.

Observers were divided on whether Texas' emphasis on abstinence in sex education contributes to the state's relatively high numbers. A 1995 law requires school districts to emphasize abstinence in sex education classes.

"It's a touchy subject," said Robert Sanborn, president of Children at Risk. "We can preach abstinence quite a bit, and there is nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't affect some kids, and apparently it's really not working in Texas."

Don McLeroy, president of the State Board of Education, noted that sex education is mainly a local issue, with state law requiring each district to have a local committee that decides what will be taught.

"The idea that just giving them a lot of information is going to solve it, I think, is kind of naive," he said. "Certainly, it's more of a societal problem than it is a school problem."

Christine Markham, an assistant professor for health promotion and behavioral science at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, said her studies of sexually active middle schoolers showed that educators need to provide information to students about sexual health and development before they reach high school.

"A lot of parents want to talk to their child about sex and dating, but they don't know how to start the conversation," she said.
drivingrl: "Will I ever get to meet Gwen Stefani?"
kevinbeetle: "Yes. When her career washes up and her and Gavin move to Galveston, you will meet her at Hot Topic shopping for a Japanese cheerleader outfit.

Next!"
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Comments

  • tybird
    tybird Posts: 17,388
    Isn't it possible to legally get married at 14 in Texas????
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • surferdude
    surferdude Posts: 2,057
    What do people think of the racial differences in teen birth rates?
    “One good thing about music,
    when it hits you, you feel to pain.
    So brutalize me with music.”
    ~ Bob Marley
  • markymark550
    markymark550 Columbia, SC Posts: 5,237
    well, you gotta have something to be proud about
  • even flow?
    even flow? Posts: 8,066
    surferdude wrote:
    What do people think of the racial differences in teen birth rates?

    It is like the people who play with handguns! You comment on the real problem and people don't want to hear about it. When your parents are afraid to or don't talk about where you came from in a grown up manner, what do you expect to happen.
    You've changed your place in this world!
  • CorporateWhore
    CorporateWhore Posts: 1,890
    surferdude wrote:
    What do people think of the racial differences in teen birth rates?

    Racist!!!!

    Pointing out the racial element only confuses people and causes them to think that there are differences between races.

    Heh :)
    All I know is that to see, and not to speak, would be the great betrayal.
    -Enoch Powell
  • markymark550
    markymark550 Columbia, SC Posts: 5,237
    CorporateWhore wrote:
    Racist!!!!

    Pointing out the racial element only confuses people and causes them to think that there are differences between races.

    Heh :)
    exactly why I didn't post my comments on that topic

    I know you are teasing here, but someone would be bound to interpret my thoughts as racist.....
  • CorporateWhore
    CorporateWhore Posts: 1,890
    I suppose I'll state the "racist" comment then since I've got nothing to lose:

    Is the problem really with Texas or is the problem actually with black and hispanic females in general?

    I'm sure you would find similar statistics if you looked across the entire country. The state's high teen pregnancy rate might not be a result of its Abstinence-Only programs.

    Perhaps Texas has an inordinately high number of hispanic young women and that tips the scales?
    All I know is that to see, and not to speak, would be the great betrayal.
    -Enoch Powell
  • deadnothingbetter
    deadnothingbetter Posts: 2,202
    "Texas, I won't come home. Not even if you call me." - The Archade Fire
    This isn't the land of opportunity, it's the land of competition.
  • soulsinging
    soulsinging Posts: 13,202
    surferdude wrote:
    What do people think of the racial differences in teen birth rates?

    i think there are serious problems in the black community there. i see it in my job a lot. was unaware of hispanics struggling so much too, but it's honestly not surprising. it's heavily catholic and we all know how realistic the church is about abstinence and contraception :rolleyes:

    maybe someday we can give birth control out with public aid. i also don't know why they arent having sex ed in 6th grade. say what you will about them being too young... they're getting pregnant at 13.
  • InHiding19
    InHiding19 Posts: 2,385
    Your also number one in capital punishment.
    Out of the Blue and Into the Black................Uncle Neil Philly 08 here I come!!!!
  • RainDog
    RainDog Posts: 1,824
    It's not the ethnicity.

    It's the poverty.
  • soulsinging
    soulsinging Posts: 13,202
    CorporateWhore wrote:
    I suppose I'll state the "racist" comment then since I've got nothing to lose:

    Is the problem really with Texas or is the problem actually with black and hispanic females in general?

    I'm sure you would find similar statistics if you looked across the entire country. The state's high teen pregnancy rate might not be a result of its Abstinence-Only programs.

    Perhaps Texas has an inordinately high number of hispanic young women and that tips the scales?

    no, the problem is with their men. the ones who 1) pressure and use date rape, 2) refuse to father the kids, 3) won't wear condoms.
  • CorporateWhore
    CorporateWhore Posts: 1,890
    soulsinging wrote:
    it's heavily catholic and we all know how realistic the church is about abstinence and contraception :rolleyes:

    Complete crap. I suppose you can prove that white American Catholics also have the teenage pregnancy rates that hispanic American Catholics have?

    You don't and there is no causality.

    The issue is not the church. The issue is socialization and culture.

    China isn't Catholic or religious at all and they have a booming population. They need to abort their children to maintain a safe environment.

    People will do what they want, regardless of the church telling them not to wear a condom.
    All I know is that to see, and not to speak, would be the great betrayal.
    -Enoch Powell
  • deadnothingbetter
    deadnothingbetter Posts: 2,202
    soulsinging wrote:
    i think there are serious problems in the black community there. i see it in my job a lot. was unaware of hispanics struggling so much too, but it's honestly not surprising. it's heavily catholic and we all know how realistic the church is about abstinence and contraception :rolleyes:

    maybe someday we can give birth control out with public aid. i also don't know why they arent having sex ed in 6th grade. say what you will about them being too young... they're getting pregnant at 13.
    being that i live in texas and i'm hispanic... it doesn't have anything to do with catholicism and whatnot. most these hispanic teens just don't get educated plenty enough... it's like a culture here in texas. for the majority of hispanics it's like a part of their culture to drop out of highschool and get pregnant. ask any of these girls and they never tried to "not get pregnant." it's basically a culture, that's what it is. hispanics here in texas are very different from hispanics in california... or i would say in most other states. i'm not sure about the black community though.

    i have numerous of hispanic unmarried friends who are single mothers. it's like a pattern... and all of these friends of mine aren't even catholics.
    This isn't the land of opportunity, it's the land of competition.
  • CorporateWhore
    CorporateWhore Posts: 1,890
    soulsinging wrote:
    no, the problem is with their men. the ones who 1) pressure and use date rape, 2) refuse to father the kids, 3) won't wear condoms.

    And also with the women who won't use BC right? No? They're not at fault?
    All I know is that to see, and not to speak, would be the great betrayal.
    -Enoch Powell
  • RainDog
    RainDog Posts: 1,824
    CorporateWhore wrote:
    Complete crap. I suppose you can prove that white American Catholics also have the teenage pregnancy rates that hispanic American Catholics have?
    The poor ones do. And, no, the church isn't helping.
  • deadnothingbetter
    deadnothingbetter Posts: 2,202
    RainDog wrote:
    The poor ones do. And, no, the church isn't helping.
    i'm not a catholic so i don't see it my need to defend the catholic church. but from what i have experienced, the catholic church has always been there willing to help out pregnant, or single mothers. i might not be sure what you're referring to though. but i can assure catholics have been there willing to help... i guess it's just up to the person who wants to get help
    This isn't the land of opportunity, it's the land of competition.
  • RainDog
    RainDog Posts: 1,824
    deadnothingbetter wrote:
    i'm not a catholic so i don't see it my need to defend the catholic church. but from what i have experienced, the catholic church has always been there willing to help out pregnant, or single mothers. i might not be sure what you're referring to though. but i can assure catholics have been there willing to help... i guess it's just up to the person who wants to get help
    They help afterwards. However, they also take an active position in keeping the distribution of birth control as minimal as possible.

    And I am Catholic. At least raised so.
  • soulsinging
    soulsinging Posts: 13,202
    CorporateWhore wrote:
    Complete crap. I suppose you can prove that white American Catholics also have the teenage pregnancy rates that hispanic American Catholics have?

    You don't and there is no causality.

    The issue is not the church. The issue is socialization and culture.

    China isn't Catholic or religious at all and they have a booming population. They need to abort their children to maintain a safe environment.

    People will do what they want, regardless of the church telling them not to wear a condom.

    did i say it was the church? i said it was the hispanic culture, which happens to be heavily influenced by a very strict and old-fashoined catholicism. why dyou think 9 out of 10 sightings of mary statues crying blood are in latin america? it's a very different style of catholicism to what you think you know here. and i've little doubt it plays a role. to their credit though, controversial as nixon's comments were, they do seem to do a much better job of stepping up to the plate and keeping families together.
  • CorporateWhore
    CorporateWhore Posts: 1,890
    deadnothingbetter wrote:
    i'm not a catholic so i don't see it my need to defend the catholic church. but from what i have experienced, the catholic church has always been there willing to help out pregnant, or single mothers. i might not be sure what you're referring to though. but i can assure catholics have been there willing to help... i guess it's just up to the person who wants to get help

    He's referring to the Church's opposition on contraception.

    For these young hispanic moms, it comes down to one thing: sex is better without rubbers!

    It's got nothing to do with a distant, aloof Catholic Church in Rome telling you not to use protection. That idea never even crosses their minds.
    All I know is that to see, and not to speak, would be the great betrayal.
    -Enoch Powell

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