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Teen told to 'get pregnant to stay in school'
Categories: Just For Moms, Teens & tweens, Just For Dads, Education
After her mother died, 17-year-old Kristy Oldfield managed to continue her A-level studies at Salt Grammer School in Baildon, West Yorkshire in the UK. She went to school every day and kept her grades up. When she lost her father 8 months later, nobody would have blamed her if she had given up under the weight of her grief. But she didn't. She moved in with an older step-sister, got a job and continued her studies.
But her £150 a week income from her part-time job as a chef caused the state benefits she was receiving to stop. Even when she cut back her work hours, she still was not eligible for assistance.
Because of that lost income, she says she can no longer pay for school and may have to drop out. Unless she gets pregnant, that is. "I told my head teacher I might be dropping out. My benefits adviser said the only way I can claim anything is by becoming pregnant," she says.
Obviously, Oldfield is a smart girl and knows having a baby isn't the answer. I am appalled that someone would suggest to her that it was. As her teacher says, this girl is a role model and deserves some real help. I sure hope she gets it.
But her £150 a week income from her part-time job as a chef caused the state benefits she was receiving to stop. Even when she cut back her work hours, she still was not eligible for assistance.
Because of that lost income, she says she can no longer pay for school and may have to drop out. Unless she gets pregnant, that is. "I told my head teacher I might be dropping out. My benefits adviser said the only way I can claim anything is by becoming pregnant," she says.
Obviously, Oldfield is a smart girl and knows having a baby isn't the answer. I am appalled that someone would suggest to her that it was. As her teacher says, this girl is a role model and deserves some real help. I sure hope she gets it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SKL 11-29-2007 @ 3:17PM
I am sure the counselor's words were twisted. More likely she was stating a truth that there are no benefits for anyone in this teen's situation other than in cases where such person is pregnant. I agree that there are a lot of programs in any country (ours included or especially) that provide more benefits to people who made poor choices. Frankly it makes me sick. But it is still up to the individual to weigh all the pros and cons, short term and long term, before making a choice. A short term benefit for being pregnant is not sufficient to justify a decision to become pregnant, as the girl in the story noted. So as usual we are wasting time and resources addressing a "problem" that isn't real.
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