Beth was pregnant several years ago when she was a high school senior. When their first child Eddie was born, Beth and Scott were ready for parenthood. But before she had Eddie, Beth had another child. Here she talks about that pregnancy and the difficult decision to place him up for adoption.
“It was the week after my 16th birthday that I first thought that I was pregnant. I tried to ignore the whole idea, but as time went on, I knew I was indeed pregnant. I was scared to death to say anything to anybody.
I was at least four months pregnant before I even told Sam. We were still dating, but by then I knew things weren’t going to work out between us. He told me I should get an abortion — he even offered to pay for it– but it was too late for the suction method, and besides, I just didn’t feel right about that.
So I wore baggy clothes and hoped no one would notice. A couple of months later — I must have been at least 6 months pregnant — my Mom got a good side view of me as I was going out one evening. The next morning she said,”You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
I said,”No.” I just couldn’t tell her or my father beacuase I knew it would kill them.
“Well I know you are,” she replied.
So she cried and I cried…Then she made an appointment for me to see our doctor.
I told her i didn’t want to continue school where I was, but neither did I want to go to the special school in our district. It had a pretty bad reputation. After a lot of discussion with her and my Dad, we decided to talk to our close friends, Alice and Bob, who had recently moved from our neighborhood to a new home about 80 miles away. I used to babysit a lot for them.
Great Depression Teachers School Education
During the Great Depression receiving an education was becoming more and more difficult for southerners. From not being able to afford the required supplies needed, to not being able to pay the tut ions, many people found it nearly impossible to attend school. The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee shows how the lack of education in society during the Great Depression affected ...
Alice and Bob told us they had heard about a good school program for pregnant studentsin their district. They suggested I enroll in this school and live with them until I delivered. So I moved in with them the next week. My Mom told my friends I was visiting my cousin in Arizona. Suprisingly we pulled it off. Most of my friends never new I was pregnant.
When I first thought about having this baby, I thought about adopion. I couldn’t afford to keep the baby and raise it. My folks kind of influenced me at first. They didn’t tell me what to do, but my Mom said,”You’re going to release it for adoption, aren’t you?”
So I said.”Well, yes, whatever you want.” I had found out I was still alive after telling them I was pregnant, and I wasn’t going to push my luck right then! But as I thought about it, it sounded like a good idea. I wanted to finish high school, perhaps go on to college. I just didn’t think it would work with a baby.
It was purely my decision. I knew that. I knew that in our family I really couldn’t raise the baby and do what I wanted to do. I did ask Mom how she would feel if I kept the baby, but she would not raise it. She said if I needed a babysitter, I would have to find someone else. I knew she meant it. By then, I really knew inside that I was going to relinquish the adoption, but i wanted to find out how they might feel if I did decide to keep it.
My Dad had told me I didn’t have to move with Alice and Bob. He told me that if my friends were nasty to me, they weren’t good friends anyway. But I wanted to go there. I still think it was the right thing to do. I lived with Alice and Bob and attended the special school for about three months. I felt pretty good most of the time so I helped Alice take care of their two little boys. I also learned to cook–something I hadn’t done at home much.
The Essay on What makes a good school
According to Morrison, author of Teaching in America, schools are organized and linked to society. In chapter 3, Morrison explains the role of schooling in society, how public schools are organized, what it is like to teach in different kinds of schools, what makes a good school, and how schools are changing. He makes a lot of good points on the different topics in the chapter, but the subject ...
One cold night early in March I went into labour. My little boy was born late the next afternoon. The doctor didn’t think I should see my baby. But I insisted, and of course they let me. He was beautiful.
Adoption is a big deal. But I think maybe it isn’t as big a deal as some girls think it is. Of course it’s hard giving up a baby you have carried for nine months. But life goes on. I think about him every now and then, but I don’t let it get to me.
