How do you feel about this?

[Engyo]

I direct your attention to the last line; the father of the child was not excluded from the ceremony. Is his responsibility somehow less than hers? I don't get it.

Scott and other RC folk: No disrespect intended here, I am genuinely puzzled by the logic used to make this decision, and hope someone here can help me understand.

May 19, 2005, 12:15AM

Pregnant Alabama student, banned from graduation, walks anyway

Associated Press



MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A pregnant student who was banned from graduation at her Roman Catholic high school announced her own name and walked across the stage anyway at the close of the program.

Alysha Cosby's decision prompted cheers and applause Tuesday from many of her fellow seniors at St. Jude Educational Institute.

But her mother and aunt were escorted out of the church by police after Cosby headed back to her seat.

"I can't believe something like this is happening in 2005," said her mother, Sheila Cosby. "My daughter has been through a lot and I am proud of her. She deserved to walk, and she did."

The school's guidance counselor delivered Cosby's degree to her house earlier Tuesday, but she still wanted to participate.

"I worked hard throughout high school and I wanted to walk with my class," she said.

Cosby was told in March that she could no longer attend school because of safety concerns, and her name was not listed in the graduation program.

The father of Cosby's child, also a senior at the school, was allowed to participate in graduation.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I would appreciate clarification as well.

 

[Green Gaia]

It's the old double-standard when it comes to teenage pregnancy: it's all the girl's fault (because it's evident by her changing body that she's had sex) and the boy is not held accountable. I would not say that this is so much an RC issue, I've heard the same happen in public schools. Safety issue my ***.

I would say that if the private school had a policy in place about pregnancy and walking through graduation, then it should be upheld, but that they boy should be held to the same standard. However, this should never happen in a public school.

 

[johnnys4life]

I'll have to go with Maize on this one. What "safety issue" are they talking about? That sounds like a load of hooey to me.

The only possible justification I can think of - and a weak one at that is this : Statistically, pregnant girls in a high school tend to create more pregnant girls in a high school. That's just a fact, it may not be fair...but I don't know it just puts the idea in people's minds. I have even seen girls in middle school act jealous of the pregnant girl because she got all the attention.

And I'm not trying to turn this into another abortion debate, But, think about that for a second. A girl is ALWAYS treated differently when she's pregnant - because it's noticeable. It's SO unfair. My friend had sex 1 time people, at 19, and she got pregnant the first time, and everyone treated her like a ****. But the guy? Well, he moved on to the next girl. And even if they did know, nobody thought HE was a **** or anything of the sort. The blame went TOTALLY on her. I mean last time I checked, being pregnant wasn't a SIN, or a disease.

Why should the boy be held accountable if it's "her body" or " her pregnancy". She could go abort that kid today and the "father" couldn't say a word about it. I've heard of SO many guys leaving thier women because they got pregnant and wouldn't abort. The double standard remains.

 

[Original Freak]

Well being pregnant she obviously failed the abstinence only sex ed class ...

 

[Scott1]

Scott and other RC folk: No disrespect intended here, I am genuinely puzzled by the logic used to make this decision, and hope someone here can help me understand.

No logic was used.... this was total IGNORANCE.

I am sure that if this young lady would have quietly gotten an abortion, she would have been able to walk up and get her diploma.... they are sending a great Catholic message to the other girls in her community.

Idiots.

 

[johnnys4life]

Well being pregnant she obviously failed the abstinence only sex ed class ...

Babies are a nice "failure" though. Better that than AIDS.


Hmm....I was thinking about this, and, you can't really blame the RC church. Cause I have seen the same thing go on in VERY secular high schools, they pressure the girls to leave for the rest of the year.

I'm sure this happens in every high school, everywhere. It isn't fair to say it's just a Catholic thing. I'm sure that for every 1 story like this you hear about the RC high schools, there a thousand other RC high schools who would bend over backwards to make sure that girl graduated. And same with public schools.

 

[Engyo]

I really wasn't looking at this as an RC issue per se. It just happened to be an RC high school, and I am aware this happens elsewhere as well. I put in the disclaimer I did, so that people would understand I wasn't pointing this at only the RC community............ This just happened to be the example at hand.

 

[johnnys4life]

Very good point, SOGFPP, this is one of the faults of society that we cannot blame on secularism. Even Christians tend to look disdainfully at pregnant girls, I have seen it myself. I always hate to see that though, cause it's having pre-marital sex, not being pregnant, that's a sin. And you can't assume someone sinned, or that they are unforgiven either, just cause they are pregnant. Even when I was pregnant and going around when I forgot my wedding ring, I got looks from stupid people.

I mean, like I was saying my friend Jen, she got pregnant at 19 and she had only had sex once. But because she was showing, everyone acted like she was the biggest ho on the planet. When sitting right next to her in Bible study, is little miss S., who actually is the biggest ho on the block - and so is her boyfriend, but she's infertile, and nobody knows (except me, cause she told me all about it). And nobody ever says a thing to her!

The other thing is, this flat out shouldn't happen. If anything, a pregnant girl should have MORE encouragement to graduate!

 

[michel]

It's the old double-standard when it comes to teenage pregnancy: it's all the girl's fault (because it's evident by her changing body that she's had sex) and the boy is not held accountable. I would not say that this is so much an RC issue, I've heard the same happen in public schools. Safety issue my ***.

I would say that if the private school had a policy in place about pregnancy and walking through graduation, then it should be upheld, but that they boy should be held to the same standard. However, this should never happen in a public school.

"Cosby was told in March that she could no longer attend school because of safety concerns, and her name was not listed in the graduation program." Is the salient point; as you say Maize, the physical condition of the girl was a potential risk to the school (in case she tripped up, fell down and lost the baby, because she could no longer see her feet, because of her 'lump'), where as the father has no such impediment.

This is a classic absurdity of the litigation bandwagon.

 

[kreeden]

But her mother and aunt were escorted out of the church by police after Cosby headed back to her seat.

I have to say that was a nice touch too .... :banghead3

 

[Fat Old Sun]

Alabama again

 

[Jaymes]

Oh, Alabama... one of the few states Georgia can make fun of.

 

[Fat Old Sun]

Of course Alabama has Mississippi.


Who do people in Mississippi make fun of?

 

[iaminterface]

tennessee

(where i live)