Letter: Consider alternatives to teen pregnancy

The recent article "Teen program bears success" (July 3) was well done. However, I was disappointed that more space was not provided to call attention to the lack of sex education which might have prevented the hardships faced by these young girls. The girls didn't even think they could get pregnant — or that it couldn't happen to them. This is innocence gone amok.

Did the parents of these girls ever speak to them about using birth control, protective devices, or better yet, abstaining from sexual relations altogether? A 14-year-old-girl on a date is no match for a 14-year-old boy with raging hormones. According to Dr. Phil, young girls must be taught that a boy who would suggest, or even insist, on having sex with them has no respect or "love" for them — they are just looking for self satisfaction and will tell them anything to achieve it.

On the other hand, I congratulate each of these girls for allowing their babies to be born. They obviously respected their baby's right to be born and I am grateful for that. However, at that point, they could also have chosen adoption by a childless couple. Many childless couples have been the recipients of a birth mother's generosity to put their child's welfare and future above their own desires — a good alternative for all parties concerned.

Dottie van Eckhardt

Yuba City