[mdesi]

Sorry, Oceans, I did not catch that. I generally don't read the reactions to articles. (I find it really disheartening to find out how rude, mean, and well, stupid (sorry in advance for using that language) people are.)

Aye, Caramba!

[Oceans]

heheh Mdesi, unless you are the author, I don't blame you I can't figure out if it's an editorial, an article or just a random post? Either way it's awfull.

[buttascotchbaby]

OMG that article is disgusting! How they even allowed that kind of solicitation on their website/newspaper, whatever, is just gross.

[mdesi]

Nope. I'm not the author of the article. I'm not that brazen. While we are on the subject, that is definitely NOT an article. Articles are supposed to be fact based and should have an editor or publisher back it up. At the most, it's an editorial, but most likely someone's blog.

ETA: Did anyone else catch the "great" adoption language in that whatever it is? "Giving your baby up for adoption. . ." (WTH?!) I'm thinking this person is not ready for too high of a level of openness. Yikes!!!

[Oceans]

What's interesting is that according to Use of Advertising and Facilitators in Adoptive Placement Massachusetts prohibits advertising by anyone other than the State department or a licensed agency. Not sure if this would be considered advertising or not but given that it is on a newspaper site... (???)

[lovemy2boys]

Originally Posted by mdesi

Nope. I'm not the author of the article. I'm not that brazen. While we are on the subject, that is definitely NOT an article. Articles are supposed to be fact based and should have an editor or publisher back it up. At the most, it's an editorial, but most likely someone's blog.

ETA: Did anyone else catch the "great" adoption language in that whatever it is? "Giving your baby up for adoption. . ." (WTH?!) I'm thinking this person is not ready for too high of a level of openness. Yikes!!!

Yeah - my favorite line from the editorial was when the writer asked for someone to "offer their children up for adoptions"...

It's like "Hey - who's willing to offer up their seat on the bus" or "Offer up their ticket to the ballgame...

Someone needs to tell this lady that if she's the voice of adoptive parents, I'm running for the hills.

[mdesi]

Oceans, That is funny. That is exactly what I was posting after your comment. (Now, I'm one of the "rude" people that I don't like to read.)

[Oceans]

Mdesi, you weren't rude at all... I was going to go back and suggest she call her attorney just to scare her LOL She's probably OK but one should really THINK about what they put out there and know the legalities before they do it.

[lahdh4]

Originally Posted by Oceans

What's interesting is that according to Use of Advertising and Facilitators in Adoptive Placement Massachusetts prohibits advertising by anyone other than the State department or a licensed agency. Not sure if this would be considered advertising or not but given that it is on a newspaper site... (???)

It is advertising. No other word for it.

[aclee]

I was watching the news conference yesterday and it said they were opening 51A's on these girls. I couldn't watch it all though...does anyone know if the 51A is because many of the fathers were over 18 or if they are considering the parents neglectful or what? I wish I could have watched it all!

[BrandyHagz]

Child Abuse & Neglect Brochure (51a)

[aclee]

I know WHAT a 51A is I had the unfortunate job of defending a former BF against one after his unstable ex wife reported him for spanking...long story.

I was just wondering if in this case they were listing the parents of girls or the fathers of the unborn children as the alleged perpetrators for 51A? It might not be released I guess...but they released that there are 51A's...which I would think would be confidential too!

[mdesi]

Well, failure to report abuse, at least in our state, would be reported to the public b/c it is a criminal violation. I work with first year teachers in my state. I'm surprised how many people do not know their reporting obligations and how many districts fail to teach their teachers this. (One of my jobs is to make sure that all of the teachers I work with know this. I take this very seriously.)

The police can release this information, but they cannot say who or for what the 51a is filed on behalf. That would be a violation of the minor's rights to privacy.

[alinev]

Teachers are on the front lines with students, they may not know every specific thing that goes on but 17 girls trying to get pregnant can't fly that low under the radar. What if the 17 girls were were involved in a pact to shoot up the school and carried it out, would the idea that the administration, including teachers, had no knowlege be acceptable?

[mdesi]

Originally Posted by alinev

Teachers are on the front lines with students, they may not know every specific thing that goes on but 17 girls trying to get pregnant can't fly that low under the radar. What if the 17 girls were were involved in a pact to shoot up the school and carried it out, would the idea that the administration, including teachers, had no knowlege be acceptable?

I don't think any school person will be in trouble with the 51a for the pact. Even if the teens made a pact to get pregnant, that is not an example of child abuse. The teens are the ones responsible for their actions and decisions there. However, if an adult knew that the girls were engaged with sexual activity with someone over the age of majority according to that state's laws, they would have to report it. In my two experiences with reporting statatory rape, the parents of the minor are notified, and it is up to the parents of the minor to make the decision to prosecute. (In both cases, the parents declined to prosecute.)

I do want to point out that no one in any article has claimed that any TEACHER knew of the alleged pact. The two people that most likely could face charges for knowing about statatory rape are the principal and the school nurse. Both went on record as to having some knowledge as to the alleged sexual behaviors with 24 y.o.'s.

ETA: Most teachers in high school have between 160-200 student contacts per day. The school is reported to serve 1500 students. 17 students is a little over 1% of the student population. It's actually not that unreasonable to believe that teachers teaching content would not know about the social goings on of their students.