Thanks, Barbara, for shaking me out of my dream world.
Your description of the way schools meet teen mothers sounded more like
prison camp than an institution for education of the generation that will be
caring for US as we age.

What special, diabolical punishments does your state's educational system
have, to ensure that teen FATHERS will be equally penalized for their
transgression?

About 20% of the female students I went to H.S. with in Seattle, were
mothers by the time we graduated.  Even thirty years ago I don't think they
were received with such unreasonable attitudes.  Certainly there was little
stigma attached to having a baby.  My friends and I  remained childless and
I don't know how much BF there was among the mothers, my guess is not much.
But we had a school-run, on-site daycare, and the parents had to have 'early
childhood development lab' as a compulsory course.  The class was in the
daycare and the children were part of the learning materials.  They also ate
lunch in the day care to be with the children.  It seemed then like a Good
Idea, and it still does.

Teens are a lot like people, actually.  If you treat them with respect, they
notice it and they appreciate it.  Empowered teen mothers are tremendously
exciting.

Rachel Myr in Norway, where there also is no stigma attached to teens per se
having babies and starting out a young, single mother is not synonymous with
a lifetime struggling to get out of abject poverty

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