Abstract
School return by adolescent mothers has been problematic. Many of the barriers to continuing education have been created by school system practices and policies. Recent administrative and court decisions are forcing changes in these traditional practices. Participants in an adolescent pregnancy program were permitted to attend their usual high school during and after pregnancy. Staff members discussed this and other educational opportunities with each eligible student and her family. More members of the program than control group reported some school attendance during the quarter of the delivery. Compared with the control group, which was permitted but not systematically encouraged to return, more program participants returned to day school following the pregnancy. Unexpectedly high rates of return to other school programs (other than day school) were reported by members of the control group. It is argued that the program effects are primarily a function of elimination of school system barriers, both formal and informal, to school return so that the subjects' already high motivation to return could be realized.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atkyns, G. (1968). Trends in the retention of married and pregnant students in American public schools.Sociol. Educ. 41: 57–65.
Bayer, A. E. (1969). Marriage plans and educational aspiration.Am. J. Sociol. 75: 239–244.
Burchinal, L. (1960). Research on young marriages: Implications for family life education.Family Life Coordinator 9: 6–24.
Crumidy, P., and Jacobziner, H. (1966). A study of young unmarried mothers who kept their babies.Am. J. Public Health 56: 1242–1251.
Foltz, A., Klerman, L., and Jekel, J. (1972). Pregnancy and special education: Who stays in school?Am. J. Public Health 62: 1612–1619.
Hathaway, S. R., and Monachesi, E. D. (1963).Adolescent Personality and Behavior: MMPI Patterns of Normal, Delinquent, Dropout and Other Outcomes, University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, p. 94.
Howard, M. (1968). Comprehensive service programs for school-age pregnant girls.Children 15: 193–197.
Landis, J. (1965). High school student marriage, school policy, and family life education in California.J. Marriage Family 27: 271–276.
Sauber, M. (1965).Experiences of the Unwed Mother as a Parent, Community Council of Greater New York, New York, pp. 110–116.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Washington. Main interests include social pathological aspects of fertility and fertility-related behavior.
Received his Ph.D. in sociology from University of Washington. Main interests include sociology of the family. Current research is in family structure and suicide.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ewer, P.A., Gibbs, J.O. School return among pregnant adolescents. J Youth Adolescence 5, 221–229 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537495
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537495