Where's my child care?!

[mikester]

Okay, while this is a bit off the topic of the article - what the hell?! The girls get pregnant too young and get free child care...I plan my family wisely and wait until I'm 31 to have kids and I have to pay out the a$$ for child care.

What the hell, where is my free ride?

LOS ANGELES
Alternative Classes Are Unfair to Teen Mothers, Suit Says
Antelope Valley district is placing the students in rooms with 'little or no teaching instruction,' a complaint contends.

By Richard Fausset, Times Staff Writer


Pregnant students and teen mothers are being unlawfully moved from regular classes at Antelope Valley public high schools to alternative classrooms that are "little more than a study hall," according to a class-action lawsuit filed in federal court Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The complaint alleges Antelope Valley Union High School District officials illegally tell pregnant students and mothers that they must do the majority of their schoolwork in the special classrooms if they want to receive free child care and other state services.

Those classrooms offer no college-preparatory or language courses and "little or no teaching instruction," the suit states.

Officials from the school district refused to comment on the lawsuit Wednesday, saying they had not reviewed it.

The ACLU contends the alleged policy is "based upon discredited stereotypes that pregnant and parenting students … should stay out of sight and leave the public school system." The group also says the policy is unconstitutional and violates anti-discrimination laws.

"These girls are already at risk of dropping out," said Nancy Solomon, an attorney with the California Women's Law Center who consulted with the ACLU on the complaint. Solomon said some students may prefer the special classrooms. "But there are a lot of girls who want to stay in the [regular classes] that are on the road to college."

The ACLU estimates 120 students go to the special classrooms, which are at Palmdale, Highland and Antelope Valley high schools and at an alternative school in Lancaster.

One of the two plaintiffs listed in the case is a 15-year-old girl who spent the second semester of the last school year at Antelope Valley High's special classroom. The girl, a junior who has a 1-year-old child, said the class consisted of students from eighth to 12th grade, with one teacher overseeing them. Most of their study was based on textbooks and prepared work packets said the girl, who did not want to give her name.

When she tried to register for college-prep classes this year, the girl said a school counselor told her that she had to take at least five of her classes in the special classroom to remain eligible for free child care. She decided to drop out of the child-care program and take regular classes until the case is decided.

The child care and the special classrooms are part of a statewide program enacted in 2000 called Cal-SAFE. The California law that governs the program states that school districts must "ensure that enrolled pupils retain their right to participate in any comprehensive school or educational alternative programs in which they could otherwise enroll."

The Los Angeles County Office of Education, which operates the special classrooms, also is named as a defendant. Officials there also declined to comment.

[flyenby]

VERY few free rides for people born here.............................

[john70t]

I knew this Phillipino-national chick who was here on work visa- sending her US dollars home. She had a baby right before her visa expired and was getting $1100/mo. plus food stamps and was still working part time. That's what all her friends were doing.

Wonder why there's no money for anything else? The problem is the government system is too complex (i.e. bills having hidden additions) for the public to keep track of what's going on, and each department has little incentive(i.e their jobs) to maintain a budget.

[billwagnon]

yep those teenage mothers have it made

bet their kids do too

everybody's got it better than I do - where's my free ride?!?!?!?!

[widebody911]

15 with a 1 year-old?

This is one of the areas in which Liberals and I part ways. Schools should not be providing day care. Period. Secondly, we need to re-think the 'anchor baby' immigration laws. I've lost count the pregnant H1's I've seen at work. If you want to come here to work for a given period of time, great; if you get knocked up in the meantime, buy 2 plane tickets home.

And to think I held off having kids because I didn't think I was well enough financially situated.

[mikester]

The thing is that that child born here is a citizen. I think in most EU nations your child born in a particular country isn't a Citizen unless they ACCEPT citizenship with that country when they are 18. Thus - no anchor.

That anchor's a big problem 'round these parts. And no - I don't think my tax dollars should be paying child support for someone who is going to public school. The failure of the parents should be their responsibility FIRST and societies eventually (no way around that after the fact I suppose).

More often than not I think free rides are bad. Sure there are folks out there who DO use their ride and get back on their feet but I feel like they are few and far between.

[RickM]

Originally posted by widebody911
15 with a 1 year-old?

This is one of the areas in which Liberals and I part ways. Schools should not be providing day care. Period. Secondly, we need to re-think the 'anchor baby' immigration laws. I've lost count the pregnant H1's I've seen at work. If you want to come here to work for a given period of time, great; if you get knocked up in the meantime, buy 2 plane tickets home.

Amen

[widebody911]

Originally posted by mikester
The thing is that that child born here is a citizen.

Fine. The kid can stay, but Mom and Dad still have to leave. Whether or not that take Junior is up to them.

The womb should not be a fast track to a green card.

[mikester]

Just chaps my hide.

Why do I have to pay $1400 a month for infant child care; Because I can.

Why does she get it for free? Because she's a 15 year old girl who shouldn't be having children much less SEX anyway. The parents are responsible for that parent.