EDITORIAL: Education, honesty needed to reduce teenage birth rates

Posted 9/18/14

The teen birth rate is declining, which is good news, but further efforts are needed here in Wyoming, since the health of young mothers and their babies is often fragile. Preventing pregnancies can and will reduce the number of abortions as …

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EDITORIAL: Education, honesty needed to reduce teenage birth rates

Posted

Thumbs up to a report that the teen birth rate declined in Wyoming for the fifth year in a row, but thumbs down to the fact that it remains above the national average.

The Wyoming Department of Health reports that 34.6 babies per 1,000 are born to girls ages 15-19. That’s down from 50.1 births per 1,000 in 2007 but still far too high; the national rate is 29.4 births per 1,000 to teen moms.

The teen birth rate is declining, which is good news, but further efforts are needed here in Wyoming, since the health of young mothers and their babies is often fragile. Preventing pregnancies can and will reduce the number of abortions as well.

While some advocate self-control and abstinence, which are worth promoting, let’s be realistic: that is not enough to stop kids from having sex — and babies.

In this hyper-sexual time, children and young adults live in the real world, where sexuality, sex and pregnancy are facts of life and sex is promoted, pushed and publicized around the clock. The answers are access to birth control, since virtually all teen pregnancies are unplanned, according to the mothers, and increased education.

These are very young people dealing with grown-up issues, and all too often, the result is a child facing a difficult life and a mother who is not ready for such responsibility.

Thumbs up to the Wyoming Supreme Court and District Judge Peter G. Arnold.

The court upheld the decision of Judge Arnold of Cheyenne, who sentenced David C. Croy to prison in 2013 after his no-contest plea to interfering with a police officer — Croy actually bit the cop.

Croy had struck a deal calling for three to five years of probation but the judge rejected it, noting that Croy had 11 convictions for drunken driving and was a threat to re-offend.

“Mr. Croy, what am I going to tell the mother of the child you kill when you’re out drinking and driving?” Arnold said. “What am I going to tell her when she comes in and says, ‘Great job, judge. ... He had 11 convictions for driving while impaired or while under the influence. How could you possibly put him back on the street?’ What am I going to tell her?’”

Croy’s promise that he could control his imbibing thankfully fell on deaf ears.

“But you haven’t in the past,” the judge said. “There has never been a time when you didn’t drink. I’m sorry, Mr. Croy, I’m not going to take a chance.”

Thank you, your honor.

Thumbs up to Northwest College rodeo team member Shawn Bird.

During a Sept. 6 team roping event, Bird and his partner Zach Schweigert seemed assured of a first-place finish. But Bird, the team’s header, knew he had used an illegal head catch that had not been called.

He reported himself, costing the Trappers a possible 290 points that day. NWC finished a surprising and disappointing seventh in the meet, but his coach, teammates and rivals were proud of him for this exhibition of true sportsmanship.

“It was the right thing to do,” said Trappers coach Del Nose. “It hurts, but we know it was the right thing.”

We tip our hats to a cowboy who knows right from wrong.

Thumbs up to one of the most beloved events of the small-town calendar, the high school homecoming.

Powell High School is celebrating its rite of passage this week, with events building toward a parade through downtown at 3 p.m. Friday, followed by the big game, with Riverton facing the dubious distinction of taking on the powerhouse three-time defending Class 3A state champion Panthers at 7 p.m.

It promises to be, fittingly, a crisp fall night, perfect for football, hot chocolate and tradition.

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