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photo by Hannah Reel
Vidalia High School sophomore Whitney Turner, 15, changes the clothes of her mechanical newborn baby doll that she’s cared for the past four days for her Parenting class.
Parenting class gives teens a taste of motherhood
Published Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The regular sound of a beeping alarm clock wasn’t what woke Whitney Turner, 15, up out of a deep sleep the past early mornings. Instead it was the sounds usually only heard by mothers and fathers, the ear piercing wails of a baby’s cry.
Since last Thursday, Turner, a Vidalia High School sophomore, has been caring for a mechanical baby that needs all the tender, loving care a newborn baby needs. She fed, soothed, cleaned and changed the diaper of her lifelike doll equipped with sensors that recorded her every move 24 hours a day. Her parenting class teacher will receive a report from the electronic doll that will be used to determine Turner’s final grade.
Photo by Hannah Reel
A baby care book with directions on how to care for a mechanical newborn baby doll sits next to the doll on a table in Sharon Patrick’s Parenting class.
Photo by Hannah Reel
Five mechanical new born baby dolls lie in a crib in Sharon Patrick’s parenting class at Vidalia High School. Patrick distributed the dolls to seven of her students last Thursday for them to care for through Monday.
Over the weekend, Turner said she didn’t spend much time with friends. Instead, she stayed at home and cared for the mechanical baby that cried at all times of the day.
“My parents thought it was funny,” Turner said.
“I’d get aggravated, and they’d tell me that I can’t do that with a real baby.”
Turner said it was a lot of hard work to figure out what the baby needed to stop crying, whether it was a fake bottle in it’s mouth, a diaper change or attention.
“I’m not having kids anytime soon,” Turner said.
Comments
Posted by suthngal (anonymous) on March 2, 2010 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yep they should have to keep them babies all year long and go to school w/them while taking care of them that may cut down on the teen pg. rate! Well it would cut down on the teens that had good since!
Posted by sophie (anonymous) on March 2, 2010 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I saw a couple of teenagers with one of the "babies" in the grocery store the other day.... She had it all bundled up, and was playing with it just as a mother would do a real baby.... The only complaint I had was that she left the buggy unattended for quite some time with the baby still in it.... what an interesting assignment!
Posted by jen_jen1227 (anonymous) on March 2, 2010 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My daughter also had hers over the weekend. She would also get aggrivated at the fact she couldn't even take a shower or get dressed without the baby crying. We didn't help her at all, it was all her. We laughed everytime she would get frustrated! My husband even threatened to put a brick in the carrier to make it heavier! I was against this class, didn't think kids should be carrying babies around, but I do think it got the kids attention on how one bad decision could effect the rest of their life.
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on March 2, 2010 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Food: Includes the extra amount you'll spend annually on food and nonalcoholic beverages purchased at grocery, convenience, and specialty stores; dining at restaurants; and school meals if you have a child.
Transportation: Includes the extra amount you'll spend annually to buy new and used vehicles, vehicle finance charges, gasoline and motor oil, maintenance and repairs, insurance, and public transportation if you have a child.
Clothing: Includes the average amount you'll spend annually on your child's apparel such as diapers, shirts, pants, dresses, and suits; footwear; and clothing services such as dry cleaning, alterations and repair, and storage.
Healthcare: Includes the average amount you'll spend annually on your child's medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance, prescription drugs and medical supplies not covered by insurance, and health insurance premiums not paid by your employer or other organizations.
Childcare and education: Includes the average amount you'll spend annually on your child's day care tuition and supplies; babysitting; and elementary and high school tuition, books, and supplies. (You may want to adjust this figure if you know your childcare needs and whether your child will attend public or private school.)
Miscellaneous: Includes the average amount you'll spend annually on your child's personal care items, entertainment, and reading materials.
Higher education: Includes the average amount you'll spend annually on your child's tuition, fees, room and board, books, travel, and incidental expenses at a public or private four-year college, depending on which you choose.
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on March 2, 2010 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have suggested this "taste of motherhood" exercise several times over the past years. I am glad that someone in the Vidalia school district sees it's value. Are they doing it in Natchez schools? It should be done in every school for girls and boys over the age of 14. It should be done 4x a year.
Parents, if it's annoying, you get little sleep or you are against this exercise in any way........contemplate this.......... The Cost of Raising Your Child
Here's what you're likely to spend to raise a child: $340,930
(Before you despair, remember that your income is likely to increase over time!)
Expense Start Age At Birth End Age 18
Housing 5940
Food 2323
Transportation 2543
Clothing 652
Healthcare 1010
Childcare/Education 1732
Miscellaneous 1897
College 12796
Cost for first year (excluding college) is $16,097
Total cost is $340,930
Based on:
What year was or will your child be born? 2010
Where do you live? City or suburb in the South (Pop 2,500)
What's your annual household income? $38,000-$64,000
Is yours a single- or two-parent household? Single
What kind of college do you expect your child to attend, public
All figures in 2006 dollars. THAT WAS 4 YEARS AGO.....WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE IN 2010 WITH INFLATION?
Here's what's included in each expense category:
Housing: Includes the extra amount you'll spend annually on shelter (mortgage interest, property taxes, or rent; maintenance and repairs; insurance), utilities (gas, electricity, fuel, telephone, and water), and home furnishings and equipment (furniture, floor coverings, major appliances, and small appliances) if you have a child. Mortgage principal payments are considered savings and are not included.
Posted by riverat (anonymous) on March 2, 2010 at 12:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree, 2008. Is it being done in NASD? Needs to be done in ALL the private schools, too!
Posted by tigermom (anonymous) on March 2, 2010 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not sure about other schools but know they did something like this at Cathedral this year. Heard the parents and kids talking about it, and what a PAIN the students thought it was.
If they only knew!!
Posted by Torano (anonymous) on March 2, 2010 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ahh glad to live in a town where the local paper writes about a teen pregnancy class. This isn't breaking any new ground as it's been done at schools across the nation for years, though I'm not sure why anyone would be against an assignment like this. Of course it won't keep teens from doing what they've been doing for years.
Posted by nosyrosy (anonymous) on March 2, 2010 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vidalia has been doing this for some time. My daughter brought her mechanical doll home when she was 15. She is now age 30.
Posted by attaboy (anonymous) on March 2, 2010 at 9:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Teach your daughter to keep her knees together. This will avoid teenagers with kids.
Posted by natcheznurse (anonymous) on March 3, 2010 at 6:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
and boys with their pants up!
Posted by josey (anonymous) on March 3, 2010 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good comment natacheznuse.................it does take two to make a baby. More parents should teach their son's to respect a girl and more girls should be taught their value as a woman.
Posted by attaboy (anonymous) on March 3, 2010 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
your right natcheznurse! The part about boys was in first attempt to post but got lost when I revised. I have to word everything just so or my comment will be removed. The root cause of the problem is the teenagers home life. The girls are going to do what Momma does and the boys learn from the rap and such how to treat women. No instruction at home equals more bastard children in the world.
Posted by riverat (anonymous) on March 3, 2010 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are plenty of teen unwed mothers who have come from good homes, with parents who thought they had taught their children their morals and values. I don't agree that it starts at home only. Peer pressure is a very powerful influence on kids....if all their friends are having sex, chances are they will too. This country needs to get its head out the sand and quit harping on abstinence. Start talking about responsibility that comes from being a parent (bravo VHS for your program) and safe sex. Ignoring that your teen is engaging in sex because you don't think its morally correct behavior willget you an unexpected gift in 9 months. Wake up, parents! Check your kids email, twitter, facebook, and text accounts. My guess is that you will be SHOCKED at what discussions 7th graders (and younger) are having with their friends.
Posted by DeWayneGuice (anonymous) on March 17, 2010 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe some of the boys should get a taste of fatherhood too.
Posted by kellie123 (anonymous) on July 16, 2010 at 2:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Im a 15 year old girl and my health class doesnt do the baby thing and i was wondering if anyone knew where i can buy one.
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