When Being a Teen Mom first Became Accepted

Daily Mail
July 21, 2013

time-magazine

Teenage pregnancy rates in the U.S. dropped to a record low in 2011 according to a CDC report released in February, but the issue remains a controversial topic and political talking point.

Things were very different in the 1960s, when pregnant high-school girls were ostracized from educational establishments, families and society in general.

Pregnant teenagers were often expelled from schools or at least pressurized to leave.

In April 1971 LIFE magazine ran a special feature on young mothers, highlighting a program at Citrus High School in Azusa, California, which helped to let the girls continue education while expecting a baby .

Things were clearly changing at this point for teen moms, but not everyone agreed.

The cover story, called ‘Help for High School Mothers’, wrote of a 16-year-old student, eight months pregnant and unmarried, presenting a book report.

This girl was honor student Judy Fay.

But, according to the story: ‘Her classmates and teacher are unruffled, for the quiet scene is an everyday event at Citrus High… where educators are taking radical new approach to an old and painful problem.’

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