"Pregnancy Pact" Principal Resigns

Created Firestorm With Comments That Teen Girls At Mass. High School Purposely Got Pregnant

(AP)  A high school principal who set off a furor after being quoted as saying that teenage girls formed a pact to get pregnant has resigned, weeks after his comments were publicly questioned by the mayor.

Time magazine reported in June that Joseph Sullivan said a pact made by a group of teens to get pregnant and raise their babies together was at least partly behind a spike in pregnancies at Gloucester High School. Seventeen girls at the school became pregnant this year - four times the usual number.

Sullivan later said he did not recall using the word "pact" but believed many of the pregnancies were intentional.

The theory arose amid a debate over whether to dispense contraceptives at a school health clinic without parents' knowledge.

Mayor Carolyn Kirk said at a June 23 news conference that she and school officials could not confirm the existence of a pact and had not invited Sullivan to the news conference because they could not verify his comments.

The principal said in a statement released by his attorney Tuesday that he believes the mayor "publicly slandered my reputation, my integrity and my intelligence" at the news conference.

"The ramifications of this whole episode on me and ... my family have been devastating and the Mayor's actions and the Superintendent's public silence has forced me to recognize that I have neither the trust, confidence or respect of the Mayor nor the Superintendent," Sullivan said in the statement sent to the Gloucester Daily Times.

He said he was resigning effective Friday and would retire.

"I have at all times tried to fair and honest with the students, the faculty, the staff and the community," he said. "At all times I have done what I have felt was in the best interests of the high school."

Kirk said in a statement Tuesday that "Dr. Sullivan will long be remembered in Gloucester for the many individual families he helped over the past 10 years. I wish him all the best in his retirement."

She did not immediately return calls to her office and home seeking further comment.

Officials have started an extensive study of teen pregnancy in Gloucester, including a review of the city's sex education programs and whether the school's 8-year-old day care center sent a message approving of teen motherhood.

[mediabrat60]

.......and I thought Utah was bad.

[barbaraf4]

Any way you look at it, this school is in serious need of a change in leadership.

[notopennshut]

Kirk and superintendent should be the ones to be kicked out, rather than the principal who said it the way it is. Agreement or not, it happened and if you know anything of human nature, especially of young teens, they had come together to do this, even if it was not deemed a "pact". Is the mayor, a woman at that, so stupid, blind and deaf, that she does not understand the psychology of these kids?? She should resign right now and not later! This is why the town is going to the dogs, with people like her as mayor; nothing worse than sticking her head and those of other so-called leaders, in the sand. Principal spoke the truth. Parents should also be held accountable and be responsible for these kids, their offsprings and not let us, the other tax payers be financially responsible to raising them, although this is what will happen. Until we make the parents responsible for their kids, they will not care for the state, with the help of people like Kirk, will support them in every way. When will this cycle end???

[rixmix98]

So when are parents going to start raising their children rather than expecting the teachers and principals to do so?

[kennedy7955]

Another example of how being honest and not politically correct can cost a person their job....

[homespunlady]

Nah, a daycare center for the babies of the students, free birth control and the perceived "status" and other BENEFITS of pregnancy that some of these girls mentioned surely wouldn''t "ENCOURAGE" such things.
At least Not any more than say smoking or booze being advertised to kids has.
The vice selling corporations ALL say those glamour shot models and cartoon characters advocating THAT actually DETERRED kids from smoking and alcohol.

As far as the "PACT" - my daughter told me MONTHS BEFORE the story broke about a group of girls bragging on the INTERNET about THOSE PLANS.
It may or may not be the SAME group that this principal spoke about but I know that somewhere there WAS such a group.
It''s a SAD commentary on the state of America when this nation actually provides IN SCHOOL DAYCARE CENTERS FOR the BABIES OF UNDERAGE GIRLS, free passes for the irresponsible sperm donors creating those babies and at the SAME TIME our standing in the world for REAL "education" steadily plummets to Third World levels.

[ndussere]

When are the parents going to resign? Afterall, the kids are not the principals responsibility are they?

[andsab]

When are the parents going to resign? Afterall, the kids are not the principals responsibility are they?

I totally agree with you. What a shame!!!

[nogoodnews]

Wow, so they needed a scapegoat. What a shame that while looking for someone to blame for this situation, the situation goes on. Amazing. This Country can be so self righteous that it''s absolutely BLIND! Do they really THINK that the idea of some teen girls getting together and doing this is UNHEARD OF? So much so as to fire a principal over it? Oh sorry, "he resigned" whatever. Political correctness makes me so sick.

[girl52]

I believe that these young ignorant girls did say to each other "hey lets get pregnant! I''ll do it if you do it" Get real, the principal didn''t make it up. I think this is a sad, very sad!

[girl52]

The tax payors of america will be the people paying for the kids to raise kids that will more than likely do the same things their young moms did...Lay on their back and try to make some boy love them by giving up the goods and making a child. This is disgusting to me! Where are their *** parents!

[homespunlady]

The latest "political correctness" has us in THREE WARS now and BANKRUPT as a nation compliments of the Ruling War and Banking PROFITEERS.

Make more babies folks.
The DUMBER the better!!

So fund those Middle school Daycare centers for the STUDENT''S BABIES and "free clinics" so they know how to "do it" effectively.

NCLB sure seems to be working very well at destroying common sense in the masses.

The ruling elite need more cannon fodder and servants to "support" them as they widen the WEALTH GAP to FEUDAL levels..and that takes DUMB people since smart ones would "catch on" and throw the bums OUT.

[barbaraf4]

"When are the parents going to resign? Afterall, the kids are not the principals responsibility are they?"
Posted by andsab
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The parents already did resign. That''s how this mess started.

[jedwards808]

Why is the solution always to "spay the beyotches" or some other form of "birth control is up to the girls"?? As far as I know, those babies were made with the help of some boys & from what I can tell, they didn''t exactly insist on using condoms. So maybe instead of "spaying the beyotches," we should "neuter the boy-******," or would you find that offensive? Maybe an even BETTER solution would be to teach and encourage both the girls AND the boys to use birth control! What a concept!

[god-is-true]

Like all politicians the Mayor was probable in bed with them

[ubada-2009]

Sure, that''s what''s wrong with the Country. Everybody is looking for someone to blame for whatever goes wrong with their lives. No body ever takes responsibility for their own actions.
And I think that it is about time that America really wakes up from it''s slumber. I just want people to realize that, with the advent of the Internet, America is now being EXPOSED to the rest of the world.
Long time ago, the whole world held us in a very high esteem. But not any more. With the Bush blunders and all the political correctness we do, the whole world is watching. And the more we air our laundry for the whole world to see, the more we loose the remainder of the little respect we have. We are now drifting to the lowest position in the world. Thanks to the political correctness,our little ignorance that permeate all the segment of the society especially our so called leader.

Could you imagine that our High school students, when polled, almost all of them could not name the past presidents of the US, and almost all of the Japanese, and Chinese students named almost all of them ? That is pitiful. And the most painful thing about it was that nobody seems to care. Did anybody seem to pay attention to the damage the so called CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES are causing this society? See, the minute you take away parental right and responsibility, the sooner you ruin the society. That is what is happening to this society and the worst is yet to come. Stay tuned!!!!!!!

[ubada-2009]

Sure, that''s what''s wrong with the Country. Everybody is looking for someone to blame for whatever goes wrong with their lives. No body ever takes responsibility for their own actions.
And I think that it is about time that America really wakes up from it''s slumber. I just want people to realize that, with the advent of the Internet, America is now being EXPOSED to the rest of the world.
Long time ago, the whole world held us in a very high esteem. But not any more. With the Bush blunders and all the political correctness we do, the whole world is watching. And the more we air our laundry for the whole world to see, the more we loose the remainder of the little respect we have. We are now drifting to the lowest position in the world. Thanks to the political correctness,our little ignorance that permeate all the segment of the society especially our so called leader.

Could you imagine that our High school students, when polled, almost all of them could not name the past presidents of the US, and almost all of the Japanese, and Chinese students named almost all of them ? That is pitiful. And the most painful thing about it was that nobody seems to care. Did anybody seem to pay attention to the damage the so called CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES are causing this society? See, the minute you take away parental right and responsibility, the sooner you ruin the society. That is what is happening to this society and the worst is yet to come. Stay tuned!!!!!!!

[ubada-2009]

Sure, that''s what''s wrong with the Country. Everybody is looking for someone to blame for whatever goes wrong with their lives. No body ever takes responsibility for their own actions.

[ubada-2009]

And I think that it is about time that America really wakes up from it''s slumber. I just want people to realize that, with the advent of the Internet, America is now being EXPOSED to the rest of the world.
Long time ago, the whole world held us in a very high esteem. But not any more. With the Bush blunders and all the political correctness we do, the whole world is watching. And the more we air our laundry for the whole world to see, the more we loose the remainder of the little respect we have.

[ubada-2009]

We are now drifting to the lowest position in the world. Thanks to the political correctness,our little ignorance that permeate all the segment of the society especially our so called leader.

Could you imagine that our High school students, when polled, almost all of them could not name the past presidents of the US, and almost all of the Japanese, and Chinese students named almost all of them ? That is pitiful. And the most painful thing about it was that nobody seems to care. Did anybody seem to pay attention to the damage the so called CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES are causing this society? See, the minute you take away parental right and responsibility, the sooner you ruin the society. That is what is happening to this society and the worst is yet to come. Stay tuned!!!!!!!

[toolmangler-2009]

if ONE MORE girl had ended up pregnant at that school, I guarantee you one of these so-called parents would have tried to SUE THE SAME PRINCIPAL for not saying anything to prevent it!

Posted by DaVicar2 at 11:06 AM : Aug 13, 2008



100% agreement

[toolmangler-2009]

Like all politicians the Mayor was probable in bed with them
Posted by god-is-true at 11:57 AM : Aug 13, 2008



You appear to believe in GOD, why don''t you let ''Him'' judge them and not yourself. you are as bad as those you accuse.

[normacluster]

Did anybody seem to pay attention to the damage the so called CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES are causing this society? See, the minute you take away parental right and responsibility, the sooner you ruin the society. That is what is happening to this society and the worst is yet to come. Stay tuned!!!!!!!
Posted by ubada at 12:57 PM : Aug 13, 2008

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Agreed. CPS is the most highly detrimental agency threatening American society today. The damage done is only now beginning to rear its head...increased drug use and teen pregnancies as a result of families ripped apart by government interference. CPS workers are pit bulls, borderline sociopaths. Their job involves nothing short of kidnapping. There are no substantial standards/policies in place within the system to keep a rogue control-freak social worker in check. Once you are accused, you must prove innocence against their accusations. In addition, the juvenile court system is an utter mess.

[jackp32]

Bush made him say it.

[barbaram99]

look in to the foster homes.. I grew in them..moved from home to home..60s to 70s. ABUSE..The nanny state took away what a parents can''t do. Ye end up in foster home. That child is a ward of the state.
Ye can''t do
Tap their seat
Ground them
Tell them they can''t do /wear that.
The child bosses the adult. I have seen it.

[antizion]

AMERICA IS A COUNTRY OF MANY MANY YOUNG *****!!

Posted by Good4Always at 02:50 PM : Aug 13, 2008

That would be spelled "*****". Be have far more ignorant morons like you that need to learn to shut up and stop making a fool of yourself.

Why must the morons always type in caps? Feeling powerless and unheard? You are and you should be. Kill your computer.

[sistatee-2009]

The girls were quoted as saying they didn''t know where babies came from.

[barbaram99]

SistaTee and ladies,
They know where babies come from and the know what a monthly period is, They know full well the act of sexx with them and males they will carry a baby. I was not born yesturday sister.

[barbaram99]

Forgive me here the bible don''t work in this case. Ye can preach till the cows come home. It don''t work. We have sep of church and state. What will work is that fact is taking care of a child and realising I am too young for this. I HELPPED CARE OF CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER HOME 15 TO 18. I did not want children. They are demanding.

[bobnjersey]

[Could you imagine that our High school students, when polled, almost all of them could not name the past presidents of the US, and almost all of the Japanese, and Chinese students named almost all of them ? That is pitiful. And the most painful thing about it was that nobody seems to care.]
[Posted by ubada at 12:57 PM : Aug 13, 2008]

this won''t get you anywhere with respect to who the finalists are on american idol ... or who the winner was on dancing w/ the stars ... or what new texting plan is available for your new cell phone.

studying history will only show them that there were generations of others ... for thousands of years ... dealing w/ the same problems they deal with. what good is this?

[/end of sarcasm]

[ajmarine111]

Officials have started an extensive study of teen pregnancy in Gloucester, including a review of the city''s *** education programs and whether the school''s 8-year-old day care center sent a message approving of teen motherhood.


This is new to me, I didn''t know High schools had day care centers.

[barbaram99]

I am from Maine. I am sorry but I am not buying the girls have no idea where babies come from. I knew at 10. Cats having kittens.
Time to set them down and lie the rules out.
School is for learning.
Dress properly
Dating is off limits.
Get a education before babies.
Girls grow up.

[redhoffer]

Girls today have vastly less understanding about pregnancy then they used to, there is a sort of "don''t ask, don''t tell" phenomenon at place.
With the increase of abstinence based education and less discussion about teen ***, there has been an increase of teen pregancies and teens getting STD''s such as HIV.
All these groups who say they support teens by witholding basic information about contraception and *** in truth must hate young people.
Why else would they want teens to get HIV and get pregnant at higher rates?
Give teens the facts and the might make the "right" choice; hide the facts from them, and you are responsible for their ignorance which means you helped them get HIV and get pregnant.
So many adults seem to hate kids and want to hide basic info from them and must want them them to get sick and pregnant.

[barbaram99]

I don''t hate kids and due to health issues never wanted to bring a child in to the world that I could not raise and give a home,That said where were the girls parents, Adults don''t want to talk about this issue sexx. Yet they are up in arms when Janey is with child. Are ye gonna address this issue mother and father. I am the daughther of a teen mother and I was put on the town at 5. My parents would not stay married. Mother thinks it won''t happen to my girl..think again. Sexx is in yer face, on TV,movies,music,books,etc. Why ye think girls dress as they do..No body told me about the facts of life. Why does a young girl want a baby really why.
Is it to keep a boyfriend
Run away from home
State aid
Attn a baby brins
A baby makes her feel grown up.
They are childre having children.
It is sad.
I think the blame is the parents that are too busy to be parents.

[keithle1]

A teenage girl gets pregnant every 30 seconds.

There are a lot of mothers/grandmothers babysitting for their teenage daughters/granddaughters while they go to school, work at a minimum wage job, etc. It affects the whole family. Baby''s "father" usually disappears.

Some girls are disappointed with the boys they meet & are looking for unconditional love from a baby. Boy just wants quick & easy s e x. He''s not looking for monogamy.

You''re never going to get teenage girls to "dress properly," BarbaraM99. That''s the LAST thing they want to do. If their parents like the clothes they wear then they''re doing something wrong. They want to look like a s e x y *** to get attention from boys.

But it''s not like the teenage boys are going to ignore girls if they dress like Mr. Drysdale''s secretary Jane Hathaway from "Beverly Hillbillies."
I went to high school where we had to wear a uniform but that didn''t stop me from noticing hotties, girls with big breasts, etc. Teenage hormones. Nubile maidens everywhere.

Getting pregnant won''t force the boy to stay with you. It''ll have the opposite effect. DUH.

Soon as she graduates from high school she''ll probably never see 99% of the boys from her school ever again. All the boys she thought were so "cool" & "hot."

[keithle1]

Catholic Church is no help with their stupid high-and-mighty propaganda:

No birth control! Ever! Throw away those satanic condoms! Abortion is never the answer! Every sperm is sacred! Have more babies! The world needs more people. The human race is dying out! No, we won''t help you babysit. That''s your problem. S e x = pregnancy = HAVING THE BABY. Always & forever.

[barbaram99]

keithle,
I was a teen ager once as ye were. I am going to tell ye what I was told. Foster mother said this way *I don''t care what and how other girls dress yer not dressing as them. We have a dress code and ye will abide by it. I buy yer clothes and ye will wear them, do I make myself clear,* I said dutiful *yes ma''am ye do.* I had I worn the wrong thing I would have been told to change my clothes.
Keithle Would ye allow yer girls to do as they want. If yer a Dad I think not. That is why ye a parent. Yer in command not the minor. Yer posts tell it like it is.
The churches got not business telling girls they can''t use birth control. The mormons are worse in this as they will not allow sexx ed. No birth control . I hate dresses to this day.
This girl in gym was worried about her breast size, a girl who never got her period, teenage girls worried about their body. I could careless as I was abused I told them. I was not allowed to talk to a boy or if I could see, look at him ,foster mother''s rules. I could not have friends her ruld again.