Nutbags with a Double-Standard: School Forbids Teen Mom, But Allows Teen Dad to Graduate

Pregnant student defies graduation ban
Thursday, May 19, 2005

MONTGOMERY, Alabama (AP) -- A pregnant student who was banned from graduation at her Roman Catholic high school announced her own name and walked across the stage anyway at the close of the program.

Alysha Cosby's decision prompted cheers and applause Tuesday from many of her fellow seniors at St. Jude Educational Institute.

But her mother and aunt were escorted out of the church by police after Cosby headed back to her seat.

"I can't believe something like this is happening in 2005," said her mother, Sheila Cosby. "My daughter has been through a lot and I am proud of her. She deserved to walk, and she did."

The school's guidance counselor delivered Cosby's degree to her house earlier Tuesday, but she still wanted to participate.

"I worked hard throughout high school and I wanted to walk with my class," she said.

Cosby was told in March that she could no longer attend school because of safety concerns, and her name was not listed in the graduation program.

The father of Cosby's child, also a senior at the school, was allowed to participate in graduation.


After all these years, they are still abiding by the same ol' crap: women are dirty, and boys will be boys. Put the scarlet letter on the pregnant mom who was stupid, lazy or sinful enough to get pregnant (as if she did it on purpose, or by herself)...but the father? He gets a pass.

Absolutely disgusting. And to then have the POLICE called? Adding insult to injury.

Kudos to this girl and her family for refusing to let the school treat her as if it were 1905 instead of 2005. And shame on the school...for treating her like a leper, for not holding the father responsible as well, and for involving the cops. Statistics have shown for years that pregnant teens are less likely to finish school...and situations like this DO NOT help. Treating the girls as if they are shameful and something to be hidden away so as not to embarrass the school, while the father has no such prohibitions, is not only sexist garbage but antiquated bullshit that I'd hoped even the RCC was beyond by now. And the whole "safety concerns" nonsense? Utter and complete rubbish which, I've no doubt, fooled no one.

My note to the RCC: you've got bad enough press right now for your treatment of children. Why are throwing kindling on the fire?