17 Teens Pregnant at Glouchester High School: Was There Really a Pact?

Suspicions aroused due to the increased requests for pregnancy tests at the high school health clinic. The high school principal Joseph Sullivan cannot recall who it was that mentioned the girls entered a pact to all get pregnant at the same time. Sullivan has also made claims "some girls seemed more upset when they weren't pregnant than when they were." He commented that the girls would high five each other and make plans for baby showers when reacting to the news of a pregnancy.

Carolyn Kirk, mayor of Glouchester, MA, says that many factors can be involved in the surge of pregnancies. However, she doubts that over a dozen girls would conspire and agree to all get pregnant. Being a fishing town, Glouchester has suffered from an economic decline. Unfortunately that means a cut in teachers, social services, and health classes in the schools.

Was there a Pact?

Appearing on Good Morning America June 24, Lindsey Oliver, 17, denies the rumor that there was a pact amongst seventeen girls to all get pregnant. In fact, she states, "there was definitely no pact". In addition, Oliver claims that it has not even been confirmed that there are seventeen girls pregnant at the school. The only pact that occurred was after the girls became pregnant. "There was a group of girls already pregnant that decided to help each other to finish school and raise their kids together." Hoping for a support group, the girls felt that they could lean on each other for support.

Is Pop-Culture To Blame?

With 17-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears recently giving birth, and the hit movie "Juno", the increase in pregnancies at Glouchester High School has been blamed on the "glamorization of pregnancy" by the media. The mayor of Glouchester also blames the lack health education funding. Oliver states that there was no "glamorization" in "Juno". In fact, the film concludes with the Juno character giving up her baby for adoption. Oliver feels that pop culture is not to blame for the pregnancies. It was just "unlucky" and a "coincidence".

Should Contraceptive Be Made Available?

Oliver feels that the school should make contraceptives available in the nurse's office. At this point it is against the policy. When asked if she felt that it would only encourage the sexual activity, Oliver stated "The kids are obviously having it anyway; there are 17 pregnant girls." The mayor claims that the policy is currently under review.

Oliver and her boyfriend, Andrew Psalidas, 20, did not plan to get pregnant. In fact, Oliver was religiously taking the pill.