A School Forces Girls to Take Pregnancy Tests, Then Bans Them From School.
It’s no secret that teen pregnancy has been in the media lately, but a Louisiana charter school has a serious problem with teen pregnancy and is taking controversial action to keep it out of their school. School pregnancy tests might seem like too far of a measure to take, but there is a school administering pregnancy tests to “suspect” girls. The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana is striking back at the school banning pregnant girls.
School Forces Pregnancy Tests
The Delhi Charter School, which is state funded, has a “Student Pregnancy Policy” that leads them to forcing pregnancy tests. The four-paragraph policy says that a girl’s refusal to take a pregnancy test could result in her removal from class or the school. The policy says that its requirements are an effort to create “an environment in which all students will learn and exhibit acceptable character traits.”
The ACLU is threatening legal action if the school does chance the forced pregnancy tests policies soon. Marjorie R. Esman, executive director of the ACLU, called it a “gross violation of the law” and told TODAY.com that it discriminates against female students, treating pregnancy as though it were some sort of “contagious disease.” She also said that she has not heard of this anywhere else, though hopes that there isn’t anywhere else with a similar policy.
Forced Pregnancy Tests Controversy
According to Esman, the school pregnancy tests violate sexual discrimination federal laws, as well as those in the U.S. Constitution. Esman wrote that it violates the Fourteenth Amendment, which is a law of equal protection. The policy doesn’t punish boys who are expecting children or suspected to be taking part in sexual activity.
The State Department of Education has said that they are demanding “an immediate change to the policy” to the school administering pregnancy tests. The school has not commented.
Esman did say that she emailed the school about the issue of banning pregnancy in school. She said that attorney W. David Hammett told her that the issue was being reviewed by the school, which she believes is a good sign that they’re taking it seriously.
Apparently the school banning pregnant girls was unaware of potential discrimination, according to Albert Christman, school board member. Steve Gaharan, a former principal for the school, said that the issue came up about once a year and had always concerned him.
School Forcing Pregnancy Tests: Is it Right?
A school forcing pregnancy tests is raising all sorts of questions. My question is what makes a girl “suspect” of being pregnant and who decides this? School can be mortifying enough for a teenager without the threat of being taken out of class to take a pregnancy test. A girl who just found out she is pregnant is going through enough stress without being kicked out of school.
My Opinion on Forced Pregnancy Tests
And the boy gets away without any punishment whatsoever? All questionable ethics aside, the legality of a school forcing pregnancy tests is most likely unconstitutional. There seems to be discrimination on the table, and instead of creating an environment of “acceptable character traits,” it creates one of paranoia and repression.
What do you think? Is it right for a school to being forcing pregnancy tests and banning pregnant girls? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.
