ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 20, 1997 TAG: 9701200085
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROBERT HODY SR.
READING YOUR Jan. 12 Horizon section article (``Teen sex"), I couldn't help but reflect on what has caused the teen-sex problem to grow more serious in current times.
In my younger years, the problem of teen-age pregnancy existed but was pale in comparison to its extent today. It wasn't because we didn't want to indulge ourselves. We had the same driving desires of today's teen-agers.
Was it fear, was it the shame of getting caught, the mores of the times?
It was all of these, but I think it was mostly one of opportunity. Or more accurately, the lack of opportunity.
Then, you started off the school day being fed by mom. There were no fast-food places to stop at. Besides, the family didn't have enough money for extravagances. You were given a quarter for school lunch, and if it were raining, an extra dime for bus fare.
Forget about getting picked up by a friend because none of them had a car. If you walked to school, you usually walked with the same group every morning and barely made it to school on time. (Lots of spies to keep you in line.) At school, you had no free-time breaks other than a 20-minute lunch period (during which you lavished your quarter), and certainly no time for fast car rides.
You had a schedule of school clubs, sports, practicing the piano or Scout meetings after school. At any rate, you walked home - again with friendly spies - and were expected home promptly for dinner. God help you to be on time.
In the few short hours following school, you neither had the time nor money to indulge in anything but the above. If you did stop at a friend's home, a willing mom or dad was there and happy to oversee your activities. And if you tried to stray, the word got back to your parents pretty quickly.
You didn't have a job because there weren't any. Besides, you didn't need the money because you didn't have anything to spend the money on - at least nothing that your mom and dad would let you spend it on.
If you did work, chances it was because your family needed the money, and you would have had to turn over your earnings to the household.
After dinner, you can be sure mom and/or dad were there, and they helped keep you occupied. (They had no place to go; if they did, they couldn't afford it.)
If you went to a friend's home, the same supervisory conditions existed there as at your home. Of course, you didn't go out on the town because you had no money, no transportation, and you would never get past the front door and your two local sheriffs. Neither did your friends.
As teen-agers, we probably fantasized about the ecstasies of sex, but, alas, seldom or never had the opportunity.
Parents of the world, take away the opportunities. Take away the extra spending money and the cars, and supervise, supervise, supervise. Be there where you are needed, and take away the jobs.
Jobs and money for teens only promote problems and undercut the important goals. The priority should be on school work, building strong bodies and promoting healthy socializing.
Could a partial solution to the teen-sex problem be as simple as this?
Robert Hody Sr., of Roanoke, is a part-time business-systems consultant.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 linesby CNB