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6A – Daily News – Wednesday, April 6, 2011 Opinion Teen parent D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 program works Editor: Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 My name is Diana Geiger, program coordinator for the Red Bluff Joint Union High School District’s California School Age Family Education Program (Cal-SAFE) located at Salisbury High School. A recent three-part series regarding teen pregnancy and teen parents in Tehama County has left a lot of people asking questions. Following these arti- cles it appears that many in our community have formed a somewhat negative opinion toward teen parents, and our program. I would like to take a minute and talk about the Cal- SAFE program, and what I have learned after working with teen parents for over seven years. Each year around 750,000 teenagers will get pregnant and two-thirds of them will not graduate high school. (Pregnant Teen Help.org). This is an unfortunate reality that we must face. Clearly, high school dropouts are a huge drain on the nation’s financial system, as well as the financial system of each state. I wish I could pinpoint the reasons why 750,000 teens become pregnant each year, but I cannot because the list is end- less. I only know if we want to reduce the drain on our nation’s financial system we must lay aside our judgments and blame and use that wasted energy toward decreasing this number. Placing blame, pointing fingers, negative reinforcement, etc., etc., does nothing to aid in changing this statistic. The Cal-SAFE program started in 1998 to help reduce the potential dropout rate of pregnant and parenting students so these students and their chil- dren will not become welfare dependent. The RBJUHSD Cal- SAFE program is a state funded program that serves pregnant/parenting teens, males and females, who are success- fully attending any school pro- gram in the Red Bluff Joint High School District. Our Cal- SAFE program has many goals for our teen parents. Some of these goals include: To graduate teen parent and assist them in becoming productive adults with employable skills; To teach teen parents effective parenting skills, which will help them become responsible, loving par- ents; To delay repeat pregnan- cies through education, absti- nence, and other various meth- ods until they’ve graduated, and the last goal is to provide a developmental program for the children of enrolled teen parents to help with enhanced school readiness. Over the last seven years I have had the extreme pleasure of meeting some amazing teen parents. Some of them come from loving and supportive fam- ilies, while others have never experienced a loving, support- ive relationship. The Cal-SAFE Childcare and Salisbury staff works very hard to build respectful, loving, and support- ive relationships with all of our teen parents. In many cases we help fill a void they have been missing their whole life. By showing our students love and respect, they learn how to love and respect others in return. Cal-SAFE has been extreme- ly effective in graduating teen parents for many years. While the average dropout rate remains at two-thirds nationally for parenting teens, our program shows a 75 percent successful graduation rate. Each year teen parents proudly walk across the stage to received their diploma while their family, and yes, their children look upon. Reduction in numbers of teen parents remains a great concern and will continuously need to be addressed. However, how successfully they develop into productive parents and members of society is some- thing we can, and need to do, while this dilemma continues. Cal-SAFE has and continues to be a suc- cessful program. Hopefully, our parents leave the program with not only their high school diploma, but with the skills to be nurturing and loving parents. Diana Geiger, Red Bluff System broken Editor: In 2005 a career felon under the influence of alcohol and methamphetamine slammed me head-on, causing me $500,000 in injuries. Released on just $600 bail, his subsequent flight required his recapture and extradition from Oregon. Had the Tehama County D.A. charged him for this, he'd have received his third strike and been imprisoned 25 years. Regrettably, he's now only serving 7-9. When my insurance compa- ny subsequently refused to compensate me for my injuries, I sued. Five years later, the company hasn't even reim- bursed me for my truck. Instead, it continues earning interest holding my money. In 2009, against my protest, the Tehama County court enforced a substantially reduced settlement. My appeal of that ruling is causing added years’ delay. Adding insult to injury, Your Turn the California DMV seized my medical records. Information therein triggered them to groundlessly withhold my paid registration stickers. This caused the city of Chico to con- fiscate my vehicles and work tools they contained. The city then determined my work van was worthless and destroyed it.Without my vehi- cles, I am unable to earn a living and must ride a bicy- cle 20 miles to buy food. My savings exhausted, I now rely on dwin- dling credit to pay bills. This experience has enlight- ened me to the corruption that exists between government, insurance companies, attorneys and the courts. They all seem unified to unapologetically abscond with obscene sums of public money. Restitution for crime victims, when it occurs, seems only an incidental byproduct of this machinery. Nathan Esplanade, Corning Pay attention Editor: As we follow the pied pipe down the path of occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq, I must remind all lemmings that follow him ever so blindly, as well as other blind followers that he promised to get America out of the occupation mode in the Middle East. Or were you even paying attention? There are those who object to the term "lemming" and "blind follower." Well people, is that shoe starting to pinch? Robert Hogan, Red Bluff Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Dressed to kill (innocence) Commentary “You are not leaving the house dressed like that, young lady!'' "Oh, Mother, all my friends are dressing this way!" "In high heels, hip-hugger pants and a tube top that leaves your stomach exposed? I don't think so!'' "But, Mother, don't you know that the popular culture has been driving fashion for years? So many TV shows feature young girls wearing provocative clothing. Is it any wonder younger and younger girls are dressing this way?" "Not in this household they aren't!" "Oh, Mother, you need to get with the program. Some clothing manufacturers are marketing sexy clothing to young girls, including feather boas, leather pants and stretch flares to girls ages 7 and up. Some companies are even offering lingerie and string bikinis!" "String bikinis for a 7-year- old?" "Of course, Mother! Aber- crombie & Fitch recently came out with a line of bikinis with a padded bra for 7-year-olds. A bunch of fuddy-duddies complained, so the company raised its target age to 12 or older." "That is the same company that advertised thong underwear for lit- tle kids in 2002 -- and the reason I have not bought any of their prod- ucts since!" "Let's not forget the cosmetics companies, Mother. Girls as young as 3 are wearing lip gloss now. Kiss Products sells custom nail products to girls 5 and up. By the time a girl hits 8, she wants to get into some serious makeup. That's why the biggest growth area in cosmetics is for girls between 8 and 12!" "This is just not right!" "Oh, my, Mother, why can't you be like the progressive parents who let their 5-year-old daughters get together for nail and glamour parties, where they can get mani- cures and have makeup sessions?" "Because it is immoral to sexu- alize girls at such a young age! This is more than just common sense. In 2007, the American Psy- chological Association found that early sexualization of girls is linked to eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression!" "Look, Mother, times have changed. Girls have to showcase their bodies to stand out. If I am ever going to be popular enough to start dating, I better be at least as provocative as the other girls." "Dating! There will be no dating for you any- time soon!" "Oh, Mother, will you get with the times? Those rigid lines older generations put between childhood and adulthood are over. All this talk about innocence and childhood are silly and unnecessary. In the new era, it is only a matter of time before I look into corrective plastic surgery." "Plastic what?" "Mother, we need to make sure that if my body doesn't fully devel- op, we have the plans in place to insert curves where they are need- ed. Lots of girls are doing that Tom Purcell now. After all, what good is it to wear provocative clothing if you have nothing to show?" "What has my gener- ation of mothers done wrong? What has hap- pened to our little girls?'' "I know it is hard for you, Mother -- I know the mass media were conservative when you were young and you'd never see the things on TV that my generation sees all day long -- but your little girl is grow- ing up fast and you will have to deal with it." "But! But!" "But what, Mother?" Tom Purcell, a humor columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web at www.TomPurcell.com or e- mail him at Purcell@caglecartoons.com. "But you're only 5!" ———