Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson

[Tyler]

I'm not sure if any of you have heard this story, but it's something that's pretty crazy.

A young man by the name of Genarlow Wilson has been sentenced to prison for 10 years at the age of 18 for something probably all of has done and our sons will most likely do.  He's 2 years into his sentence and he's getting a ton of press on his injustice from ESPN, HDNET, NY Times, and others.

To read his story go here: http://www.wilsonappeal.com/index.php

To read the ESPN story, go here: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=wilson

[David]

He deserves to be released based on the new law, but also I think people are naive if they think that 16 is the age of "adult" when it comes to sex nowadays.

Kids are starting even as young as junior high now, unfortunately.

When I student taught last spring, the high school had a daycare.   Not for faculty children.   But for the teen mothers at the school.    And there were many of them, unfortunately.

I'd be interested in wpruitt's take on this as he lives in georgia I believe.

[Blagadan]

Man that's nuts ... 10 years w/o parole for that!!!   

[wpruitt]

I think the sentence is a bit harsh .... but by the same token, teen pregnancy is rampant.  I teach boys (under 18) who brag about how many babies they've fathered.  I have one pregnant girl per class. Something must be done to get the message across.  And 15 is TOO YOUNG for a girl or boy to be having sex.

Last semester I was livid when I heard some of the boys I teach bragging about how they were men because they had fathered X number of babies - and how it made them "men".  I ask them how much child support they paid.  The answer was Nada, Zilch, Zero.  I told them they would be men when they stepped up to plate and paid for their babies.

Teen sex is rampant - and this is across socio-economic lines.  I caught two of the kids about to go at it at the athletic fields . 

Rampant sex in HS is not a good thing.  The emotional maturity is not there.  The fiscal ability to step up to the bat is not present either.  We, as taxpayers, step up to the bat and assume this.

Some thing must be done to get the message across to students.  This is a step in the right direction; granted it is a bit harsh and extreme in this case.  Kids need to realize that sex is not all for fun and has it's cost and consequences.   

I suspect Wilson is being made the poster child for this issue.  And yes ... he should be released, or given a lesser sentence.

[Blagadan]

The problem is world wide, we have big problems with it too in Ireland.  The UK have the same, as do most European countries.  The solution is not prison sentences, the solution is education.
12/13/14/15 year olds are certainly too young to be sexually active but sticking them in jail for x no. of years will do nothing to combat the problem.

[PBurke]

my son is almost 14. i try not to be stupid enough to forget what it was like when i was that age. i feel likethe more active i am in his life and what he is up to that it might help him make good decisions. i know that if it is gonna happen, i can't stop it. i just hope he makes smart decisions. if you dig deeper it seems that the kids that don't have that closeness with dads get in the most trouble. just my opinion. kids will be kids. all we can do as parents is pray that our kids are listening. that punishment is extreme for that young man. the government is too worried about trivial crap like teen sex. why don't they worry more about the important stuff like drug dealers, murderers, stuff like that? that young man could have been a great leader one day. now he won't have that option because of something dumb that will haunt him for the rest of his life.

[David]

my son is almost 14. i try not to be stupid enough to forget what it was like when i was that age. i feel likethe more active i am in his life and what he is up to that it might help him make good decisions. i know that if it is gonna happen, i can't stop it. i just hope he makes smart decisions. if you dig deeper it seems that the kids that don't have that closeness with dads get in the most trouble. just my opinion. kids will be kids. all we can do as parents is pray that our kids are listening. that punishment is extreme for that young man. the government is too worried about trivial crap like teen sex. why don't they worry more about the important stuff like drug dealers, murderers, stuff like that? that young man could have been a great leader one day. now he won't have that option because of something dumb that will haunt him for the rest of his life.

It's not just the guys with no dads.   From my experience last spring, it seems love at home either way(guy or girl) is a main factor.   If they aren't getting enough/it, they are more willing to engage in this activity when a person says I love you.   

[PBurke]

i can see that. which is one reason i try to help coach sports for the local kids. hell if i can keep one of them from going down the wrong path then it is worth the sacrifice.

[wpruitt]

i can see that. which is one reason i try to help coach sports for the local kids. hell if i can keep one of them from going down the wrong path then it is worth the sacrifice.

Paul - I agree.  A lot of the crap kids are exposed to - especially the sex and violence - come from all the video games and television (or other forms of entertainment) they are exposed to.  If other parents would take time with the kids - and not be content to expose them to the electronic babysitters, we might have a better generation coming along. 

If we could also teach kids to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS, things would improve.  It's always the fault of everyone but the kid.  If parents would let kids take responsibilty for their actions at a younger age, problems occuring in high school would be lessened. 

[PBurke]

amen brother. you guys in the education field have one helluva tuff job. my hat's off to you. yall see first hand how kids can be, and your hands are tied as far as discipline. i couldn't do it.

[Tyler]

One of the reasons I posted this was to help all of you guys that are dads out there to remember what goes on with teenagers and that it's important to have those talks with your sons and daughters. 

I also wanted to let you guys know about what could happen if you don't.

I don't think he was responsible in his actions that night, but I think 10 years is a too high of a price to pay for the irresponsibility.

[wpruitt]

I don't think he was responsible in his actions that night, but I think 10 years is a too high of a price to pay for the irresponsibility.

My point exactly

[David]

I don't think he was responsible in his actions that night, but I think 10 years is a too high of a price to pay for the irresponsibility.

My point exactly

What scares me in all of this is how young they are starting today.    I mean it's way out of control as far as i'm concerned.

[wpruitt]

I don't think he was responsible in his actions that night, but I think 10 years is a too high of a price to pay for the irresponsibility.

My point exactly

What scares me in all of this is how young they are starting today.    I mean it's way out of control as far as i'm concerned.

Scares the _________ outta me too.  I would surmise, easily, that 80% of all HS kids are sexually active by the time the graduate.

[David]

I don't think he was responsible in his actions that night, but I think 10 years is a too high of a price to pay for the irresponsibility.

My point exactly

What scares me in all of this is how young they are starting today.    I mean it's way out of control as far as i'm concerned.

Scares the _________ outta me too.  I would surmise, easily, that 80% of all HS kids are sexually active by the time the graduate.

Yeah imagine my reaction when I heard the school had a daycare with practically fuill usage for teen mothers when I arrived there.