Oh Lordy Lord! Think of the Children!

I got really riled the other day when I read this article about a woman named Cathy Samford who was fired from her job as a volleyball coach and science teacher at the Heritage Christian Academy in Texas because she was - gasp! - pregnant out of wedlock.

In defense of the school's decision, the article quoted the academy's headmaster Dr. Ron Taylor, who said, "How's it going to look to a little fourth-grade girl that sees she's pregnant and she's not married?"  

That's the same bullshit line I heard from some politicians who opposed legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.

"What kind of message are we sending to our children?"

You know what?  A lot of kids aren't as ignorant or dumb as the people who purport to shield them from the harsh realities of life must think they are.

Hey Dr. Taylor!  Ask your fourth grade girls this question:

"Girls, do you think a woman who is pregnant without being married should be fired from her job just weeks before she is going to have her baby and lose her health insurance which would cover a lot of her medical bills?"

I bet you the majority of those girls, if asked, would say that Ms. Samford should not be fired.

It just so happens that I conducted a very unscientific poll of a lone third grade girl, my daughter.  I just gave her a quick summary of the situation and asked her if the school was right or wrong to fire her.

Her answer was "It's wrong."

I asked her why it was wrong.  After pausing a few seconds, she said, "Because now she has no money."  There you go Dr. Taylor.  Out of the mouths of babes.

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Dr. Taylor was one of those self-styled "pro-life" types who opposes abortion even in cases of rape, incest, or medical reasons.  Funny thing is, if Ms. Samford had gotten an abortion in the early stages of her pregnancy, her school would have been none the wiser and she would have still had her job today.

Then again, "pro-life" just means forced birth.  What happens after the birth is not Dr. Taylor's concern.  Too bad Cathy Samford.  You made your choice and now you have to suffer the consequences, along with that out-of-wedlock child you're going to have.  Take that you slut!

And here's where the misogyny really kicks in.  If Cathy Samford had been Carl Samford and had impregnated a woman to whom he was not married but they were co-habiting, he could have easily kept it hidden from the school and need not have feared losing his job.  It's only the pregnant unmarried women who ever seem to have to worry about getting shafted by these kinds of rules.  And just remember folks, South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint is on record as saying that he wants it to be illegal for unmarried pregnant women to be teachers.  That's the American Taliban for you.

I don't know if Cathy Samford has delivered her baby yet, but I hope she has a healthy child.