Having children without financial stability is not OK

The popular cheerleader you were once too intimidated to talk to in high school now has two children. The dance team captain is now engaged with her boyfriend of six months and has a baby on the way, and it seems like everyone on Facebook is having a child.

Young people are popping out kids like candy, and it’s not OK. The problem isn’t necessarily having children. The problem is people’s failure to consider the future. Too often, it means dropping out of school to raise children.

Growing up in a home with less educated parents creates a vicious cycle of uneducated children who become uneducated adults with limited earning potential.

About 50 percent of teen mothers never graduate high school, and less than 2 percent of them earn a college degree by 30, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

This leads to higher poverty levels, which lead to higher crime rates in children without stable homes. In fact, 37 percent of children brought up by single mothers live in poverty and more than half drop out of high school.

The poverty cycle — or lack thereof — starts at home, and it is essential to obtain an education before having children to create an economically stable environment.

The earlier women have children, the less likely they are to pursue higher education.

At least 62 percent of women who have not attended college had their first child before they reached 25. Only 16 percent of women delayed having children until their 30s, and less than two-in-ten women who do not have a bachelor’s degree are childless.

Parents with at least a bachelor’s degree were more likely to have retirement plans, health benefits and a reduced incarceration rate, according to The Lumina Foundation. This research suggests that women who have obtained a higher education tend to wait longer to bear children.

Parents with less education can increase suicide rates, incarceration rates and the likelihood of substance abuse among children.

Yet, the negative effects of having children too young seems to fly over lawmaker’s heads, because the sexual education system is failing everyone. Many states, like Florida, still adhere to abstinence only programs, which is clearly not working.

In fact, our sexual education system is so flawed unwanted pregnancies have not declined significantly since 1982, and the United States leads the west in teen pregnancy rates.

While unplanned pregnancies will never go away, there are a few things that could help prevent them. There are several birth control methods — besides the pill — that are long term and don’t require much maintenance, like Intra-Uterine Devices (IUDs) that can last up to five years.

Another option that lasts longer than the traditional pill is the Depo-Provera shot. The injection lasts for about three months before needing another one.

Emergency contraceptive methods like Plan B can also prevent unplanned pregnancies if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.

If money is an issue, facilities like Planned Parenthood offer free or reduced cost birth control, emergency contraceptives and STD screenings, in addition to sexual health information.

Since our sexual education systems fails us, we must educate ourselves, be responsible and find alternate ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies, so our children have a fair start in life.

The problem isn’t being young. The problem is raising children in financially unstable environments, which could affect children’s educational and economic endeavors.

Education should come before having children. It’s time we use education to break the cycle of poverty.