16 And Pregnant= Sex Education?

Many folks have talked all kinds of smack about how MTV's immensely successful 16 and Pregnant glamorizes teen pregnancy. Which is really hard to believe. Have these critics ever actually watched the show in question? Seriously, those kids have such an uphill battle, nothing is glamorous for them. If anything, this show is helping to pick up the slack from the useless and mostly abstinence based sex education programs that are offered in the public school system.

According to this article; " U.S. teen birthrates have plunged dramatically in 2009 after a five percent increase from 2005 to 2007. And a report by National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy recognizes "16 and Pregnant," specifying that 82 percent of teenagers credit the hit show in helping them understand the challenges that come with unexpected parenthood."

Isn't it amazing that a) Government Officials are actually validating MTV and b) that the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy were aware of things that are actually happening and important in teen's lives? Seriously, how amazing that they thought to ask about the correlation between the show and the reduction in teen pregnancies!

Plenty of people disagree and think that the show somehow encourages teen pregnancy and that there will be a flood of baby-making as a result of it. But really, I think these fears are actually fairly insulting to the tv watching youth. Seeing the teen parents constantly dragged over the coals in the tabloids and news shows goes a long way to opening up more chances to discuss what is happening with them and all of the extra heretofore unseen crisis that go along with teenage pregnancy.

I gotta say I think the show is a good thing. It doesn't normalize teen pregnancy. It doesn't candy coat it either. The show just gives a little window into what it is like trying to deal with a situation that could be waaaay past their natural maturity level.

What do you think? Good, Bad or Ugly?

{as a sideline, who are your favorite and least favorite people on the show?}