Zoey 101 and Ms. Spears

I'm kinda wondering what you want them to do then?

She made her choice and the network simply said they're going to
respect it.

Did you perhaps want them to FORCE her?

If you want to blame anyone, blame HER and her boyfriend. Just
because they're minors does not mean they don't know how babies are
created. They officially teach it in grade school, unless your
parents/guardians request you not learn it.

Really... there's not much the network can do, other than keep filming
or not keep filming.

But if you're that upset... just turn the TV off. Or use it as an
example for your own kids on "This is what happens when you mess
around." Then teach them abstinance or (if that offends you)
teach them safe sex.

Personally... I just think you're too worried about the TV set. In my
own opinion people forget they have a CHOICE on whether or not the TV
tells their families what to do and think. It's called the "Off
Button Show."

What Nickelodeon meant by respecting her decision to take
responsibility for the situation was they respect that she chose to
not only jeopardize her career by keeping the baby, but not to get an
abortion. You know, the EASY way out of a situation like this. I feel
that Nickelodeon is being more responsible by creating awareness
around the situation by adding content to their shows that enlightens
its viewers about situations like this. I am sorry that you feel this
is unacceptable, but this sort of thing happens a lot more than I am
sure you are willing to consider. Having a national TV network take
the torch in this matter is awesome, and I am happy that they are
doing it.

Besides, if you have been out of the loop (which it seems like you
are), the average age for children to begin having sex is 12. I don't
like it or respect it, but these are the statistics, and you need to
be able to educate your children at as young an age possible.

nick actually has some morality claus or an 'acceptable behavior" type
claus in their contracts if i remember correctly. so actually i can
see their lawyers gearing up behind the scenes with this one. if you
look at the ratio between disney and nick, most of the child stars on
nick end up as well rounded individuals, most of the kids on disney
don't.

still II don't think she is as messed up as her sister!

I agree that Ms. Spears is not a positive role model as a pregnant
teen, as many people look up to her.
It does hapen, so let your daughter know about protection and
different ways she can prevent pregnancy if she ever has sex, and ways
to prevent pregnancy like Jamie Lynn's.

If Darth Vader is the baby's father, we're all in for a world of hurt.

I was shocked when I learn Ms. Spears got pregnant but this is not
Nick's fault. You should keep a close eye on your teenage daughter and
talk to her about sex.

Your giant paragraph hurts my eyes.

Seriously, whas was Nickelodeon supposed to do, put a chastity belt on
her?

Kids should be taught to know the difference between actors and the
characters they play.

i've got news for you sweetie, if there were ads for condoms and
planned parenthood, there would be fewer teen pregnancies, not more.
people are going to have sex, you can't stop that. you can stop it
resulting in an unwanted pregnancy. the baby is an innocent
bystander.

Trash breeds trash. Here's a concept: be a parent. Lead by example.
Start by turning off the idiot box. Encourage your kids to listen to
something other than crap pop music. Read books. Brain cells may
actually begin to multiply.

Turn off the TV!!! As parents it is up to you to decide what you feel
is appropriate for your child to watch. I can't see how this is in
anyway Nicks fault, she is a human 16 year old girl. This is reality
not TV.

Not surprised, given how well the older one was brough up. Where is
Dad in all of this anyway? No wonder people in other countries think
we're all screwed up- just look at what they see in the news!

Well, sounds like they're writing her off the show, or ending the show
altogether.
I was watching "iCarly" with my kids, and during the commercial break
they advertised an episode of "Zoey 101" called "Goodbye Zoey", where
she is apparently transfering to a British boarding school.

On a side note, I hope Miranda Cosgrove never gets pregnant. My kids
love her shows ("Drake and Josh" and "iCarly"), and I like her too.
Maybe you could direct your daughter to these shows instead.

i am not a parent but a am 16 and i know what goes on in most
teenagers heads. we like to think that we a so grown up and know
everything. even though alot of the time we have no clue. i am not
trying to make excuses for her but being a actress will most likly
force you to grow up faster than a normal kid. in that line of work
you will be exposed to things that not all teens are exposed to. her
boyfriend was 18 and it most likly made her feel good to be with him.
plus her older sister is really messed up and her mom was writing a
parenting book and when the news about her daughter being pragnet came
out she changed it into a memoir of her life and how she raised her
children if thats not disfunctional then i dont know what is

I know I'm not helping this go away by replying.. but can we get this
stupid letter OUT of the top 25? Or at LEAST out of the #1???

What would you like them to do? Fire her? Would that be an ethical
decision on their part? Women get pregnant, girls get pregnant. It
happens everyday. On that note, how is this Nickelodeons fault? This
is a simple situation of a young woman and young man making a mistake.
Period. While I'm sure you didn't want to have this conversation with
your children, you can't control other peoples lives and you can't
stop the media. You have every right to be upset, but why blame the
network?

Something else... I don't think this would be getting half the
attention if Jamie Lynn was not the sister of Britney. That's what's
making it a hot topic, even more than the issue of teen pregnancy.

Please come by and take a look or leave a comment!

http://planetfeedback.typepad.com/mommage/2007/12/oooooops-spears.html

It makes me sick that idiot skanks like the Spears girls are popping
out kids left and right and are as unfit to parent them as their
mother was when there are so many good, decent women who struggle with
infertility. Britney is a sick and disgusting skank and I feel for the
two kids she can't be bothered to care for properly and Jamie Lyn is a
total idiot skank and I feel bad for her baby because if the only
examples of motherhood she has are her disgusting mother and sister,
that baby is in very big trouble.

Wow, Mrs. B, how does it feel to be so self-righteous? People make
mistakes, this for a girl so young is very sad but it is her mistake
and not yours. Who are you to judge? What if one of your kids came
home pregnant? How would you feel? I bet the first thing you would do
would be to blame Nickelodeon and Jamie Lynn. It couldn't be your
fault and the fact that you never discussed this with your kids in a
rational manner.

Women are not supposed to lose their jobs because of pregnancy and JL
shouldn't have to lose hers. Teenage females shouldn't be penalized
and lose their jobs because of pregnancy. Young women in soaps and
other series keep filming during their pregnancies hiding them if it
isn't part of the storyline.

If you don't like her, don't watch her show but don't advocate her
losing her job. Women like you put women back decades where women did
lose their jobs if they became pregnant.

You had better tell your kids that this is an actress playing a role.
Her personal conduct is none of their or your business. Teach your
kids compassion and sympathy. That is a lot prettier than the ugly
indignation you are showing them.

I had no intention of commenting on this letter, and I apologize for
not having read all of the responses, but the first thing that came to
mind when I heard the news about Ms. Spears was that maybe it was her
choice to be pregnant. It's not uncommon for teens to intentionally
become pregnant and for reasons that make perfect sense to them.

I have never seen Zoey 101, but I asked my 16 year old son if he was
familiar with the show. He said he doesn't watch it but knows who
Jamie Lynn Spears is. So I'm one of the parents who did take the
opportunity to have a discussion about teen pregnancy. I was relieved
and surprised to find out that he had already been thinking about it
and actually agreed with my advice. It's no insurance policy, but
it's certainly a step in the right direction.

"that you are not at all concerned about your young viewers and how
they are going to mentally process this situation of a young TV star
getting herself pregnant."

And how, I wonder, did she manage to do that? Is it another immaculate
conception? Should I get the frankincense and mryhh ready? I'm not
sure if you got the memo on this Mrs. B, but it usually takes two to
make a baby. (I should know; I just had a baby myself.)

"If Ms. Spears was responsible in the first place, then she would not
be in this "very difficult time"."

And again, why is it just **her** responsibility? She had a partner,
no? Where's the focus on him? Oh, that's right. Boys will boys...

(It just bugs me when people make statements that put the sole blame
of pregnancy on the female while letting the male off the hook.)

Rant over.

To be honest, I do sort of agree with you. Though I've never seen this
show, and up until a few hours ago wasn't aware of who JLS was (thanks
Venice, for clueing me in), I can see where you are coming from.
However, it is your responsibility as a parent to instill the values
you want them to have. You have made it clear, both in your letter and
in your responses, that you wish not to have this conversation with
your children and that you no longer consider this show viable family
entertainment. That's your decision as a parent, and though I wouldn't
go the same route, I respect your decision.

But there **are** parents aren't there that don't feel as you do.
There are parents that would like to use this opportunity as a talking
point for their children. They have just as much right to watch the
show as you do to turn it off. As others have said, blaming the
network is not the answer.

As Adam D said below, you have done your part as a parent. Now you
need to let it go.

Im quite tired of seeing debates over Jamie-Lynn...This comment is
directed towards the general cons of this topic,not necessarily to the
letter writer: yes teenage pregnancy is quite irresponsible, but you
cant expect her employer to intervene and tell every single one of
their viewers that she is "bad" and guilty for having a child because
she plays on Zoey, last time i checked, she IS human..yes she is
young, but giving birth is part of life , and she is not the first 16
year old to be pregnant, im sure there are millions of others. I
personally do not think 16 is a horrific age to give birth, its not
like shes 13, and when she has the baby she will probably be 17
already, is it such an age to get worked up about? And in a particular
state in the US, people are allowed to be married at 16, without
consent.. so again, why be so worked up about her age? What people do
in their private lives is their own business, its parents'
responsibilities to tell their children right and wrong, not the
responsibility from what they watch on tv...what's done is done, shes
going to have a baby and there is nothing anyone can do about it, so
give it up already and get back to your lives, people are criticizing
her just because she is related to her controversial sister, people
really need lives.

This is one of the more spirited and timely topics of the year, and
it's obviously triggered a national conversation about a host of
parenting and pregnancy related issues. I think there's some
excellent back and forth below and I'd like to put out the possibility
of having a "roundtable podcast" on the subject with a select group of
community members. We'd then post the conversation to the site. If
this interest you, we'd like to know the following. (Answer one or
all.)

1. Would you like to participate (remember, we may do a couple of
these)

2. Who do you recommend from the community to participate

3. Who from the community, if anyone, might be the best moderator for
such a subject

Please send your response to greg@planetfeedback.com.

Thanks.

- PEte

what i can't believe is that this child was not on birth control

When males and females get "together", pregnancy and babies result.
Another newsflash - young people don't always make the best choices.

Having children is a private thing, and I don't see why it needs to be
intertwined with what a person does in their public life.

I initially got a bit miffed when I found out what Bill was doing in
the oval office. Then I figured out it didn't impact on his job, and
I decided it was none of my business.

Just so you know, the teen pregnancy rate was on the rise in 2006.
Also Whoopi Goldberg had a baby as a teen and her daughter had a baby
at 14. Keisha Castle-Hughes (from the movie whale rider) got pregnant
at 16 and had a baby at 17, and Charlotte Church had a baby at 18.
This really isn't anything new and isn't anything that will go away.

Jaime Lynn Spears got pregnant, and I'm pretty sure the folks at
Nickelodeon aren't too happy about it either. But it's not their fault
that she got pregnant, and there's not much they can do about it. It's
not like they wrote a storyline where the show's character got
pregnant.

As a parent, you are doing the right thing by directing your child
away from this show and teaching her about how teenage pregnancy can
change a girl's life. You can teach her that Jaime Lynn's acting
career could be ended by this, etc, etc.

Nickelodeon, is doing all they can do. They don't own her, nor are
they her parent. All they can do is give her leave from the show so
that she can do the right thing and try to be a parent to this child.
They might even have to take her back, if there is a contract
involved.

They should never air High School Musical again because of Vanessa
Hudgens' leaked nude pics. And they should stop giving publicity to
the Cheetah Girls because of the one who was on Dancing with the
Stars; her dancing was quite suggestive. And don't even get me started
on Hannah Montana. I saw her wearing a tight-fitting dress that
exposed some of her cleavage. Unacceptable.

Really, aren't there other issues in the world more deserving of
people's outrage?

I sincerely hope you're over your shock, but the world is a different
place for kids today. It's not Nick TV's fault this minor child is,
shall we say, "knocked up" by her "long time boyfriend".(Define "long
time" to a fifteen year old)

Where is the consternation and judgement in regards to him? Her egg
didn't fertilize itself. By supporting her, they are in no way
condoneing other children doing the same thing, they're simply showing
compassion and concern for someone.

As far as being "vigilant" with what a child is exposed to on
television, there's no way to block everything out. Even commercials
for medicines mention "erections" and "strong gambling and sexual
urges" as potential side effects. How does one explain those terms to
their minor children? Even with the parental vchip in place, these
words still get broadcast.

As far as condom commercials and Planned Parenthood commercials, if
respectfully and responsibly done, I'd rather have kids learn the
truth from their parents, and these real life examples are an
excellent springboard for opening a meaningful, age appropriate
dialogue.

I thought it was nice that network is supporting her. She needs
support now more than ever.

I also understand that she is setting a very bad example for children.
One part of me wants Nick to remove Zoey 101 and all things Spears
related from their channel. However, I also understand that the show
is popular among children and why should they be denied one of their
favorite shows.

I'm a mixed bag on this one.

The only thing I do know is that Lynne Spears should be ashamed of
herself. She has raised not one but two daughters who have become the
laughing stock of the country. She should hold her head in shame when
she walks down the street.

I was also a teenage parent. I gave birth to my son when I was 14. I
wasnt a big tv star, but I still had people who didn't know
me,constantly judging me. To this day, I still have people judging me.
My son is 7, and I am 22. How many mothers at his school do you think
want to talk to me?

I dont mean to give my life story here... What I am trying to say is
that this girl is going and will be going through enough without the
rest of us judging her.

The other thing I would like to say is that I have always been
brutally honest with my son. We talk about anything and everything. We
have discussed animal cruelty, spousal abuse, drug abuse, school
shootings, and the list goes on. No topic is taboo. Its never too
early to talk to your children. You would be surprised at how much
they might already know.

it takes 2 people to become pregnant. Don't you DARE lay this on the
feet of a 16 yr old girl alone!


and to lay blame on a TV show for the actions of 2 kids... is
shameful! How man MILLION teenagers become pregnant each year?

You should APPLAUD her for not aborting silently, as most do in her
situation..

Chill out... Zoey 101 is done filming... it isn't Nick's fault that
she doesn't have a strong moral family base. I can see your point,
but the bottom line is if a parent is doing his/her job, actions of
actors will have minimal if any effect.

Its basically that their mother allowed others to take over the
career(s) of her daughters and therefore she had little or no control
over what they did.

Its tough enough being a teenage girl these days. Top it off with
cars, homes and an unlimited amount of money and you get, well you get
the Lindsey Lohans, and the Spears girls among others teen and young
adult celebs. Out of control and spiraling downhill all the way.

And you will see it happen over and over again because some mothers
actually live vicariously through their own children. They let them do
what they were not allowed to and have a friendly relationship instead
of a mother child one.

I think a lot of the problems now a days is that there are no "real"
Heroes/role models anymore. Kids now can't look up to Celebrities,
too much drugs/drinking and general bad attitudes. The Rap stars are
the LAST people I would let my son imitate. Most singers are just as
bad too. Notice, I said MOST. I happen to listen to Country, so there
is a bit more "Good" people there. And don't even get me started on
"athletes".

When I was little, I worshiped "The Fonz". He was so cool, I named my
teddy bear "Fonzi". As I got older, I wanted to play baseball like
Nolan Ryan. I wanted to entertain people like NKOTB. In high school,
I wanted to solve cases with Fox Mulder BUT, I knew they were
"untouchable". Meaning, they were in the spot light and there are
problems with that.

They weren't my Heroes/role models. My Heroes/role models growing up
(and still are) were Cops, Firefighters, Marines, and the kind, old
man that lived across the street. All growing up, I wanted to be a
Marine. Unfortunally, a shoulder Defect kept me from joining up. If
I could, I would have joined 10 years ago, right out of high school.


Kids need to be taught to look up to "real" people. Not actors, not
Athletes, not singers. Not charters on TV. I like 'Fox Mulder", but
every interview I have seen of David Duchovny, he strikes me as a
jerk. Now, he might not be. I don't know him. But he is not like
Mulder.

Your daughter is 10. Take this time to teach her the difference
between a Charter on TV and the real person. You never know, in doing
that, YOU might become her Hero/role model!

Worry about your own children do and not what someone elses is
doing.Jamie Lynn is a REAL person. She is not Zoey. She has her own
life and can do what she wishes with it and it is her and her families
business and not any of yours.If you don't like it, simply don't watch
it.

I feel the same way

TURN OFF THE TV!!!

Send them outside, hand them a book, do something other than plunking
them down in front of the boob tube.

What would you have them do? Make a statement that this poor girl is
a dirty whore? That they have absolutely no interest in her
well-being and hope she dies? Help to totally destroy her life, right
as it's become extremely difficult? And all for what? So you don't
have to explain to your children that sometimes there are consequences
to making a bad decision? How about this. How about Jamie Lynn
Spears and her family take responsibility for her, Nickelodeon takes
responsibility for it's employees, and you take responsibility
for your kids.

It seems to me that if Jamie Lynn Spears had had more access to
condoms and Planned Parenthood, your letter would never have needed to
be written. If you are teaching your children abstinence, that is
your business, and I sincerely hope that your children are able to
maintain the values you instill in them in spite of what they see
happening on TV, in society, and among their peers. That is kind of
the point of parenting, isn't it? Eventually they're going to be
outside of your direct influence, faced with a real world decision
about sexuality, and if you think they'll be swayed by what they see
some celebrity doing on TV you have more to worry about than what
Jamie Lynn's doing.

Now's a good time to teach your children about abstinence.

And it's also time they learned that just about anything coming out of
Hollywood is trash.

I dont think I have ever said this to someone here but honey, YOU ARE
NUTS!!!

No tv station or show is responsible for the sex lives of their
actors.

You make it sound like they tied her down and impregnanted her on
purpose and are now flaunting it for everyone. It seems like the only
thing that will make you happy is if they drag her through town and
stone her!

Frankly, her sex life is none of your business. She didnt do it on tv,
your child didnt witness it, she is 12 weeks along and she isnt
waddling around as a teenager on her show.

You know, it would have been very simple to just explain to your child
that people make mistakes. However, I loath to lable any child as a
mistake. But what you tell your child IS your responsibility. Not what
anyone else's child does. Regardless of if that child is in the public
eye or not. Thank GOD my son rarely watches tv and when he does he
doesnt look to anyone on it as a role model!

So, the girl is pregnant. Nothing YOU can do about, nothing the
network can do about, nothing even her own mother can do about it now.
I think her taking responsibility for her actions is being mature.
Again, its not your business.


LOL! You seriously make it sound like this was part of their plan and
they turned it into a show. "Zoey gets pregnant by her 19 year old
boyfriend!"

You need to take responsibility for your own children and maybe not
depend on cable television to give them morals.

I think the statement put out by the network is very nice. What CAN
they say?! They are the ones with the most to loose here.

You cant say she wasnt responsible. Maybe she WAS being responsbile.
Gazillion children are born to responsible parents all the time!

WOW! There is just so much here that is wrong and just crazy. I cant
comment on it all. It makes my head hurt. LOL!

Basically, turn the tv off.

Nickelodeon is in no way responsible for the actions of Ms. Spears.

It is also with great taste they chose not to denounce her. It is not
their place to judge. Nickelodeon is her employer, not her mother.

If you don't like it, change the channel.

While I personally think it's a travesty that a 16 year old is having
a baby, in the end it's really none of your business, despite what the
tabloids, news and gossip rags tell you. If you don't like the show,
turn off the TV. If you don't like the example being set by
'celebrities' like Spears and others, find your daughter other
(better) role models. They are out there, you just have to work a bit
harder to find them and bring them to the attention of your child. You
are the parent, not Nick.



PS - Am I the only one who would have no problems for commercials
about condoms and PP? I've seen commercials for Viagra and other
erectile dysfunction medis, but never any about birth control, safe
sex or options other than marriage and/or kids.

Lynne Spears has written a book on parenting celebrity children that
was to be released on Mother's Day 2008. Yeah, there's someone who
should be giving parenting advice!

You want to be outraged, Mrs. B? Why not lobby the publisher to scrap
that plan altogether?

I'm laughing my butt off that instead of releasing her ridiculous book
next Mother's day, Lynne Spears will,instead be welcoming her THIRD
grandbaby.

LOL!

I agree. JLS's boyfriend should have his ugly *ss put in jail and
prosecuted for statutory rape for getting her pregnant since she's
only 16. However, Nickeledeon has no control over JLS's personal life.
Her parents do. They are spoiling her just like they corrupted her big
sister.

Your child, at 10, is allowed to watch news programs?

Seems to me like she shouldn't be. If my kids are around, I don't
turn on the news. What with the war, kidnapping, murder, and teen
pregnancy...

Point is, Nick isn't corrupting your kid. It's whoever is allowing
her to watch programs where they tell her about these nasty things.

By the way... I suspect that this letter may have been written a bit
in jest. It's written by someone that registered, as their real name,
as "Mrs. B."

Condoms? Planned Parenthood? You do realize those two things PREVENT
teen pregnancy, right? Teaching abstinence DOES NOT.

* * *

It is the job of every parent to do everything in their power to keep
their minor children from having sex. Jamie Lynn's mother LET THE
GIRL'S BOYFRIEND MOVE IN WITH THEM.

I am appalled that any parent allows their child to have sex under
their roof.

By the way, if your children's minds can be corrupted by poorly raised
and poorly behaved celebrities, then you haven't done your job.

n/t

Nickelodeon is Jamie Lynn Spear's employer and their goal is not to
corrupt the minds of children - - like it or not, they are in the
business of making money.

If you want to rant at someone why not go after her mother, Lynne
Spears? Shs is ultimately responsible for teaching this 16 year old
girl right from wrong and obviously didn't do a very good job of it
and this was her second chance - - Brittney isn't doing a very good
job of setting an example for young people either.

So to show your disgust over this situation, you are no longer
allowing your 10 year old daughter to watch Zoey 101, huh? You and
your children do realize that Ms. Spears is an actress and is only
playing a character on the show - - right?

Had Jamie Lynn been using protection and having sex and had not gotten
pregnant, people would not think she was a slut. But now, since she
has gotten pregnant people are going crazy and referring to her as a
slut and not letting their children watch her show. News
flash!!!!!!!!! TONS of "kids" that are 16 are having sex whether you
like it or not. It would be naive to think she wasn't having sex at
all and was a virgin. I don't think there are that many 16 year old
virgins around anymore, and even if you think your kid is, you might
be wrong. They hide it well.

Yeah!!!

"We know this is a very difficult time for her and her family, and our
primary concern right now is for Jamie Lynn's well being."

And the best thing they can do for her at this time is fire her
knocked up ass. That way your children will stay pure and virginal
until they day they wed. You tell 'em sister.

No way in hell your daughter ain't wearin' white on her wedding day
because some floozy on TV got her freak on. I suggest you have Fonzie
raise your kids instead. He may act the tough guy, but deep down he's
a pussy cat. And probably the coolest man ever.

AAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY

I am gonna go out on a limb here that you are all parents and that is
great, but just because you were cautious enough (or lucky enough) to
not become pregnant until you wanted to doesn't make the reality any
less pointed.

If you want to point the finger of blame, look at Lynn and Jamie
Spears and the influence of their eldest daughter. Clearly there is
little parental supervision in that family. I mean, she screams it on
the front page of a tabloid magazine instead of keeping it as the
private, personal issue it is. How much more class-less can it get
than that?

But to expect Nickelodeon to pull the plug on the show and put
Jamie-Lynn out of a job because she made a mistake and you don't like
it is irresposible and short-sighted. How is that going to help
anyone? It's not going to take back the fact that this 16 year old
girl is pregnant, but it will end her career and her livlihood and NO
ONE has the right to demand someone else lose their job because YOU
don't share their opinions and beliefs.

And ultimately, just as the responsibility for Jamie-Lynn's actions
falls at her parents feet, the responsibility for YOUR kids actions
falls at yours. The only true role models your child should ever need
is YOU! To rely on or expect anyone else to do that for you is
foolish and shortchanges your child!

Again, if you want to be incensed, direct your anger where it belongs,
Jamie-Lynn and her boyfriend's lax parents, not at Nickelodeon.

Ok, I admit I hardly read this letter... but I hope your not trying to
say that this is going to encourage your daughter to get pregnant. She
PLAYS someone on Tv.... YOUR the parent. NOT her.

I'm curious as to what you wanted them to do; make a huge media circus
out of firing her and announcing to their viewers "That's what happens
when you make a mistake around here, missy!"? Say she disgusts them
and beg their viewers not to turn out the same? How do you suggest
they show concern for "how they are going to mentally process this
situation of a young TV star getting herself pregnant"?
That is a parents' job to sit them down and explain that the actor and
the charactor are not one and the same and that the actor did things
that your family believes are not proper. And great time to explain
that actors are normal people too, and that your children shouldn't
EVER model themselves after someone just because they're on TV, that
true heroes should be looked up to because of how they act in real
life.

Jamie-Lynn Spears plays a fictional character on Zoey 101 and
Nickelodeon doesn't have any control over what she does on her own
time. They had to make a statement of some sort - - what would you
have preferred they said?

I'm not saying that a pregnant 16 year old is OK and I think that the
boyfriend should be arrested and prosecuted like anyone else would be
for doing the same thing. Depending on where the act took place and
their precise age at the time, this guy can possibly be charged with a
felony.

Nickelodeon's goal is not "to corrupt the minds of children".
Unfortunately they are dealing with a situation that is beyond their
control and there's really very little they can do about it.

Nicolodean television is not responsible for raising your daughter and
the type of messages she receives through the media. YOU ARE! I
believe that's what they call "heart to heart" chats about life in
general. And Nicolodean is not responsible for what Ms. Spears does
in her personal time. And look who she's influenced by. Her sister.
Like that's something to proud of. So I guess she's emulating and her
Mother did a crappy job of talking to her, just like you're starting
to do with you.

Why don't you wake up and take responsibility for your family and not
blame the outside world for your issues. All your issues are yours.
No one elses.

Got it Mrs. B???????????

Peace!

You do realize that the people you see on TV are actual people and not
the characters they play, don't you? They have needs, wants, and free
will. They screw up sometimes because, like our own lives, they don't
follow a script once the cameras are rolling.

No TV station can control everything their actors do. I wouldn't want
them to because that's called slavery.

If your daughter can't process, at ten years old, how someone became
pregnant, then I think it is you who dropped the ball and not Nick
TV.

P.S. I don't think many girls get themselves pregnant. They usually
have a little help.

While I don't believe that this young woman acted in the most
responsible manner, I have to agree with the statement that
Nickelodeon made. Considering she's supposed to be only 12 weeks
along, she came out with the news about her pregnancy pretty quickly.
She could have waited. She could have hid the pregnancy. She could
have had the pregnancy terminated quietly or thrown the baby in a
garbage bin like another story I heard about the other day. She did
none of the above. She was responsible and came forward with her
condition. So what exactly do you expect Nick to do? As far as I
know this story just broke. If that is the case then isn't it
possible that Nick hasn't had time to figure out what they are going
to do with her role yet? I also can't stand the fact that people
allow TV personalities to become role models for their children
without realizing that they are just HUMAN too. This is a great
opportunity for every parent to talk to their children about teen
pregnancy.

Despite the fact that Jamie Spears is pregnant and her boyfriend is
facing possible prison time, I think it is their business, and not
yours. If you don't like what is on your TV, then TURN IT OFF.

I'm not going to tell you how to parent your children, but if I had a
child that watched zoey 101, i would definitely take this oppurtunity
to discuss with my child the consequenses of having unprotected sex
(or any sex for that matter, depending on the age of my child) Your
children may be too young for this kind of discussion though.

I think the reasoning behind nickolodeons comment on "taking
responsibility" comes from owning up to her mistakes.

I doubt her contract will be re-newed.

It's not Nickelodeon's fault that she's pregnant. It's also none of
their business (nor mine nor yours), and I think that's what they're
trying to say in their PR statement - which really doesn't say much,
and I think that's to their credit.

This is an unfortunate situation for Jamie Lynn and made more
difficult that she's going to be dealing with it in the public eye,
subject to holier than thou types who think they have a right to judge
her.

As far as I know, Nick has wrapped the 4th season of the show and
still plans on airing it.
As for Jamie Lynn's decision it is a personal one. NO ONE can tell her
what to do or how to think, not even her mother.
What you can do as a parent is explain to your daughter what has
happened to Jamie and explain how you would feel if you were put in
the same situation. Then talk to her, see what she thinks about it.
Communication is the key here. I also think that you should let your
daughter make the choice to watch for herself.

I haven't been following this story at all so most of what I know I
learned from this letter, but I've got to say that if I had a
16-year-old kid who was out there working full-time, and that kid made
a huge mistake, I would be pretty upset if her employer decided that
she was the last priority on their list. A more common situation
appears to be that a pregnant teenager faces some kind of exclusion
from activities she'd otherwise be in so that the other teenagers who
participate don't get the slightest hint that pregnancy is okay, and
even there, where the adults have a much greater responsibility for
the kids who are watching, I think it's wrong to sacrifice one kid for
pedagogical purposes.

But even if I didn't, I think that trying to hide this sort of thing
from other kids backfires. Life is hard and messy and complicated,
and unless things have gotten a lot simpler since I was a kid it's
been at least intermittently hard and messy and complicated for a lot
of the 10-year-old fans of "Zoey 101" for awhile now. What they need
from adults is guidance in coping with a hard, messy, and complicated
life, not the message that their parents can't handle even the thought
that they have problems.

There are all kinds of ways you can explain pregnancy to a kid without
condoning it but without conveying that a girl who gets pregnant at 16
forfeits all right to being treated well by the adults in her life. I
hope you'll consider picking one of those ways for your daughter,
because it is entirely possible that 6 years from now she's going to
be asking herself whether she has done something so awful that you
won't love her any more. I hope that doesn't happen, but if it does,
I hope you'll have laid the groundwork for a faith that you will
always love her no matter what.

And I hope that this kid, who not only has to deal with the fact that
life is hard and messay and complicated but who has to do it in front
of an enormous audience many of whose members somehow think that they
have the right to direct her life because their kids have seen her on
TV, has a bunch of adults in her life who are able to communicate to
her that they will always love her no matter what. At the very least,
how about if those of us who are adults and are not in her life try
not to go out of our way to make things any harder for her?

Who brought up an abortion????? Of course they can't control another
person, however, they can control who they hire and who they allow to
represent their product. This is a great opportunity as a parent to
discuss teenage sex. HOWEVER, it is also the network's responsibility
to ensure that the people they put in front of millions of children be
a positive role model. If they choose not to do so, then as a parent
AND a consumer, I have the choice not to watch their shows and not to
purchase their products. It has nothing to do with shielding children
from every little thing wrong in the world, it has to do with being
responsible and having consequences for your actions!

You want Nickelodeon to go over there and give her an abortion!? Would
that make you feel better?

They can't control what she does in her life. It is up to YOU as
parents (NOT the TV) to parent your child. Talk it over with your
child and express how you feel and ask how your child feels. You can't
sheild your child from every little thing you find wrong with the
world.

I am in complete agreement and couldn't have put my thoughts into
words better than you have. I have contacted Nickelodeon and left a
voice message echoing the same sentiments. I have also begun
contacting advertisers on their network that I will no longer be
purchasing their products. Needless to say, we will no longer allow
Nickelodeon to be watched in our home. Please tell me, WHAT WE CAN DO
TO MAKE SURE THAT Ms. SPEARS IS NO LONGER PART OF THE NICK LINE
UP!!!!

Thank you.
Mrs. M

I agree with you. Networks only care about ratings and advertising
dollars. They don't really care about their viewers. I'm sure there
are other shows your daughter can watch - or maybe - she will read a
good book instead! The Spears family has never been seen in a good
light in my opinion. They have never been the type for young people to
emulate. Have your daughter watch age appropriate movies starring
Natalie Portman. There's a young actress with intelligence, talent and
good character. Good for you for speaking up on behalf of your
daughter and young people!
Mrs. H.