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http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Baby-Safe-Haven-High-School-Health-Curriculum-122653389.html
NY Officials Want Schools to Teach About Unwanted Baby Laws
Thursday, May 26, 2011 | Updated 9:54 AM EDT
A newborn was thrown eight stories down a trash chute last weekend. He survived and his mother was arrested.
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After two young moms recently abandoned their newborn babies -- one of whom did not survive -- New York officials are proposing that high school curriculum include lessons on what mothers can do if they give birth to a baby they don't want.
Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes, State Sen. Eric Adams and State Assemblyman Hakim Jeffries are proposing state legislation requiring the change to high school health curriculum.
The officials envision students being taught in public school about so-called "safe haven laws," which allow a parent to leave a newborn anonymously without prosecution as long as the newborn is abandoned in a safe way.
Parents do not face charges if they bring a newborn to a hospital, police station or fire station that is staffed.
Last weekend, a baby was thrown eight stories down a Brooklyn housing project trash chute and discovered hours later.
The baby boy fell on a mountain of trash and was miraculously not injured.
His mother, 18-year-old Laquasia Wright, was arrested on charges of attempted murder and endangering the welfare of a child.
And just two weeks earlier, another newborn was found in the trash at a Queens hospital. The child was found alive but later died.
The mother, Dawa Lama, 23, was arrested.
Extraordinarily saddening.
What do you suppose is worse? That mothers are tossing babies into the garbage or that we're trying to counsel them to abandon them in a peaceful manner?
On the other hand, what should one expect in a society where the right to destroy your own offspring is championed as women's liberation?