Action Plan
The issue of child abuse is a topic that should be discussed in schools, within the community to raise awareness, and teach children how to react when they believe they have been a victim of or witnessed abuse by a coach or teacher. Many students and players know what child abuse is, but few understand how to report abuse and the majority of children would not be comfortable reporting it. It is very important that children and teens understand their rights as students and sports players and how to act against abusive teachers and coaches (“Student and Youth Rights”). An efficient way to connect with students in a way that they will be most comfortable is in their health classes with the teachers they trust. To get this done, it would of course be necessary to have health teachers teach about child abuse prevention and consequences all throughout the three grades of middle school. As of right now, sexual and domestic abuse are the only forms of abuse that is gone in-depth to in the middle school and high school curriculum (“Core Curriculum Content Standards”).
Nurse and health teacher Mrs. Dorry agrees with the health proposal. “Absolutely, because we talk about sex abuse, but not child abuse”. Another health teacher, Ms. Destefano, also agreed that new additions in the health class would be a fantastic idea. “I know in my class we talk about the different types of abuse,” she recalled. “But I think it would be a great idea to cover it in all grades and tell kids that it is okay to talk about and how they can handle it.” Most health teachers have a similar positive attitude to a possible new curriculum, now it is time to get the Board of Education and Mr. Carey on our side. To do this, we can prove to the people in charge that kids are not educated enough in their rights as students and players and how they can deal with abusive teachers and coaches. As soon as this happens, we can take the steps into stopping abuse and preventing it in the future.
Though there is most definitely a need for the subject of child abuse performed by adults and coaches to be talked about more thoroughly in schools, some people may oppose our new policies. Nurse and health teacher Mrs. Desousa disagrees with our new policy saying that, “We have already touched upon all forms of child abuse in school, therefore children know all they need to know on the topic.” Although it is true that health teachers have talked a bit about abuse, we believe there is not enough. Students need to know what to do in the event that they are being abused. They do not know what to do or who to tell about their coaches’ and teachers’ abusive actions. We are sure that if health teachers who disagree with our proposal new curriculum knew about the children’s lack of knowledge on this topic, they would be more than happy to touch upon the subject more throughout the school year.
Obviously, since this is an issue that deals with child abuse, the government is naturally going to be partly responsible. The mayor and the city council (“List of town council members”) of Westfield might need to be convinced that child abuse could be a problem in Westfield. In order to convince them, we can go to a town meeting and tell the city council and mayor about an incident that occurred in Sewell, a town not unlike Westfield. A special-needs student was verbally abused by his teacher right in the classroom (“Teacher Unloads on Special Needs Student”). This is important because it shows that these incidents can occur anywhere, even in more affluent communities that are supposedly “more safe”. Therefore, Mayor Skibitsky has little in his arsenal to possibly reject furthering child abuse laws. If Sewell was not that similar to Westfield, then it would be easier for Mayor Skibitsky to turn us down. Governor Christie would also need to be on board with the idea. In January 2013, it has been reported that Mike Rice, the Rutgers basketball coach, started abusing the players in practice 2010-2012, but was not fired until the second time it was reported (“Video shows Mike Rice's ire”). Furthermore, appropriate action on handling Mike Rice’s behavior had been on standby for a few months. This is important because it shows that not a sufficient majority of people know how to properly report and handle abuse in schools. If they had known, then the incident would have been reported on the spot back in 2010, where it would have been appropriately handled. But since it was not, further action needs to be taken to make sure that these incidents are appropriately handled as soon as possible. This case occurred in college; had the players been taught how to report abuse by coaches in middle school, then perhaps they would not have let the abuse go on for so long.
Sources:
College Coach Attacks Basketball Player... He’s About to get Sued. YouTube. N.p., 22 Feb. 2011. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8N-UThBYto>.
“Core Curriculum Content Standards.” State of New Jersey Department of Education. N.p., 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.
Destefano, Tina. Personal interview. 22 Apr. 2013.
“18080 Sewell New Jersey.” Neighborhood Link National Network. N.p., 2013. Web. Apr. 2013. <http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/zip/08080>.
ESPN. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2013. <http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fespn.go.com%2Fespn%2Fotl%2Fstory%2F_%2Fid%2F9125796%2Fpractice-video-shows-rutgers-basketball-coach-mike-rice-berated-pushed-used-slurs-players&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHb8peqDeaz9jnHmSzix_7ZoICYmQ>.
Ince, Michael. Personal interview. 22 Apr. 2013.
“Student and Youth Rights.” American Civil Rights Union of New Jersey. N.p., 2013. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aclu-nj.org%2Ftheissues%2Fstudentyouthrights%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGYWseyGlqlYKzngKhRr9Irtb_d5Q>.
Teacher Caught on Tape Bullying Special Needs Student. YouTube. N.p., 17 Nov. 2011. Web. Apr. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO857j0qCQo>.
Teacher Unloads on Special Needs Student. YouTube. N.p., 16 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Apr. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=b2Gr8ECc8gw&feature=endscreen>.
“Town Officials.” Westfield Town Council. Westfield Town Council, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. <http://www.westfieldnj.gov/index.asp?&SEC={587D10E2-279D-47BB-BAC8-F4DEF802A63D}>.
Nurse and health teacher Mrs. Dorry agrees with the health proposal. “Absolutely, because we talk about sex abuse, but not child abuse”. Another health teacher, Ms. Destefano, also agreed that new additions in the health class would be a fantastic idea. “I know in my class we talk about the different types of abuse,” she recalled. “But I think it would be a great idea to cover it in all grades and tell kids that it is okay to talk about and how they can handle it.” Most health teachers have a similar positive attitude to a possible new curriculum, now it is time to get the Board of Education and Mr. Carey on our side. To do this, we can prove to the people in charge that kids are not educated enough in their rights as students and players and how they can deal with abusive teachers and coaches. As soon as this happens, we can take the steps into stopping abuse and preventing it in the future.
Though there is most definitely a need for the subject of child abuse performed by adults and coaches to be talked about more thoroughly in schools, some people may oppose our new policies. Nurse and health teacher Mrs. Desousa disagrees with our new policy saying that, “We have already touched upon all forms of child abuse in school, therefore children know all they need to know on the topic.” Although it is true that health teachers have talked a bit about abuse, we believe there is not enough. Students need to know what to do in the event that they are being abused. They do not know what to do or who to tell about their coaches’ and teachers’ abusive actions. We are sure that if health teachers who disagree with our proposal new curriculum knew about the children’s lack of knowledge on this topic, they would be more than happy to touch upon the subject more throughout the school year.
Obviously, since this is an issue that deals with child abuse, the government is naturally going to be partly responsible. The mayor and the city council (“List of town council members”) of Westfield might need to be convinced that child abuse could be a problem in Westfield. In order to convince them, we can go to a town meeting and tell the city council and mayor about an incident that occurred in Sewell, a town not unlike Westfield. A special-needs student was verbally abused by his teacher right in the classroom (“Teacher Unloads on Special Needs Student”). This is important because it shows that these incidents can occur anywhere, even in more affluent communities that are supposedly “more safe”. Therefore, Mayor Skibitsky has little in his arsenal to possibly reject furthering child abuse laws. If Sewell was not that similar to Westfield, then it would be easier for Mayor Skibitsky to turn us down. Governor Christie would also need to be on board with the idea. In January 2013, it has been reported that Mike Rice, the Rutgers basketball coach, started abusing the players in practice 2010-2012, but was not fired until the second time it was reported (“Video shows Mike Rice's ire”). Furthermore, appropriate action on handling Mike Rice’s behavior had been on standby for a few months. This is important because it shows that not a sufficient majority of people know how to properly report and handle abuse in schools. If they had known, then the incident would have been reported on the spot back in 2010, where it would have been appropriately handled. But since it was not, further action needs to be taken to make sure that these incidents are appropriately handled as soon as possible. This case occurred in college; had the players been taught how to report abuse by coaches in middle school, then perhaps they would not have let the abuse go on for so long.
Sources:
College Coach Attacks Basketball Player... He’s About to get Sued. YouTube. N.p., 22 Feb. 2011. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8N-UThBYto>.
“Core Curriculum Content Standards.” State of New Jersey Department of Education. N.p., 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.
Destefano, Tina. Personal interview. 22 Apr. 2013.
“18080 Sewell New Jersey.” Neighborhood Link National Network. N.p., 2013. Web. Apr. 2013. <http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/zip/08080>.
ESPN. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2013. <http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fespn.go.com%2Fespn%2Fotl%2Fstory%2F_%2Fid%2F9125796%2Fpractice-video-shows-rutgers-basketball-coach-mike-rice-berated-pushed-used-slurs-players&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHb8peqDeaz9jnHmSzix_7ZoICYmQ>.
Ince, Michael. Personal interview. 22 Apr. 2013.
“Student and Youth Rights.” American Civil Rights Union of New Jersey. N.p., 2013. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aclu-nj.org%2Ftheissues%2Fstudentyouthrights%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGYWseyGlqlYKzngKhRr9Irtb_d5Q>.
Teacher Caught on Tape Bullying Special Needs Student. YouTube. N.p., 17 Nov. 2011. Web. Apr. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO857j0qCQo>.
Teacher Unloads on Special Needs Student. YouTube. N.p., 16 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Apr. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=b2Gr8ECc8gw&feature=endscreen>.
“Town Officials.” Westfield Town Council. Westfield Town Council, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. <http://www.westfieldnj.gov/index.asp?&SEC={587D10E2-279D-47BB-BAC8-F4DEF802A63D}>.