What Can We Learn From National Child Abuse Statistics?
There is much in the news today about what and when children should be taught about sex. I would propose that we are losing sight of the difference between teaching about the “sexual experience” and the concept of “good touch/bad touch”. Having worked in schools as teacher, counselor and administrator for many years, I worked with a lot of children and their parents. When I began teaching, we were made aware of, and directed to report, children who were physically and emotionally abused, but not so aware, or perhaps more uncomfortable talking about, sexual abuse. “Good touch/bad touch” was a long way from being discussed. Do I believe that parents have the right and responsibility to teach their children about sex and share their values? Absolutely. But we are assuming that all children are at greater risk with people they do not know. We teach them about “stranger danger” and think they are protected. And there are many children who do not even get that much information. Being a resea
