We Must Educate Everyone About Child Abuse :: Violence Against Children

Every year more than 3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States involving more than 6 million children. Very few people are aware of the severeness of child abuse. While some people choose to ignore it, many people are oblivious to the fact that is even exists. Unfortunately, because very few people know about the severity of the problem or do not know how to stop it, the cycle of violence will continue for generations to come. It is detrimental that the cycle stops and abused children do not grow up to be abusers. Many children are afraid to ask for help, they feel they will be hurt again or punished. It is so very important that children know it is necessary and right to seek help. Unfortunately, 90% of children abused are under the age of 12. That means that most of them are not even out of elementary school. The addition of child abuse education classes in elementary schools would provide knowledgeable information to every child about deal ing with child abuse. Education is a very key part to preventing the spread of violence. In order to really understand child abuse, it is important to know some of the main facts about child abuse. Iowa law actually defines six specific type of abuse. They are physical, emotional, sexual, denial of critical care, child prostitution, and drug exposure. Abuse happens to children of all ages and backgrounds, it affects all economic classes, races, ethnic and religious groups. It is estimated that a child is abused every 26 seconds in America. Abused children suffer emotional, social, and intellectual deficits that may be with them throughout their lives. Criminal and violent behavior, psychoses and psychiatric illness, drug and alcohol abuse, school and learning difficulties, and employment problems are all documented outcomes of child abuse. For these reasons as well as countless others, the need to stop this cycle is so very apparent. So why is more attention given to the effort of preventing child abuse? Here is one possible explanation to this question.