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Health & Fitness

Child Safety

Don't be blind to abuse.

Superintendent Farley recently hosted a forum on safety. The discussion, as expected, was driven by parents who wanted to know what the school district was going to do to prevent a shooting incident. Please take solace in knowing the chances of your child being shot at school in CUSD ranks somewhere around them winning the lottery.

Your teenager is more likely to be injured in a car accident than shot in a CUSD school. An elementary school child is more likely to be the victim of child abuse with the perpetrator being their parent than shot at their school. 

The average age of victim of child abuse is seven years old. It is so common that we rarely speak of it. Sure, there are the stories in the paper about the parent who killed their child or the parent's significant other that beat the toddler to death. But we don't hold forums on it following the arrest even when it happens right here in Orange County.

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Some organizations report one in four children are the victims of abuse. Maybe that is high. Could it be one in six or one in eight? Still too high. California produced some figure on it back in 1996. It is a little dated but illustrative. Here is a link to the report:  http://www.lao.ca.gov/1996/010596_child_abuse/cw11096a.html#A3

A friend of mine is a highly regarded investigator of crimes against children. He lives in the CUSD territory. We worked together years ago in law enforcement.  I have seen my own share of troubling child abuse cases. My friend gets called in on the more horrific cases. His days are too long. You will be left fighting back the tears after he shares his day working cases from right here in South Orange County.

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So be concerned about our schools. Do what you can to make them safe. But don't be blind to the violence that goes on around you to the children that have been dealt a bad set of parents. No one is showing up at school board meetings and calling for action on their behalf. Perhaps we should.

 

 

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