Your Thoughts and Feedback Are Appreciated!

Well another quarter has come and gone.  When we started out together winter was in full swing, and now if this past weekend is any indication, spring is just around the corner. I hope you can all say that you learned something in this class, and that you keep in touch, and continue to post on the blog whenever you want.

With that being said, my final question to you is, “What did you like or dislike about the class? What could I do to make the class better?” Answers are due no later than Sunday, March 17^th, 2013 - which happens to be one of my favorite holidays St. Patrick's day!  Erin Go Braugh!  For those of you who celebrate - have a Happy Easter. For those of you who are graduating this quarter – congratulations! Your hard work has finally paid off!  For everyone else - have a good break.  Now go off and do big things - I'll be waiting!

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

Over the weekend, I watched the HBO documentary Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God.  The movie covered some of the sexual abuse claims made by children who were residents at a Catholic deaf school.  Numerous children who attended the school came forward to say that Father Murphy, the head priest at the school had sexually abused them over a period of several years.  The movie was hard to watch.  I mean really hard to watch, as in after 10 minutes, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to get through it.  I did though, and what struck me most was how none of the other adults who knew or may have suspected the abuse was occurring, ever reported it to the authorities.

It reminded me of the Penn State scandal, in which Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky was convicted of 45 counts of sexual abuse against young boys.  Several Penn State staff testified that they saw or heard of Sandusky’s abuse, but never reported it to police.

Now we can probably all agree that pedophiles are sick individuals that need to be incarcerated for their crimes, but what about bystanders who know the abuse is occurring but don’t report it?  47 states and the District of Columbia impose penalties on mandatory reporters who knowingly or willfully fail to make a report when they suspect a child is being abused or neglected.  In Indiana, individuals can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor.

Sexual abuse of children in this country is at epic proportions. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 17% of boys and 28% of girls will be victims of sexual abuse during their childhood.  Think about that for a minute. That’s over 1 out of every four girls! 

So my question to you this week is, “Do you think the penalties should be harsher for adults who know abuse is occurring, but don’t report it?  Why do you think someone would know a child is being abused, but not notify the authorities?”  You must answer both questions to earn full credit.  As for me, this whole topic has made me feel kind of ill.  I want to say I think adults who know abuse is occurring but fail to report it should get the same penalties the child molesters receive themselves.  Then again, even those penalties aren’t that harsh.  I’m eager to hear what you think.  Answers are due no later than Sunday, March 10^th, 2013.  Don’t forget!  Daylight Savings Time starts this Sunday!  Move your clocks ahead 1 hour.