Guest guest Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/329/7464/495?ehom E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP Midlothian, TX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 29, 2010 Report Share Posted August 29, 2010 Hi Tina, I've wondered the same thing and come to the conclusion that its simply that at this point in our human evolution, our history and our particular culture, personal freedom for adults has a higher priority than safety for children. Children are for all intents and purposes considered the property of their parents, and the parents get to raise their children any way they want to as long as any mistreatment stays " under the radar " . Its only when parental behaviors are publicly, repeatedly, and blatantly extremely negligent or extremely abusive that anything is ever done for the child victims. Lower-grade emotional, physical or sexual abuse can exist and continue unabated and unchecked as long as to the outside world the family appears " normal " , or even worse, not sufficiently " abnormal. " Its very sad, and at this point in time its an unresolvable dilemma. I personally think that the only way any kind of change can happen is to establish required classes for children starting in preschool and lasting throughout college to educate future generations (in age appropriate ways) very clearly about what mentally healthy behaviors look like and what mentally ill, abusive behaviors look like. I'd call the course " Emotional Hygiene " . Make it clear that screaming at another person, hitting them or otherwise physically assaulting them, manipulating others with lies or emotional pressure, using other people for your own benefit, sexual contact between children and older children or adults, neglecting responsibilities to properly feed, clothe, clean and otherwise care for children and pets, etc., etc., cruelty to animals and children, corrupting others, etc., are harmful to others, are inappropriate, and/or are illegal and are not mentally healthy behaviors and should be avoided. I also like the idea of making it possible for children to access lawyers who are empowered to represent the child's interests, and act on the child's behalf to investigate and prosecute claims of abuse or neglect. I think we need a shift in the balance of power: giving children the same human rights and civil rights as adults. Although I realize that these concepts are in the realm of fantasy, I think that if they are actualized at some point that our society and humankind in general might be the better for it, eventually. I'm thinking that meanwhile, all any of us can do is to consider ourselves " mandated reporters " regarding any children that we personally know. Take personal responsibility for reporting abuse. This means that if we have good reason to suspect abuse or neglect in our own immediate or extended families, if we've actually witnessed child abuse or if a child comes to us for help, that we personally need to decide to not just look the other way, not say " I don't want to rock the boat " , not say " I don't want to break up the family " or " Its not my business " and instead decide that preventing child abuse is very much our business, and report it. -Annie > > I just keep turning over in my mind how injust it is for the KOs, and how society willingly turns away from this evil in the home. What can we do, as KOs, to save the next generation? > > I wish we could make this board required reading for every mandatory reporter. There is no denying our experience. > > What can we do?? > > Seriously -- please, if you have ideas -- please share them. > > Laying awake at night, > Tina > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 29, 2010 Report Share Posted August 29, 2010 Hi Tina, I've wondered the same thing and come to the conclusion that its simply that at this point in our human evolution, our history and our particular culture, personal freedom for adults has a higher priority than safety for children. Children are for all intents and purposes considered the property of their parents, and the parents get to raise their children any way they want to as long as any mistreatment stays " under the radar " . Its only when parental behaviors are publicly, repeatedly, and blatantly extremely negligent or extremely abusive that anything is ever done for the child victims. Lower-grade emotional, physical or sexual abuse can exist and continue unabated and unchecked as long as to the outside world the family appears " normal " , or even worse, not sufficiently " abnormal. " Its very sad, and at this point in time its an unresolvable dilemma. I personally think that the only way any kind of change can happen is to establish required classes for children starting in preschool and lasting throughout college to educate future generations (in age appropriate ways) very clearly about what mentally healthy behaviors look like and what mentally ill, abusive behaviors look like. I'd call the course " Emotional Hygiene " . Make it clear that screaming at another person, hitting them or otherwise physically assaulting them, manipulating others with lies or emotional pressure, using other people for your own benefit, sexual contact between children and older children or adults, neglecting responsibilities to properly feed, clothe, clean and otherwise care for children and pets, etc., etc., cruelty to animals and children, corrupting others, etc., are harmful to others, are inappropriate, and/or are illegal and are not mentally healthy behaviors and should be avoided. I also like the idea of making it possible for children to access lawyers who are empowered to represent the child's interests, and act on the child's behalf to investigate and prosecute claims of abuse or neglect. I think we need a shift in the balance of power: giving children the same human rights and civil rights as adults. Although I realize that these concepts are in the realm of fantasy, I think that if they are actualized at some point that our society and humankind in general might be the better for it, eventually. I'm thinking that meanwhile, all any of us can do is to consider ourselves " mandated reporters " regarding any children that we personally know. Take personal responsibility for reporting abuse. This means that if we have good reason to suspect abuse or neglect in our own immediate or extended families, if we've actually witnessed child abuse or if a child comes to us for help, that we personally need to decide to not just look the other way, not say " I don't want to rock the boat " , not say " I don't want to break up the family " or " Its not my business " and instead decide that preventing child abuse is very much our business, and report it. -Annie > > I just keep turning over in my mind how injust it is for the KOs, and how society willingly turns away from this evil in the home. What can we do, as KOs, to save the next generation? > > I wish we could make this board required reading for every mandatory reporter. There is no denying our experience. > > What can we do?? > > Seriously -- please, if you have ideas -- please share them. > > Laying awake at night, > Tina > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 29, 2010 Report Share Posted August 29, 2010 Hi Tina, I've wondered the same thing and come to the conclusion that its simply that at this point in our human evolution, our history and our particular culture, personal freedom for adults has a higher priority than safety for children. Children are for all intents and purposes considered the property of their parents, and the parents get to raise their children any way they want to as long as any mistreatment stays " under the radar " . Its only when parental behaviors are publicly, repeatedly, and blatantly extremely negligent or extremely abusive that anything is ever done for the child victims. Lower-grade emotional, physical or sexual abuse can exist and continue unabated and unchecked as long as to the outside world the family appears " normal " , or even worse, not sufficiently " abnormal. " Its very sad, and at this point in time its an unresolvable dilemma. I personally think that the only way any kind of change can happen is to establish required classes for children starting in preschool and lasting throughout college to educate future generations (in age appropriate ways) very clearly about what mentally healthy behaviors look like and what mentally ill, abusive behaviors look like. I'd call the course " Emotional Hygiene " . Make it clear that screaming at another person, hitting them or otherwise physically assaulting them, manipulating others with lies or emotional pressure, using other people for your own benefit, sexual contact between children and older children or adults, neglecting responsibilities to properly feed, clothe, clean and otherwise care for children and pets, etc., etc., cruelty to animals and children, corrupting others, etc., are harmful to others, are inappropriate, and/or are illegal and are not mentally healthy behaviors and should be avoided. I also like the idea of making it possible for children to access lawyers who are empowered to represent the child's interests, and act on the child's behalf to investigate and prosecute claims of abuse or neglect. I think we need a shift in the balance of power: giving children the same human rights and civil rights as adults. Although I realize that these concepts are in the realm of fantasy, I think that if they are actualized at some point that our society and humankind in general might be the better for it, eventually. I'm thinking that meanwhile, all any of us can do is to consider ourselves " mandated reporters " regarding any children that we personally know. Take personal responsibility for reporting abuse. This means that if we have good reason to suspect abuse or neglect in our own immediate or extended families, if we've actually witnessed child abuse or if a child comes to us for help, that we personally need to decide to not just look the other way, not say " I don't want to rock the boat " , not say " I don't want to break up the family " or " Its not my business " and instead decide that preventing child abuse is very much our business, and report it. -Annie > > I just keep turning over in my mind how injust it is for the KOs, and how society willingly turns away from this evil in the home. What can we do, as KOs, to save the next generation? > > I wish we could make this board required reading for every mandatory reporter. There is no denying our experience. > > What can we do?? > > Seriously -- please, if you have ideas -- please share them. > > Laying awake at night, > Tina > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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