Educate students about sexual abuse

One in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused by the time they turn 18. Additionally, 90 percent of offenders are someone the child knows. Young children may feel that the abuse they endure is a normal way of how an adult should treat them, while adolescents may be threatened by offenders.

Children need the knowledge ingrained in them until what to do in the event of a sexual assault becomes second nature. By not teaching kids about safe touch and safe secrets, we are giving sexual predators the upper hand.

Iowa does not have a law that requires schools to give sexual assault awareness and prevention education to students. Erin's Law is a bill in legislation that would require schools to provide this education. Children need this law to teach them tools that will empower them to speak up about child sexual abuse.

Jenny Mensen

Marion