Saturday, November 11, 2006

A watchful eye

It's sounds kind of strange (at least to me) if parents don't get involved in their kids after school activities.
In our school we take it for granted that the parents stay and watch the classes - at least they are always more than welcome to!

Story:
A Kissimmee karate instructor has been in custody at the Osceola County Jail since early October, after several students alleged that he sexually abused them while they were under his supervision.

Unlike day-care centers and public schools, there are no safeguards in place to monitor the welfare of children when they attend extracurricular activities after school.

Marie Martinez, program manager for Orange County's Children's Advocacy Center, said it is not uncommon for child victims of sexual abuse to alert an adult, but the real issue is whether the adult listens. Some children will reveal a bit of information to test the adult's reaction, she said. But most child-sex victims are kept quiet with bribes and threats, she said.

Statistics show that up to 90 percent of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone the child knows, Martinez said, adding that adults the children tell are "oftentimes conflicted" if the perpetrator is a person they know and have trusted.

There is no governing body that regulates most after-school programs, but Martinez suggested parents make unannounced visits to their activities.

Source

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