Sep 12, 2016 12:00:00 AM
I firmly believe that by instilling in young minds the importance of affirmative consent and relationships built on love and respect, that we can reduce the sexual violence inflicted on young women.[pullquote position=“right”]Teaching these values in school is not nearly enough.[/pullquote] Nevertheless, it’s a progressive start. We desperately need appropriate sentencing for sexual assault. However, when we arrive at sentencing, it’s already too late for the mind, body and soul of a violated woman. We need to rewind to a time before these events ever take place and instill values, conduct and respect that puts the brakes on even imagining dragging an unconscious woman behind a dumpster. We can find a million reasons why we are too uncomfortable to face this head on in our schools, but know it is to the detriment of our children—male and female. The lessons of mutual respect, empathy, and yes, sexual consent, begins at home. However, for when that fails or is not enough, our schools must reinforce these crucial life lessons.
Katelyn Silva is mom to a third grader and an education writer in Providence, Rhode Island. She operates her own education writing consulting business. She was previously the chief communications officer at Rhode Island Mayoral Academies, a nonprofit dedicated to opening intentionally diverse public charter schools. Prior to that, she was the communications director at the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute.
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