The parents of students at Miramonte Elementary are angry and frustrated because the school failed to protect their children from two teachers who allegedly engaged in sexual incidents with children while they were at school.  The parents are asking questions about what the school knew and why they weren’t notified when school officials began to suspect inappropriate behavior.

Since there is an ongoing investigation, we probably won’t learn the exact sequence of how decisions were made or why they were made for a long time. During an investigation, the police and school officials cannot share some of the information they have about the incidents.

Parents are angry at the school for failing to protect their children.  The parents expected a trusted institution to protect their children.  Regretfully, I think we have reached a point as a society that we can no longer naively trust that institutions will protect our children.

The Miramonte parents need to assume responsibility for teaching their children sexual safety.  All parents need to assume the responsibility of educating children about sexual safety.  Parents, not churches or schools, have the primary responsibility to protect their children.

If we are going to keep children safe, we have to educate parents about how to teach their children about sexual safety and how to provide intrusive supervision.

According to the associated press, in response to the rising number of reports of teachers sexually abusing students, ten states have developed plans to crack down on sexually abusive teachers. The new measures in these ten states provide tougher penalties for teachers who abuse students, punishment for administrators who fail to provide adequate supervision of teachers, and educational initiatives to train teachers on how to recognize abusers in their midst.

Regrettably, we have reached the point as a society where these measures are necessary to provide a minimal level of protection for children. Those who should most be concerned about the safety of children have become those who prey on children.

While it is admirable that states are trying to take measures to address teachers sexually abusing children, the reality is that as parents we need to do everything we can to help protect our children. We have to be willing to talk with our children about sexual issues. By the time our children are five years of age, they should know how to recognize when someone is trying to touch them inappropriately. If you as a parent haven’t taught your children about sexual safety and they are five year of age or older, now it the time to start teaching them. If you need assistance in teaching them, God Made Me: The Safe Touch Coloring Book is designed to help you teach your children about sexual safety.