Hiding Behind Paper Thin Walls

Today the California State Assembly approved SCR 73 which encourages school districts to include instruction related to child sexual abuse in their curriculum notwithstanding the fact that  the state-adopted Health Curriculum Frameworks already includes instruction related to the issue of child abuse and sexual exploitation in elementary, middle and high school.  This resolution gives the appearance of positive intervention and action while the serious work of protecting children by allowing the expeditious dismissal of abusive teachers is left undone.

For example, on June 27, 2012, the Assembly Committee on Education approved SCR 73 with unanimous support by Democrats on the committee.  On that same day, those same Democrats could not muster enough votes to approve SB 1530 (Padilla), which would expedite the dismissal process for teachers who engage in child abuse.  One might describe this contradictory action as ironic, or one might prefer to subscribe to the thinking of the Mayor of Los Angeles, who called it "…part of a larger disturbing pattern of disregard for the safety, well-being, and educational needs" of our young students.  Suffice it to say, California must do better for our children than pass non-binding resolutions; indeed, Democrats in the Legislature must find the courage and conviction to provide them with truly safe schools.