Margo Lovelace

Children Named It
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a blurred object fly from her hand. A sharp pain erupted from just above my stomach. I tried to remain standing, but my legs gave out, and my world turned black. From the kitchen I could hear Father in the living room, flipping through his newspaper. I took a painfully deep breath, hoping that I could shove off and make my way to Dad. Father Mo Mo Mother stabbed me. (Pelzer, 87-89) Children are being abused across the United States that often leads to broken up homes, murder, depression, and suicide. Some children have the will power to survive the abuse while others are not so lucky. I was one of those children who escaped my childhood nightmare. My abuse came from my Mother through verbal and physical. Although sexual abuse is another form of child abuse that I was lucky enough to not endure. Child abuse is a secret crime growing across our States and leading to many of the crimes in the United States such as mass murders. In the U.S. we need to end child abuse through teaching about abuse, increase consequences for the abuser, and request parents to take prevention of child abuse classes. Child Abuse tremendously grows and children go unprotected every day. There needs to be an end to child abuse and we need to put safety into these childrens eyes. People who know about the abuse and dont report it should have the same consequence as the abuser. We can teach in schools, jobs, and hospitals the signs and disasters of child abuse so they can report it and know it does happen in their community. Also in schools, teachers and staff need to teach the children if they are being abused it is okay for them to report it and they will no longer be hurt anymore. Many children who are being abused are often too scared to come to tell because their abuser has threatened them if they do tell. Child abusers doesnt have the deserved jail time for their crime. If we increase jail time and consequences for the abuser this may lead to them never getting out of jail for them to do it again and people being

Margo Lovelace

scared to abuse children based on the consequences they will face. Parents are the number one suspects of child abuse and often the ones who doesnt want a child or is not expecting a child. If we request parents to take classes about child abuse and the rights and wrongs of disciplining a child they will be informed on child abuse. I know I wished my parents would have taken these classes because my father would have been able to protect me and Mother would have seen the wrong she was doing. Although there will always be the parents who doesnt want to take the classes and the people who do not believe the abuser should receive more consequences. Child Abuse is one of the most unreported crime in the United States and known as the easiest crime to get away with. It is felt that the number of actual sexual abuse cases are grossly underreported, and some experts estimate it may be as high as 500,000. (What to do about Child Abuse) This number is outrageously high and there are too many cases unreported. My case was reported by the nurse at my school when she studied my bruises and excuses after my Father and brothers all saw me being abused. If I would have known my Mother would have never been able to touch me again I would have reported my case myself. The typical people who are responsible for reporting these cases are family members, teachers, nurses and people who work and see children every day. For those who do not report, they believe it will just cause an issue to the family or put the child in more danger because they are uneducated about child abuse. They dont realize how child abuse destroys people lives. My abuse destroyed my childhood and I was lucky enough to come out alive from the physical abuse. I lost all hope in myself and my family. With no dreams, I found that words like hope and faith were only letters, randomly put together into something meaningless- words only for fairy tales. (Pelzer, 132) Society tells us as a kid we should have dreams like to be a princess or a firefighter. Although I only wanted to escape my nightmare. Estimates of abuse or neglect by parents or guardians

Margo Lovelace

range from about 1 out of every 100 children to more than 1 in 7, and figures are far higher if emotional abuse and neglect are included. (Child Abuse) Children are being hurt, abused, and neglected across the United States and we are just watching the abuse. There needs to be a report system and system of encouragement for these children. Although child abuse is sweeping the U.S. there is solutions we can do the help prevent and reduce the rates of child abuse. The nurse at my school kept a monthly record of my bruises and my excuses. I was constantly going to the nurse for her inspection of the bruises visible on my body and she always asked where each one came from. I made excuses for my mom and my abuse but sometimes I accidently used the same excuse twice. This lead to the discovery of my case and my rescue. The nurse kept a record of my bruises and paid close attention to my body and because of that I was saved. Although it took several years before I was rescued. There could be more to help save abused children. Social services could do a monthly checkup at houses of children who have been suspected from nurses, teachers, and people who have reported suspicious activity. Also we need to create awareness of child abuse through our schools, hospitals, businesses, and on the news. Brochures can be handed out to every new parent at the hospital about child abuse, the signs of child abuse, and how to report child abuse. In schools, teachers and nurses can teach children what child abuse is and how to report it in a way they will feel safe to tell. On the news, broadcasters can have information on their website and local news to show the dangers of child abuse. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the General Assembly in 1989, affirmed the rights of the world's children to be protected against all forms of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. By 1995 it had been ratified by 180 nations, which made it the most widely adopted. (Child Welfare Crisis) These rights should be explained and showed in all businesses, schools, news, and hospitals. This will allow

Margo Lovelace

parents to tell others and recognize signs of child abuse so they will be able to report the abuse. Many people see signs of child abuse but they begin to think its a sort of punishment. My Moms friend saw the bruises and scars on my body but failed to report my abuse. If there was only a sort of information given to this lady then I might have been rescued a long time ago. Classes should be offered to parents and expecting parents about child abuse. In these classes they should teach the signs like bruises on the childs body, reaction to a child going home, the healthiness of the child like if starvation is occurring, and their clothes may be ragged and worn several times in a row. These classes should also teach how to report the child abuse and the different forms of child abuse. Classes should be free and recommended by all hospitals to parents who have been abused before, alcoholics, not expecting a child, or not wanting a child. At these classes brochures should be handed out for the person taking the class and for them to give out to their friends. The most important aspect of childs life is that they should feel loved. Children who are not loved have long term medical issues, sometimes commit suicide or crime, or often abuse their own children. Despite efforts to reduce child abuse in America, more than a million children are physically abused each year; about 2,000 die. (Child Abuse) The 2,000 children that die each year lead to abuse have a sorrow and honor in my heart. I will never know why I was saved but I will try to reduce the 2,000 deaths of children each year. With the solutions to child abuse there are the parents who will not want to take the classes and ignore the information being told on child abuse. Also some will believe the abuse and people who dont report the abuse do not deserve more punishment. One of the most severe cases in New Mexico was Baby Brianna who was abused and raped by her Father and Uncle. Her Mother also abused her while her Grandmother knew about the abuse. Her Grandmother who knew about the abuse only received sixty days in jail. Her Father threw her up to the ceiling

Margo Lovelace

and hit her multiple times which eventually led to her death. Reporters say they never saw any pictures of Baby Brianna in the house nor she had any toys in her house and yard. (Baby Brianna News Story 1) These signs could be seen by neighbors and could be seen as signs of child abuse. Those who see child abuse and dont report it are in the wrong just as much as the abuser. They should have equal punishment to those who abuse children because they are leaving a child in danger. If someone like Baby Briannas Grandmother would have reported her case, then maybe Baby Brianna would be alive today. Although getting more punishment or jail time for both the non-reporter and abuser is going to be difficult to pass due to people who do not agree with the issue. Also for people to receive information about child abuse it will cost money and many places such as our government are on budget cuts. Although this program can save people lives such as our children and can create a safer community for all. Children are our future and through child abuse children are being beaten, killed, and emotionally destructed. When a child has been abused it often leads to more issues than just the child abuse. For example a child who has been abused, frequently will abuse their own children or will lead to a social or mental disorder. Child abuse is not a single problem in the United States, but a problem that leads to multiple problems. Children across the United States are being abused by parents, siblings, teachers, strangers, coaches, and other family members. This abuse leads to heart breaks in the children, murders, destroyed homes, suicide, and depression. Only a few number of children are saved but the number of those who are get away with the abuse is greatly larger than those who are reported. I was lucky enough to escape my abuse from my Mother. Those who are not so lucky have deprived and destroyed childhoods. A childhood in the United States is viewed as a learning, fun, and loving experience. Every child should have a loving and safe childhood. In the

Margo Lovelace

U.S. we need to end child abuse through teaching about abuse, increase consequences for the abuser, and request parents to take prevention of child abuse classes. There could be monthly check ups at school for the nurse to look at bruises and reasoning for these bruises. Also social services can do random checkups at home for those who have suspected child abuse in the home. Child abuse is physical, verbal, and sexual abuse of children in which puts the child in danger and often destroys their life. Teaching in schools, on the news, and hospitals about child abuse and the signs of child abuse will create awareness so people will know how to report the abuse and recognize abuse. In the United States, we can put an end to child abuse and children can be safer and feel loved.