Public schools need programs to stop child sex abuse, says educator

Published: 2004-07-07

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Because of the prevalence of child sex abuse, public schools must develop prevention programs that include educating employees, volunteers, parents and students on how to spot and report problems, said an educator who prepared a federally mandated study for Congress on the issue. Sex abuse of students by teachers and other adults in the public school system "is a problem that needs to be taken care of," said Charol Shakeshaft, professor of educational policies at Hofstra University in Huntington, N.Y. She was interviewed by telephone July 6 by Catholic News Service. Her study, "Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature," estimated that almost 10 percent of public school students, about 4.5 million children, have been abused by public school employees or adult volunteers. It was commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education and presented to Congress at the end of June.

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