Recently we had a presentation on a very serious subject, child abuse. The focus of the presentation was to remind us as teachers that we are required to report even the suspicion of child abuse. We were given phone numbers and a time-line. Well and good.
My problem is that I never turn my mind off and my inner data processor keeps running. When I hear something that sounds too extreme to be rational my baloney detector kicks in. One of the statistics shared claimed that 1 in 3 girls are sexually abused before they are 18. That is staggering. It is so staggering that I began examining the data. The weak spot, as in many crusader presentations, was in the data. How was it gathered? What were the standards?
Let me give you an example of how they come up with this frightening number. The policeman giving the presentation elaborated. He claimed that a man with a child sitting in his lap who has a physical reaction is engaging in child molestation even if the child does not know it and no one else in the room is aware of it. That is a pretty broad definition of molestation. And I wonder how they collected that statistic? Did they put sensors in the shorts of every man in the nation? Did they have hidden cameras? Did they do interviews?
How about a little review. They claim that a man, who might just be having a natural, uncontrollable reaction to physical contact is molesting a child even if the child is not aware of it and there is no active action on the part of the man. By this rational anyone who walks by a bakery and smells the fresh bread is guilty of breaking their diet. It is a nonsense statistic.
So how much of the shocking statistic is gathered in this broad brush method? How much is real molestation and abuse and how much is an attempt to create a sensation in order to get laws passed and funds distributed?
Child abuse and child molestation are real issues they need to be dealt with but not by a pack of lies and distortions. There is enough real pain to go around. Let’s measure it and do something about it.
homo unius libri
I hope you said to the crowd what you've said to us, they needed to hear it. Such filth and paranoia needs challenged.
ReplyDeleteIt has been at least 10 years since we have had a real discussion of anything brought up at one of our faculty meetings. I have earned the reputation of the squeaky wheel, but I never get any grease. Although it is never stated, teachers seem to have a favorite quote, "Don't confuse me with the facts."
DeleteI continue to speak out but it gets less frequent every year.
Grace and peace.
I think it was Mark Twain who said about statistics, "you get lies, damn lies, then you get statistics." (or something to that effect).
ReplyDeleteIn spite of him being a godless heathen I must admit that Twain had a lot of wisdom. The problem is we don't really discuss things any more. When the United States was forming people went to the pub or local inn and discussed the latest chapter in the Federalist Papers. Now they discuss sports or who is on Dancing with the Stars.
DeleteIt would drive me to drink but I would be forced to hand around in sports bars.
Grace and Peace.