As a Chicago Public Schools parent and a survivor of gender-based violence, I’ve seen how the presence of police did not reduce the rates of sexual violence in schools.
Tag: sexual abuse

A Former Teacher Notes Disturbing Parallels Between Police Unions and Teacher Unions
I applaud teacher unions for speaking out against abusive police officers in schools, but I hope they will go a step further and consider how their own policies make it hard for every child to have the great teacher they deserve.

CPS Wants You to Think They’ve Solved Their Sexual Abuse in Schools Problem. The Feds Don’t Think So.
One person in each school building trained to prevent and address sexual assault does not equal a culture change.

What ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ Means for My Black Daughters and the Schools They Attend
As the Black mother of two Black girls, I am always acutely aware of how Black girls are harmed in this society. However, there are some moments in America, when it is amplified that me and my girls, are truly at the bottom of the totem pole of those deemed in need of protecting. This weekend, the Lifetime docu-series, “Surviving…

Preventing Sexual Abuse in Schools Starts With Training and Reducing Shame and Fear
We see the headlines about the new Title IX Office in CPS. The background checks. The handful of firings. But it’s harder to see what changes in culture are happening to stop sexual assault in schools. Back in the summer, I talked with experts about what CPS is doing to protect students. Today, I want to talk about what I’m…

6 Questions I’m Asking My Child’s School About Preventing Sexual Misconduct
Editor’s note, 2021: In the wake of the revelations of sexual abuse and grooming at Marine Leadership Academy, we are updating this post from 2019. Late in August 2018, Maggie Hickey of the Schiff Hardin law firm released her eagerly-awaited preliminary report on preventing and responding to sexual misconduct in Chicago Public Schools. There’s a lot in there, including a…