Dear _________,

Have you ever considered the possibility of betraying the trust of a child? It may have never crossed your mind, but for some children, that trust is betrayed due to the horrendous act of child abuse. The National Association for the Education of Young Children or the NAEYC, works as an advocate for the well-being of children by improving the quality of early childhood centers, as well as holding educators to the high standards of ethics when working with young children.

As an Early Childhood Education major at Youngstown State University, I feel that programs relating to the elimination of child abuse should be ratified and the screening of educators, early childhood professionals and all school staff members, including bus drivers, janitors and cafeteria workers should be greatly implemented. Although child abuse caused by an individual working with children violates the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct, “Above all, we shall not harm children," it is still a possibility and should not be taken lightly. Therefore, the above precautions should be taken in order to ensure the safety of the individuals attending school and early childhood centers. No child should ever have a lingering fear of harmful behavior by their teacher or other school staff member and due to the ethical conduct of which educators are accountable for, teachers and other school staff members should not be going against the law to execute these behaviors.

Unfortunately, the possibility of individuals taking the opportunity to organize child care centers for unethical purposes is still present and it considered a form of out-of-home abuse. “Estimates of the proportion of child abuse in out-of-home settings vary but range from one percent to seven percent of reported rates of abuse." Although that may not seem a very large percentage, the fact that it is a percentage is a problem. If nothing is done and screening, as well as other precautions and adjustments are not implemented, those percentages may begin to rise, eliminating a basic need for young children, which is safety.

I believe that if individuals are aware of the many adjustments that can be utilized in ensuring child safety, a call to action can be achieved. These adjustments include smaller group sizes varying on grade levels and number of teachers present in order to supervise the children better. Also, indoor and outdoor play and classroom environments should be designed to decrease the possibility of hidden locations where abuse may happen. Lastly, if every staff member, substitute teacher and volunteer at the schools and early education centers are aware of what constitutes child abuse, the horrendous acts may become decreased, or even prevented all together because of the knowledge behind the subject.

Children are the future generation and deserve to have a positive and safe learning experience while attending school so that they may grow into capable, confident and successful adults.

Sincerely,

A Future Educator