Susan was reared in a two-parent home and attended prep school, where she was on the honor role. She also found herself involved in a gang-controlled sex trafficking ring at the young age of 16. How does this sort of terrible, degrading, crime happen in one of the richest counties in America? Susan truly believes that the impetus for her entering into child prostitution was bullying and the resulting low self-esteem. It is our responsibility as educators to not only recognize that bullying can have consequences far worse than a child being called a name but also to address the issue head-on through preventative measures like anti-bullying programs, mentoring, and community involvement. Bullying can threaten a child’s physical and emotional safety at the time of the bullying and as we see here, in the long term as well. It is imperative that our schools get involved and stay involved. Our children deserve it.
Many thanks to Pam Brown for bringing much needed attention to this important issue.
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