Regarding Erin’s Law: I get it

Dear Editor,

Regarding Erin’s Law: I get it. It may be difficult for some school districts to implement a suitable curriculum immediately. I get it. Educators today have more than a full plate every day in the classroom. Reading, writing, arithmetic, social skills, counseling, discipline, referrals to specialists for learning difficulties, to the school nurse for at-school medical needs, basic hygiene, safe, confidential emotional time-outs and to the office personnel for home-school communications. Then there is the “bottom line” in every budget.

I get that, too.

As a former elementary school nurse in the Mat-Su Borough, my colleagues and I, along with pediatrician George Brown, developed and implemented the rudimentary, i.e. inexpensive, program “Good Touch, Bad Touch.” It provided teachers and students the tools to recognize sexual abuse. I, for one, experienced positive action within my student population. However, our early efforts missed the important component that Erin’s Law would provide: to recognize and avoid or end abusive relationships. Personal safety should not end at sixth grade.

The Law as first presented to the Alaska Legislature should not be diluted, changed in scope to represent legislators personal ideologies or, as I see it, trivialized by those legislators.

Either pass the law in full strength or don’t.

I get it. And, I vote.

Jennie Schrage, RN

Willow