Combating Child Abuse Through Prevention Education

Music in An Empty Room
by Ronalee Rackley (written while in her first year of teaching)
The Educational Forum, Vol. 50, No.4, Summer, 1986                                                                                                                    

                                              "Listen, Daddy, to the song I learned today!"
                                                And on the keys her hands begin
                                                With all the courage that it takes.
                                              "What noise!," he says,
                                              "Why can't you play without mistakes?"

                                              "Mama, the kids at school today, they laughed at me
                                                And called me names." It hurts so much -
                                                If you would just hold me for a little bit...
                                              "It must have been your fault," she says.
                                              "You always deserve whatever you get."...

                                                On and on, everyday,
                                                They are her mirror - that's how she knows
                                                She's all bad - one big mistake.
                                                They've told her she will never change,
                                                But there's a way to stop the ache.

                                                For soon enough you learn
                                                That caring only means you'll hurt.
                                                And hopelessness, like bitter cold,
                                                In time will make you numb.
                                                And apathy becomes your only stronghold.

                                                Now watch her face and see the life
                                                Seep slowly out.
                                                Watch the joyfulness decay.
                                                Ice-cold eyes say nothing matters
                                                And everything has turned to gray.

                                                Now she's lost, but safe inside.
                                                No need to cry in this little world.
                                                No need for love, no reason to care.
                                                Do all you want now - beat on the door,
                                                But you won't find her anywhere.

                                                 Like music in an empty room
                                                 Strains of melody haunting the air
                                                 Never seen, or felt or heard -
                                                 Wasted echoes in a tomb
                                                 Fade away without a word.
                                                
           
Discussion Questions:

1. Of the confirmed cases of child maltreatment reported in 2006 , compare age occurrence
    for each of the types of child maltreatment as to percent occurrence. What age group accounted for the
    majority of occurrences?

2. Summarize the major factors related to parents, children, families, and the environment
    which are associated with child maltreatment.

3. Describe your responsibility as either a community citizen, educator, or health care
    provider in  reporting child maltreatment. Summarize signs of  child maltreatment which
    warrant reporting. Describe how you would  respond to a child who discloses their
    abuse to you.

4. Contrast the terms primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Give an example
    of a primary  prevention community service for parents who are at risk for abusing
    children; an example of a secondary  prevention community service for parents who
    have been reported to be currently abusing children; and an example of a tertiary
    prevention community service for parents who have a repeated history of abusing
    children.

Internet links : Information from the following five links will assist you in responding to the above questions.:

 Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS)

http://www.child welfare.gov In the left panel, click on "preventing child abuse and neglect"; next click on ""Overview"; then click on "when children are at risk", then click on "child abuse and neglect: Risk and protective factors." Read "Factors that contribute to child abuse and neglect" and "Protective Factors."

http://www.child welfare.gov(In the left panel under" Resources" click on "Statistics"; then click on " Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics"; lastly click on "Child Maltreatment 2006" , click "view publication"; go to chapter 3 and click on "Children" and read.

http://www.nncc.org/Abuse/rspond_disclos.html

http://www.edjj.org/focus/prevention/LevelsPrevention.html

Child Maltreatment 2006: Chapter 3: Children

Page developed by Nancy Nostrand as part of her honor's project in school health