"Look, there's traditional skittishness about sex ed in the K-12 system." "I would like it to move more over into 'you have to do it,' " says the law's co-sponsor, Tim Kaine, a Virginia senator and the Democratic vice-presidential nominee. Nationally, a law encourages it - but does not mandate. Nine passed new laws in the past year and a half, bringing the total to about 25. Well, how are we supposed to know if this person wants a hug when they're feeling sad or not? And kindergartners will tell you that you should ask them."Ī growing number of states are now mandating some sort of education around sexual assault in public schools. "But we talk about who here likes hugs, and some kids raise their hand and some don't. "Of course, we're not saying the word 'autonomous' to kindergartners," she explains. Indeed, Kate Rohdenburg, who runs a violence prevention program for a group called WISE in Vermont and New Hampshire, says even 5- and 6-year-olds can be taught basic principles of boundaries and autonomy. The conversation really should start even younger, he says. "It just makes sense when kids go through puberty, that's when their ideas about sex and beliefs and behaviors are forming, so that's really a critical period," Schewe says. What works well on ninth-graders, for example, has only one-third the impact on 12th-graders. "Absolutely, college is just way too late," says Paul Schewe, a professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago who studies violence prevention.Įven within high school, he says, programs are less effective each passing year. "So by the time you get to college, it's second nature, it's already hardwired into our brain." "It starts to be part of your culture," he says. Zaccardo says attitudes need to be adjusted when kids are young. Close to 100 elementary and secondary schools are now being investigated for their alleged mishandling of sexual assault allegations - 2.5 times the number a year ago. High-profile cases of sexual assault - from elite prep schools to public middle and high schools - have underscored the problem in younger grades. and, in her words, changed this young woman's life and just made all the difference." "That could have been the next situation," he says.
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