The nonfiction book Protecting Children from Violence: Evidence- Based Interventions, by Jim Lampinen and Kathy Sexton- Radek, contains staggering past and current research findings on the issue of atrocities against children. Jim Lampinen holds a PhD in cognitive psychology. Kathy Sexton- Radek is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Illinois. This writer chose the title as part of a psychology class writing assignment. After reading the contents of the book, this student could not help but ask the question… When is “enough” enough? The story opens at a school in which one of the authors gave a presentation on the question of missing children. Upon closing, a parent approached the speaker expressing deep concern over the …show more content…
De Mause (1998) estimates “that one-third of all infants born during the medieval age were victims of infanticide” (de Mause, 1998). Such rituals included murder of children in order to sell their clothing articles for a few belts of hard liquor. Infanticide is still alive and well, carried throughout the history of the world to present (de Mause, 1998). Older children also became victims of cruel and abusive treatment at the hands of adults. According to Shelman and Lazoritz (2005), the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children first established in 1875, due to the efforts of a missionary woman and the Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). In 1873, a missionary named “Mrs. Etta Wheeler” discovered a nine-year-old female bound to a bed in an apartment dwelling in New York City. The little girl suffered from malnutrition and severe thrashing about her body. Upon finding a leather whip in the dwelling, Mrs. Wheeler alarmed local authorities of the abuse, but to no avail. It seems there were no laws protecting children against abuse. Mrs. Wheeler then petitioned the aid of the Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). “She argued that children deserved at least the same protection that animals received” (Lampinen & Sexton- Radek, p. 4). The ASPCA ultimately intervened and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was born. Lampinen and Sexton- Radek (2010) found that pedophilia was a suitable
According to Pecora, Sanders, Wilson, English, Puckett & Rudlang-Perman (2014), “Every year in the USA, about 695,000 unique children are confirmed as victims of child maltreatment (US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau 2011) (p. 321). Such startling statistics suggest that child abuse is not just a public health issue; it is an epidemic. However, research reveals that prevention is possible through a collaborative effort made by parents, schools, the government, social services, and the
It was not until the early 1870s that child abuse was first brought into light. The Child-Protection Movement started with the news of one eight year-old orphan named Mary Ellen Wilson. After the passing of her biological mother and father, Mary Ellen was left in the care of her biological father's widow, Mary McCormack Connolly. Mrs. McCormack Connolly badly mistreated Mary Ellen, and neighbors in the building were well aware of the child's predicament (Mary Ellen Wilson, 2013). It was not until Etta Angell Wheeler, a caring Methodist mission worker, visited the residence and noticed Mary Ellen's condition. Ms. Wheeler describes her first meeting with Mary Ellen, as such:
Discussion 1 B: Netiquette is a term many of you many may not have heard of. Take some time and look it up, “google it”. You may be surprised. Then click on the link below and read the 10 rule of Netiquette. Write about your thoughts on Netiquette. Have you been guilty of violating one of the rules? Will you change the way you interact online because of this, why or why not?
Historically, children were viewed very differently than they are today. Adults thought of children as being seen and not heard. Children were expected to work in textile factories or as chimney sweeps in order to provide for their families. They did not have rights and in the family, children followed the rule “do as you’re told” so they would survive. It was not until 1875 when the thought of the rights of children came about. Rights of children “stemmed from their status – dependent, immature individuals who require care, protection, and guidance to survive and flourish,” (Downs, Moore & McFadden, 2009, p. 7). Politicians thought children deserved an education and protection, so they introduced “child saving” activities that advocated for the improving the lives of and conditions for children. Since this was enacted orphanages were developed for communities that experienced disasters and orphan trains helped in resettling over 100,000 children. In 1924 the League of Nations approved the Geneva Declaration of of the Rights of a Child which gave children rights such as receiving food, healthcare, protection, and shelter (Strohm, Powerpoint, September 3).
Child abuse has been a big issue in the world for a long time. There has not always been child protective services like there is now. Children would be abused and neglected and nothing was being done because it was not being reported. The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was the world’s first organization in the late 1800s which was dedicated totally to child protection (Myers, 2008).
For centuries child abuse was not investigated due to many reasons. For instance, children were historically seen as property. Young boys and girls were to always follow an adult’s orders without questioning if it was a wrong act that could harm others or themselves. Therefore, kids became taught to stay silent, and never go against their parent’s decisions and expectations. Furthermore, different cultures and family values made it hard to create a definition for child abuse that addressed how to determine if a child was truly being physically, sexually or mentally abused. In 1874, the abuse case of Mary Ellen helped create the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which brought to light the seriousness of how children were being
This question has formed part of the historiography of the causes of the First World War, a historical debate that has endured ever since the conflict ended. It periodically resurfaces with new theories being advanced such as the Fischer thesis, usually on account of the release of previously unseen documents or because of a shift in the political climate. It has emerged to the fore once again because this year is the centennial of the war’s outbreak and there are plans to commemorate it nationally across the UK.
The NSPCC is a charity and they are the only charity who has power to act where there are cases of abuse. They offer services to support families, children and young people, they do this through helplines. They also make people aware to pursue the safety and protection of children. The charity has a responsibility to identify and prevent cruelty to children.
All around the world, people are abusing animals. Animal cruelty is a big deal because some people do not look at animals as being important; some people do not see a problem with hurting them. Animal cruelty can be define as being a malicious treatment that can cause undue pain or being mistreated. Seeing an animal get brutalize by some humans seems to be cruel. Getting kicked in the ribs, left for starvation and even used for entertainment seems to be heartless. Why abuse animals when they have not done anything to harm a human. If one must see what they are really doing to these animals, then animal cruelty would not be a big deal.
“The seriousness of emotional deprivation: It is not difficult to understand how children who have suffered from malnutrition or starvation need food and plenty of care in their bodies are to recover so they can go on to lead normal lives. If, however, the starvation is severe enough, the damage will be permanent and they will suffer physical impairments for the rest of their lives. Likewise, children who are deprived of emotional nurturing require care and love if their sense of security and self-confidence is to be restored. However, if love is minimal and abuse high, the damage will be permanent and the children will suffer emotional impairments for the rest of their lives,” said by Mark Z. Danielewski, April 11th, 2014. The issue of child abuse dates all the way back to colonial times in 1809 before organized child protection began. Back in this time child abuse wasn’t recognized by people as a serious issue so many people were able to kill children without harsh consequence. For example in 1810 a woman was arrested for killing a newborn child and admitted to several people that she killed the baby, even so, she was found not guilty most likely because the jury thought was psychotic. Many children went without protection and were killed, raped, kidnapped, and tortured during this time and still this wasn’t seen as a high priority issue in the United States. It wasn’t until 1875 that the world's first organization that was completely devoted to child protection came
In history, it shows that there have been interventions, but during the civilizations in "Greece, Rome and Mexico engaged in several forms of child abuse" for cultural beliefs(Child abuse,1). During that civilization they believed in murder and that back then child abuse was very common for punishment. In 2013 archeologists found a "two-thousand-year-old skeleton of a toddler" which had may fractures which proved that child abuse was present(Child abuse,2). This showed that in cultures and religious backgrounds that child abuse was common, but looking back now it was morally wrong. To continue, the intervention of child abuse is presented as "both necessary and morally compelling"(I.Child abuse,1). This illustrates that the process of child
Looking back on remote times, child abuse was a very prominent and under looked element of
It is therefore not surprising that in many situations the concept of “sparing the rod and spoiling the child” has been passed down generationally, sometimes to the point where abuse is an end result (Crosson-Tower, 2010). The child protection movement had a peculiar start as it evolved out the animal protection movement organized by Henry Bergh, who had gained attention from the community leaders of New York while tending to mistreated animals (Watkin, 1990). In 1874, the beatings and repeated maltreatment of a young girl by the name of Mary Ellen Wilson was brought to the attention of a church worker named Etta Wheeler (Watkin, 1990). Ms. Wheeler pleaded with both Henry Bergh and attorney Elbridge Gerry to prosecute the stepmother (Mrs. Mary Connelly) for abusing the child (Watkin, 1990). Mrs. Connelly was eventually sentenced to a year of prison labor, and Mary Ellen was removed from the home and placed in the care of Sally Angell, the mother of Etta Wheeler. This effort to rescue one child was the impetus for the formation of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (SPCC), and in 1875. The New York Office of the SPCC was established by Elbridge Gerry and quickly spread to Philadelphia and Chicago (Crosson-Tower, 2010). Throughout the early 20th century, advocates for the protection of children established Children’s Bureau and the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), but its activity was slowed as a result of World War I
In the current period more than ever, to prevent any unsuitable behavior, it must be well justified and financially prepared. There is little information available about the global economic costs of violence against children. However, the bill for such actions against children proves to be high. The variety of short and long term consequences associated with violence against children suggests that there are significant economic costs to society. Thus, the U.S., the cost of abuse and neglect was about 103.8 billion USD in 2007, the estimated annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States for 2008 is $124 billion. including both direct costs associated with early intervention, medical treatment and associated psychological and indirect consequences related to long-term ill-treatment at individual and societal.
In the nineteenth century, although society became a bit harsher on those who abused or neglected children and child welfare organizations mushroomed, child abuse and neglect were still not considered crimes (Hirschy, & Wilkinson, 2012). However, all through the twentieth century, the social perceptions of child abuse and neglect have shifted a great deal from something that was totally unacceptable to a demeanor that can no longer be allowed both in legal and social circles. But the criminalization of child abuse and neglect was only one step towards overall child wellbeing. There is still much more to be done to ensure that child maltreatment has been eradicated.