Hi Vivian and all,
The right to "Free Speech" supposedly entitles us to state our feelings...
even the ignorant and ill-informed, such as Caleb Sutton. Sadly, our
children are rarely heard.
I commend you and your students for having the courage to bring these issues
to the public. What a gift you have given these children in allowing their
VOICES to be heard through the therapeutic medium of art.
A large segment of our society is disrespecting and neglecting children by
pretending that the many forms of child abuse don't exist. Depression,
cutting, eating disorders, suicide, low self-esteem and behavioral problems
are symptoms of abuse and too many children feel they have no other choice
but to suffer in silence, waiting to be heard.
As many as one in three girls and one in six boys, under the age of 16, have
been "sexually" abused and the overall abuse stats when all other forms are
thrown in are even more terrifying. To compound the stats further, the abuse
of children is rarely limited to only one form. This problem isn't going to
go away as long as people choose to pretend it doesn't exist.
The other issues addressed in the art of your students are equally worthy of
being heard and I very much admire and respect you and your students for
speaking out. Kelley is a brave young lady and is already taking huge steps
to heal, not only herself, but our world. Congratulations Kelley!
