Advocate Says CPS May Not Be Teaching Kids Sexual Abuse Prevention
(CBS) -- An Elgin woman who was the force behind Erin's Law, mandating that all schools in the state teach sexual abuse prevention, says she's concerned that the largest school district in the state may not be complying with the law.
"As a 6, 7 and 8-year-old, I was sexually abused by the neighbor that lived up the street from me," said Erin Merryn.
Merryn is 30 now and Erin's Law, requiring schools to teach students about sexual abuse prevention, went into effect two years ago in Illinois.
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Merryn says she's heard from social workers and teachers in school districts all around the state - as they implement Erin's Law.
"The one place I have not heard anything on this is Chicago Public Schools. In fact, the only thing I'm hearing - and in fact I heard it again last week - is, 'Erin, my kids go to Chicago Public Schools. When are they going to be taught this?'"
A spokesman for CPS sent WBBM this written response: "Our comprehensive K-12 sexual health education covers sexual abuse as early as kindergarten, to begin conversations about personal safety, good touch v. bad touch, and being smart about strangers."
Merryn says the Illinois State Board of Education hasn't done adequate checking to see if school districts are in compliance.
"That's frustrating. I'm disappointed. They should be doing something about it.
"I'm going to put some pressure on them... For two years, the schools have had to have been teaching this. I want to see proof. Show me proof that all school districts have been doing this. What are you doing to make sure they're all complying with this?"
When WBBM asked the state board of education whether it checked to see if schools were complying with the law, the board first told us the compliance check was incomplete. Then told us there had been no check and that there wouldn't be until this next school year, 2015-16.
This afternoon - the state board of education implied in an email that it's satisfied that schools are in compliance.
