Georgia’s hiding of hard truths is a terrifying trend in our nation. Here’s why;
When the truth is not reported, the critical problem is not perceived and no steps are taken to correct the underlying core issues. Things can only get worse until the system is destroyed.
Operating on false information forces people to make choices based on lies, causing more terrible results and disruption and eventual failure in what was a functioning system (education, social work, courts, or any other institution).
What would have been accomplished had these people succeeded in hiding the failure rate of Georgia’s students?
The next generation of students would be lacking in knowledge and critical thinking skills (just like the adults responsible in the tampering, but a hair less intelligent). Would they continue the convention of hiding critical information from the community?
When would the system implode?
Let this be an example of why systems need to be transparent.
Bad results are good BECAUSE we see them and can do something about them.
Not teaching 21st century American children how to learn, read, and compete in school is a disaster at many levels. Not supporting educators, parents, children, and public policy in this endeavor has cost us greatly as a nation. https://invisiblechildren.org/2009/03/02/kara-action-group-manifesto-for-early-childhood-education/
A stark example of no (or false) reporting comes from my state, MN.
When I wrote the book, INVISIBLE CHILDREN in 2004, there were 897 cases of reported child sex abuse in the state. Obviously, not a huge issue (897 out of about 5 million people = l/10,000th).
But it was not true. If it were true, I personally knew of about fifty children that year that had been sexually molested, some terribly (2 of which had been suicidal) and I was only one of about five hundred guardian ad-Litems in the state.
If the crime is not reported, there simply is not a significant problem and the public will not respond for funding, or programs, or support for families to address the issue. What is not seen as a problem will not be dealt with.
For instance; I have observed the same man that kicked the 7 year old girl so hard that she went into convulsions (after 4 years of sexually abusing her) to be still in the family 11 years later abusing other very young children.
Children in this nation at this time are having a hard time getting the attention they need and we are not telling the truth about their conditions.
Not educating children is a terrible failure for any community. Not keeping children save from the trauma of sexual abuse is criminal.
We are living in a time of (not uncommon) of political chaos.
Texas just refused almost a billion dollars it could have used to help its students read at grade level (they don’t).
Each state needs to police itself and at the very least, back off on the politics when it comes to the children.
Protect them. Educate them. “what we do to our children, they will do to our society” Pliny, 2500 years ago.
Here are articles related to this discussion that will give perspective to the commonality of child sex abuse and programs that deal with it;
https://invisiblechildren.org/2010/02/01/20-of-western-australia-child-abuse-is-sex-abuse/
https://invisiblechildren.org/2010/01/24/crimes-against-children-study-new-hampshire-university/
https://invisiblechildren.org/2010/01/22/national-center-for-prosecution-of-child-abuse/
According to Geography Matters – Child Well-Being in the States Georgia ranks 42nd in infant mortality, 43rd in birth to teen moms, & 46th in child abuse deaths.
Georgia has ranked between 41st and 45th for many years among the states in education.
http://www.startribune.com/nation/84190787.html?elr=KArks:DCiUMEaPc:UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr
http://mlb.msg.com/article/0cPh4sU7rxeoO
http://www.epistle.ws/Georgia.html
http://www.everychildmatters.org/National/Resources/Geography-Matters.html
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These conversations need to be had if things are to improve for children in this nation.
