Would you let your child attend?

[Erin1700]

DD just turned 8 and is in 2nd grade at a public school. We are Catholic so she attends religion class once a week at our church. Only your grade is in the religion class and there is a class for grades 1 thru 8.

Well, in response to the abuse issue, the diocese (not sure if all diocese do this) has made a "Protecting God's Children" plan. Anyone who teaches, coaches or volunteers to work with kids must attend the program.

We got a letter from her religion class saying the children would be attending a class on "Protection God's Children". It is basically the strangers/good touches, bad touches/talking to adults if you have a prob. info. But it says "If you feel this is not age appropriate for your child, please state in writing that you do not want them to attend"

I have found out that it will be presented to the entire religion program at the same time. Meaning grades 1 thru8.

Here is my concern:
Why would you not make it age appropriate??? Do we not all talk to our kids about this stuff in a appropriate way since they were little? There should be NOTHING presented that is not appropriate.

Also, you do not present something like that to kids in such a large age range! Not fair to the little ones but also not fair to the 8th grader who may have something to say but is afraid to in front of all the little kids!

Would you let your child go?

My FIL says "That is like muggers teaching you how not to be mugged!"

 

[Mouse House Mama]

No I would not let my child attend. I am also Catholic if that means anything to you regarding my decision.

 

[RitaE]

I would want to know who is teaching the class first. If it is just some volunteer who has been given a notebook of overhead pages, probably not. If it is a Clinical Psychologist or Social Worker or somebody with some actual --- qualifications --- then I'd be much more likely to agree.

If you are that concerned, I'm sure they will show you the materials they will be using. Also ask, will parents be allowed to attend with their children? I think that for smaller children, that would be a good idea.

 

[kacaju]

NO WAY!!
If it is the same video I saw I would not want my 9 year old 3rd grader watching it.
On the other hand I would let my 7th and 9th grader watch it.

 

[r3ngels]

My girls go to a Catholic school, they do it in school and ours is very mild... my girls said the were told that anything that is covered by their bathing suits is their private area...

I think they also talked about feelings and telling people your feelings.

Ours was by classroom and grade not one big group.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

We have this too and I have not let my children attend. IMO, the church only does this because they have to and I don't think our church is on board with it fully....they always schedule it for the week before Christmas, so if you don't go you don't have CCD that week...I don't know anyone that does attend, come to think of it. I wouldn't bother.

 

[Missy1961]

I would ask 1. who is teaching the class, and what are their qualifications?
2. can I see the materials/booklets, etc.

It may be that each class has an age-approriate lesson plan. I'd want to see if that were the case before my child would attend this class.

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

.

 

[r3ngels]

NO WAY!!
If it is the same video I saw I would not want my 9 year old 3rd grader watching it.
On the other hand I would let my 7th and 9th grader watch it.

At our school it was a childrens program not the adult video... I wouldn't let my girls watch what I did in the protecting gods children class... that gives even me nightmares.

 

[Castlebound]

When they did it at my kids' school they let parents preveiw the video if they wanted. It was not the same video that they require volunteers to watch. If you are concerned ask to watch the video.

 

[Erin1700]

My husband and I had to attend that class so that we could volunteer at our daughter's Catholic school. It was a requirement.

Our daughter is 7 and in the second grade.

With that being said, I'm not sure if I would let her attend or not. On one hand, I don't know if it's age appropriate, but on the other hand, I DO want my daughter to know that it's NOT okay for someone to EVER touch her.

In the end, I probably wouldn't let her go, but I would sit down and have a talk with her and explain that it's never okay for someone to touch her.

That is really the reason why I do not want her to go. This should be taught at home and has been being taught at home for a long time. Actually, it was also taught to her at the peds office when she goes for her well check each year. I am present and the doctor always goes over this info.

I went to Catholic school for 12 years (graduated high school in '94) so this was before all the abuse came out but they NEVER did a class on it.

EDIT sorry to confuse anyone, I forgot to take my old sig off this. My DD is 8

 

[kacaju]

At our school it was a childrens program not the adult video... I wouldn't let my girls watch what I did in the protecting gods children class... that gives even me nightmares.

WHEW...I didn't know they had a childrens video!! I would want to preview it first since that adult video is scary!!
I actually would be interested in seeing how they present it to children..

You can see a preview of the adult video here http://www.virtus.org/virtus/preview_pgc.cfm

 

[disneyfam]

I can give you the opinion of someone on the other side. Last year I was an assistant religious ed teacher. This was all strictly volunteer work. The church told us that we had to teach this class. We were just that, volunteers we had no formal training other than taking the Protecting Gods Children. It was awful and uncomfortable for the church to put us in that position. Let me tell you it was a very hard class to teach. We were afraid that we were not teaching this properly.

I would voice a concern for just this reason. They want volunteers to talk about a very sensitive subject. If we would have stayed in the catholic church I would had my son skip it.

Cynde

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I agree that it's an awful large age range. Of course, whoever wrote the program would think it age appropriate, but some parents might disagree, and it would really be hard to be age appropriate to a 6yo and a 14yo at the same time.

I would probably let my child go, but I tend to be very open about these subjects. I might ask to see the materials ahead of time.

 

[KandD]

I think that the class is a great idea but it sounds like they are going about it the wrong way. If it is done correctly it could have a great impact, kids could see that they have another outlet to go to if they are being abused (as well as learning what is appropriate and not appropriate). But from what it sounds like they are not getting the right people to teach the class maybe. Our local domestic violence/sexual assault agency has curriculum designed for the Safe/Unsafe Touch and they adjust it according to age. Perhaps you can find out from your pastor WHO is teaching the class and WHAT is being taught and if it is just a bunch of volunteers who are not qualified then maybe you can SUGGEST (if you think the pastor may be receptive) that an outside source may be better to teach the class???
If you do not have a local dv/sa agency I bet that a local child counseling center or maybe even elementary school social workers may be able to lead you in the right direction.
I know this was long winded but I really think that kids need information like this but it is important to deliver it in the right way from a qualified person.

 

[SpecialK]

I had to take my class to this presentation when I volunteered to teach CCD. I am also a certified teacher. The woman who was the presenter was horrendous. Got caught up in telling the class extremely graphic stories of inappropriate touching, etc. rather than talking about identifying and avoiding potential trouble. I complained to the director who did nothing. My aide and I essentially took over the class when the subject matter got out of hand. This was to a class of 4th graders.

What kills me is that there were a number of experienced teachers volunteering in the CCD program that year; none of us was approached about teaching this program. The people who were chosen were given a binder - that was their training.

I would not let my child attend.

 

[daisax]

One advantage of doing it through the church is to override any lies a predator within the church might tell a child -- the kid would know going in that even clergy are not allowed to do this or that.

I don't see why the church wouldn't simply hold a parents only program ahead of time for anybody who was interested.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I've been to both the children's program and have been an active member for over 6 years. The children's program is very mild. In response to those who feel that the child should learn this at home. Do it, then send your child to the program for reinforcement. There is NO SUCH thing as being too open and too much information for your child. It will be age appropriate. Ask the directors to ease your discomfort. Ignorance is the predator's best friend.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

That is really the reason why I do not want her to go. This should be taught at home and has been being taught at home for a long time. Actually, it was also taught to her at the peds office when she goes for her well check each year. I am present and the doctor always goes over this info.

I went to Catholic school for 12 years (graduated high school in '94) so this was before all the abuse came out but they NEVER did a class on it.

EDIT sorry to confuse anyone, I forgot to take my old sig off this. My DD is 8

I bolded.
I agree.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

SpecialK, I think you have hit the nail on the head here.

This is probably the best reason why you do not want to have your dd attend.