The motives for working on this issue are to protect young adolescents from the effects of teen dating violence as discussed in my post Why Is This Issue Important: Long-Term Effects of Teen Dating Violence . These effects inhibit not only their social-emotional health and mental health, but also affect their understanding of healthy relationships, trust, self-esteem, and academic success. In other words, these adolescents face obstacles and barriers that many are unable to overcome. In order to prevent these long-term effects, we must look at ways of stopping the violence before it begins. Thus, preventative measures. It can be argued that many young people begin abusing because they were and/or are abused. I agree with this statement and I also understand that this cycle is difficult to break, but I think it is our responsibility as citizens and as educational professionals to try and one of the best settings to do such work is in schools. Schools must begin to devote efforts to:
-examining gender norms and gender stereotyping
-providing education and skills around what a healthy relationship looks like
-teaching problem-solving skills
-teaching conflict-management
-teaching students about teen dating violence
-teaching students what their rights are
-understanding ideas of fault and blame and the importance of speaking out
-providing more accessible one-on-one counseling and check-ins with students
In doing so, we are setting up children to be more successful in conflicts and in developing positive healthy relationships. We are also supporting students’ social-emotional needs and mental health. Finally, we are providing students with an education around a number of topics and issues that affect them, as individuals, as well as their peers and this knowledge will give them power.
-examining gender norms and gender stereotyping
-providing education and skills around what a healthy relationship looks like
-teaching problem-solving skills
-teaching conflict-management
-teaching students about teen dating violence
-teaching students what their rights are
-understanding ideas of fault and blame and the importance of speaking out
-providing more accessible one-on-one counseling and check-ins with students
In doing so, we are setting up children to be more successful in conflicts and in developing positive healthy relationships. We are also supporting students’ social-emotional needs and mental health. Finally, we are providing students with an education around a number of topics and issues that affect them, as individuals, as well as their peers and this knowledge will give them power.