4 Reasons Domestic Violence Should be Part of School Curriculum

An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.

Domestic violence is a big secret in too many homes. Even though it is wrong and detrimental to the point of death in some cases (and destructive in all cases), it is rarely talked about in the home and almost never outside of the home. It happens verbally and physically.  It hurts in both cases. In some cases it is referred to as a “generational cycle” which does not have to continue.

During my research and interfacing with women and some men, there is too much verbal and physical abuse going on ignored and brushed under the rug. The stories are horrific because of a lack of knowledge and too little is being

Would domestic violence as a subject be a valid part of school curriculum?

done to prevent it from happening. In my home growing up it didn’t happen, and when I walked into it I knew it would go away because people who loved each other didn’t do this.

I believe it should be a part of school curriculum, in the form of a club (such as Junior Achievement) or a class,because there needs to be an ongoing visual aid. What I mean here is that it is not enough to have someone show up once or twice a year to talk about abuse during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Once the speaker has gone, that’s it. Do the children go home and tell the parents? Is there a follow-up?

With domestic violence as part of the curriculum, it’s in an impartial environment and kids cannot be blamed for or suspected of telling what is going on in the home. They will have notes from school to show for the class, or other means for education about the topic, and we’ll know it is falling on fertile ground. Once the lecture is over, they probably don’t mention it when they get home out of fear. In the curriculum, young girls will be empowered to stand up for themselves, make better decisions, and not be afraid to speak out about forced and unaccepted acts of violence and recognize them.

Four reasons that domestic violence education should be part of school curriculum:

1. Curriculum reminds students abuse is bad – Education would be an ongoing reminder for students, out in the open but without finger pointing.

2. Ending of the “generational cycle” – I have met women where the great grandmother married an abuser, the grandmother, the mother and the daughter. Why? When the father would come in late in some families, the children would run and hide under the bed or another place and be very quiet for fear they would get a beating when the dad finished with mom. There is no right or wrong when it comes to the abuser. When you think you have it right, something goes wrong. In families like this, abuse is accepted behavior because this is what they know. It doesn’t and definitely should not be this way.

3. A true definition of “love” – I have interviewed teens and questioned them to see if they have experienced abuse or know someone who is being abused. I have never had a hesitation without answers. When asked what they should do, 90 percent of the time the answer is “nothing.” Sometimes they will say “I tried to tell him/her that I wouldn’t take that.”

4. Elimination of bad self-esteem – Being part of the curriculum, it will eliminate destroying self-esteem for young women before they go out in the world. If they embrace abuse as acceptable, they will start out thinking the glass is half empty instead of half full. With education about domestic violence, they won’t be controlled but think for themselves. They will be empowered, with a high self esteem.

What are your thoughts? Should domestic violence be a part of school curriculum? Why or why not?