CHILD ABUSE HORROR

A recent As I See It writer suggested using parent education programs to
prevent child abuse. This is a good idea. But waiting until the children
are born to intervene is about 10 years too late.

Children should be taught parenting by their parents. If their parents
can't teach them, then intervention in the schools becomes necessary. Boys
and girls should have a good idea of what is expected of parents by the age
of 9 or 10.

When girls and boys have had their first sexual encounter by age 11, and
some have babies by age 15, counseling in the birthing room isn't going to
get it.

Many of the "parents" of the abused-living and abused-deceased children are
involved in the drug culture. Until something is done to stem the use of
methamphetamine and crack cocaine, we might as well take the money spent by
well-meaning people such as this writer and throw it in a blazing fire.

If I was in charge, women giving birth to babies with drugs in their
systems would be candidates for sterilization; men who kill children would
also give up the right to father any more children to be maimed or killed.

Mary M Arends

Kansas City