Edmonton Catholic School Board wants sexual abuse prevention taught in schools

The Edmonton Catholic School board wants the Alberta government to develop curriculum teaching students and teachersthe importance of identifying and reporting sexual abuse.

At the board'sfinal meeting of the school year, trusteesvoted seven to one on a motion pushingthe Alberta government to include sexual abuse preventionin its recently announced curriculum review.

Board chair Marilyn Bergstra brought forward the proposal in hopes of raising awareness among studentson what she believes is an epidemic.

"You have to educate them," said Bergstra. "You have to try tohelp build that capacity bybuilding comfort, and providing them that safety net to come forward and say someone is hurting them."

Bergstraworked with the Zebra Child Protection Centre, an organization that helps children who disclose sexual abuse.

The centrereports that one in six boys, and one in three girls don't report sexual abuse. And 95 percent of all sexual abuse cases go unreported.

"They say this is our secret, they threaten kids,"Bergstra said."Kids don't know what to do. And it's sad."

Larry Kowalczyk was the only trustee to vote against the proposal.

He saidnothing in the motion expressed the need to design the curriculum'through a Catholic lens.'

But Bergstrapushed back saying the issue has nothing to do with faith.

"I don't believe this is a religious issue," she said. "This is something thatcrosses all socioeconomic levels, all cultures, all faiths, and no oneis exempt to it."

Alberta Educationwill begin developing new curriculum across all grades and all subject areas in September.

The board hopes theirmotion will be consideredin that overhaul.