Three Steps to Stop Teen Dating Violence

Allison Myrick, a Fitchburg State freshman, was majoring in media communications, with a specialization in graphic arts. "Allison was a very intelligent, creative, funny, compassionate, beautiful 19-year-old with her whole life ahead of her,’’ her family said. She was, however, a victim of teen dating violence. During an argument about text messages, her boyfriend, Robert Gulla, 19, punched her in the stomach four times, knocking the wind out of her. During a separate incident he threw her to the floor, according to court documents; he then elbowed her in the head and knocked her unconscious.

On January 21, 2010, Allison took out a restraining order against him. Four days later, Robert stabbed her to death. How many girls have to die before teen dating violence is an issue that legislators and educators take seriously?

February was Teen dating Violence Awareness Month. Creating awareness is a beginning, but where do we go from there? How about this:

Step One: Create a national, comprehensive teen dating abuse curriculum and introduce it to children before they begin dating and developing unhealthy relationship habits. According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 72% of 8th and 9th graders report "dating." By the time these students get to high school, more than half of them already see dating violence among peers. And the growing epidemic of digital dating abuse -- "sexting," cyberbullying, and harassment with cell phones -- is even more alarming. According to a 2009 study from MTV and The Associated Press, 50% of 14- to 24-year-olds have been the target of some form of digital abuse. Liz Claiborne offers a dating abuse curriculum, Love is Not Abuse. The updated version, launched on February 25, now includes digital abuse issues.

Step Two: Educate and certify our teachers. Check this out! The CDC and Liz Claiborne, Inc., now offer the first online certification training called Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence and Prevention.

Step Three: Make this a required part of children's education. Only ten states have laws requiring teen dating violence education. There’s the Lindsey Burke Act, the Tina Croucher Act, and the Brittany Sharney Wells Act, and New Jersey could call strengthened legislation the Emily Silverstein Act -- all named for young women murdered by their boyfriends. MADE (Moms and Dads for Education) on Teen Dating Abuse is a national group working to make teen dating violence education mandatory in all middle and high schools.

This curriculum and training is free. Now, there's no room for excuses!

To end the epidemic of domestic violence in adulthood, we must be proactive and teach our children about healthy relationships before they begin dating. We can not wait for more girls, like Lindsey, Tina, Brittany, Emily, and Allison to die. We can do something about violence against women, by stopping the violence against girls. You can take action by signing the petition that will let our legislators know that we want children to learn about healthy relationships!

Photo credit: serentalla