Voice of the people: Inappropriate books are a human rights issue
Inappropriate books are a human rights issue
My wife and I have worked professionally across the nation with at-risk (traumatized) children and families for 30 years. We have witnessed firsthand the negative impact and the destruction of childhoods due to domestic violence, physical abuse, sexual abuse and exploitation, psychological and emotional abuse, substance misuse and drug abuse and pornography.
I am a licensed mental health counselor that is nationally certified as a trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapist.
As a professional, I have to shake my head at the divisiveness created by adults criticizing the actions of concerned citizens attempting to safeguard children in public education from being exposed to inappropriate, potentially damaging content which may re-traumatize a child or teenager.
In fact, almost half the nation's children have experienced at least one or more types of serious childhood trauma (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2022).
This should not be seen as a political or religious issue. This issue should be viewed as a human rights issue, protecting our children from being exposed to inappropriate, potentially damaging content which may re-traumatize a child or teenager resulting in harm to themselves or others.
Ed Shoemaker, Ph.D., LMHC (MH13244), TF-CBT, QS, Mr. Ed’s Circle of Trust, Shoemaker Consulting & Treatment Group, The Center for Faith Based Family Services, Family Matters, Lakeland
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This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Voice of the people: Inappropriate books are a human rights issue
