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Crown Heights Schools Unite to Combat Child Abuse

We have all heard too many sad and frightening stories about children and abuse. Whether it was by a stranger, a relative or someone the child respected and trusted, we wring our hands in despair and wish the difficult and awkward story would go away.

When he realized how widespread abuse was in our community, Rabbi Nochum Kaplan of the Merkos Chinuch Office asked himself, “how can we stop this awful pain? What preventative steps can we take to protect our children?

After much effort, Rabbi Kaplan got every single educational institution in Crown Heights, in an unprecedented show of unity, to join forces and tackle the issue head on with the implementation of a revolutionary new program to combat child abuse called ‘Safety Kid.’

Never before have all the educational institutions of the community set aside their differences and embraced a single path in unity. But to invest in every student’s fundamental human right to a safe and secure childhood, the politics were set aside.

The Safety Kid program was created and developed by the Aleinu Family Resource Center, a program of the Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles. Designed specifically for the frum community, Safety Kid teaches kids from a positive and tznius perspective how to protect themselves from all types of danger they may encounter.

During the week of October 28, 2012, Aleinu representatives will hold workshops and training sessions for Crown Heights School staff, administrators, teachers, and all community parents. Volunteer educators will be trained by Aleinu to go into the classrooms once a year and to teach the students using upbeat, fun and interactive materials, how to protect themselves from abuse.

The program also covers other areas of safety, like “stranger danger,” fire safety, school bullying, what to do when lost or separated from parents, as well as other vital day to day safety practices.

Mandatory evening parent workshops will also be held to increase awareness and prevention. Parental participation is vital. Our kids must know from a very young age what is an “OK” or not “OK” touch. They must know that they can and must always come to mommy and tell her that someone did something to them that made them uncomfortable or scared. Each child will receive a Safety Kid kit to take home and review with their parents. Together with the parents, the safety practices they learn at school will be reinforced at home.

A 12-member committee was formed, with one representative from each of Crown Heights’ twelve schools, and tasked with implementing this program at their respective schools. The committee is being led by four representatives of local girls’ schools: Brochi Kogan, Shoshana Brenenson, Chanie Schapiro and Rivkah Cohen.

Instead of lamenting the problem of ever-increasing instances of child abuse, this positive step will hopefully empower the children and educate them so that they know the boundaries of personal safety and what to do in an unsafe situation. With G-d’s help, these efforts will stem the tide – and perhaps reverse it – taking our community closer to the goal of eradicating child abuse once and for all.

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18 Comments

  • BH & TY!!!!!

    but what about all the daily trauma, anguish & torment caused by the pervasive bully problem in our schools??

    surely if your compassion is your motive then you wont limit your focus to sensational crimes alone!!

    especially in light of the fact that bullying can be equally traumatizing & often far worse than an over touchy creep

    not only don’t some teachers care to intervene & help curb the bullies problem! on the contrary!! there are teachers who themselves are bullies!!!

  • hey what about our own schools

    there has been a recent scandal in our own schools, with our own teachers, and the administration did nothing about it (as the rebbe would say, those who give so much in tzedoka – that NOBODY knows, is a siman that they simply dont give) – no meeting was called, no punishment was given and now they say they are going to protect our children??!! – Shame on the mossad that sweeps their own under the rug, and then stands tall and proud for others! Shame Shame Shame
    think of your talmidim!!!!

  • Joe

    Amazing to see that finally someone else besides Crown Heights Watch is doing something to protect the kids. Education is the most important thing!!

  • i hope they-ill include the bully crises

    finally mature responsible ppl taking an active role to help prevent abuse of all kinds

  • hey what about our own schools

    there has been a recent scandal in our own schools, with our own teachers, and the administration did nothing about it (as the rebbe would say, those who give so much in tzedoka – that NOBODY knows, is a siman that they simply dont give) – no meeting was called, no punishment was given and now they say they are going to protect our children??!! – Shame on the mossad that sweeps their own under the rug, and then stands tall and proud for others! Shame Shame Shame
    think of your talmidim!!!!

  • a multi-pronged approach (as the Rebbe)

    in addition to parents being close daily connection with their kids, which itself builds a child & makes him/her far less susceptible to p predator,

    another factor needs to be taught to parents re safety against all forms of tzaros & that is according to the Rebbe:
    1. Daily Chitas
    2. Kosher Tefilin & Mezuza
    3. Adherence to Halacha

  • Rivkie Rothman-Gremont

    I don’t often leave comments, but this calls for comment. The profound gratitude I have toward Rabbi Kaplan, and any others who heard the call of the hour and awoke, is immeasurable. In truth, after the Leiby Kletzky case, I think the eyes of most of the frum community were opened on a whole new level, not to mention all of the unspeakable instances that took place in our own community. It did occur to me, many times, to take the very same actions. But I did not do it. To think that someone out there has taken it upon himself to provide for the empowerment of thousands of students, and to awaken us all, parents and educators, to pay heightened attention to this issue, is unspeakably laudable.

    It is my fervent prayer that we can provide each and every child with the wholesome and beautiful Jewish education that is their birthright, “Torah tzivah lanu Moshe, Morashah Kehilas Yakov” Both Moshe Rabbeinu, and the Moshe Rabbeinu of our generation passed down a beautiful Torah; a Torah of which it is written
    “Diracheha Darchei Noam, VCHOL NESIVOSEHAH SHALOM”. It is our absolute moral obligation to ensure that EVERY child walks out of our Yeshivos with a wholesome experience of Torah, and that it’s ways only lead to sweetness and goodness in their life’s experience. It is through this that we bring our children closer to Yiddishkeit; when we focus on their well-being and make it a priority.
    Kol Hakavod,
    Rivkie Rothman-Gremont.

  • Frustrated

    When the boys schools will take this program seriously, and will acknowledge the fact that abuse in the physical form, is just as bad as any other abuse, and get rid of rebbeim who are violent, and abusive to their students, regardless of how much money they bring into the school, our community will have a chance. Parents are afraid to speak up, for they think their child is next, instead of standing up and saying I will keep my child safe at all costs. This big elephant in the room needs to be addressed.

  • Rochel

    PARENTS AND TEACHERS YOU MUST ATTEND

    I am a teacher and had training by the safety kid team last year- it is SO INFORMATIVE and ABSOLUTELY worthwhile to hear. I am so glad they are bringing the program to crown heights schools- I will babysit for free just so parents can attend

  • Boruch Hashem.

    Just please don’t avoid present accusations that are unresolved, or even worse, known and yet swept under the rug. I think it is WONDERFUL that finally the issue is being addressed. I do hope that those men who have a reputation of perpetrating will be approached and somehow dealt with, as well! (I’m referring to accusations within the very Chabad community we live in—-right among us!) I do not know if what has been said is true, but I hope part of this plan includes that aspect somehow. As for joining in, I respect your integrity and willingness to go to uncomfortable “places”. You make me very proud.

  • Girls- schools only? Hope not.

    The girls’ schools are represented by the four individuals mentioned.

    Is this program also for the boys’ schools? I sure hope so.

  • What if?

    Teach the kids what to do when their mother and father, sister and brother are the abusers.

    Teach the kids what to do what their teacher, rebbi or morah are the abusers.

    Teach the kids what to do when their classmates are the abusers.

    None of these are strangers, but they count for almost all abuse that occurs.

  • Boys schools included

    the program is for all schools, girls and boys. The names mentioned are representing both the girls and the boy schools. THIS PROGRAM IS FOR EVERYONE!

  • If we-re serious about this

    Equal to teaching the children, there must be a program to teach the TEACHERS how to report on their colleagues who are abusing and molesting children. The teachers more than anyone know who are the abusive/molesting teachers in their midstand they MUST be taught that they are also guilty and can be charged and FIRED for not reporting abuse that they become aware of. It can’t all be on the children.

  • mommy

    To #9
    You are one hundred percent right – the rebbeim who have been there for years and are tired to teach SHOULD LEAVE. – they are verbally if not physically abusing our children – they have no more patience- they have no place in our yeshivos- i just wish our principals would have the guts to do something. the situation is ridiculous. The best of our children come to despise learning – we must do something

  • carroll st.

    I did read about this program last year and wished it would be implemented here in crown heights. one thing i remember was that there are certain policies that the schools implement that would maximize the awareness and minimize the possiblity that a teacher (or staff member) should never be alone with a student. that is so elementary and basic, but has never been made into official policy. it will go a long way toward making the schools safer for our kids.

  • If Needed, Gd will Clean Things Up 4 You

    Trust me, they will do something or they will lose everything–that is the promise of Gd! Babylon didn’t happen by chance!

    By the way, if you teach your children to revere Gd more than the Rebbe or other teachers, many of these problems will take care of themselves!

    Keep in mind one thing, our leaders/teachers of today are much farther away from the intention of Gd than previous generations (so says my Rabbi). With the lack of parental skills, character, commitment to Gd and many other things, perfection in this, or any area, will not happen over night. This nation, as well as the Crown Heights community, have fallen far from the best Gd intended for all!

    May Gd bless of the efforts of this community as a whole and protect each and every man, woman and child.