Redlands Unified School District settles child sexual abuse case
Redlands Unified School District settles child sexual abuse case CBS Los Angeles
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The Redlands Unified School District Settles Another Child Sexual Abuse Case
The Redlands Unified School District has settled another child sexual abuse case, the victim’s attorneys announced on Monday.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 4: Quality Education
- Goal 5: Gender Equality
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The Manly, Stewart and Finaldi law firm said the school district has handed $45.5 million to settle 16 sexual abuse lawsuits from former students. The district has not admitted any guilt in any of the cases. The firm said they have eight more cases pending.
“Redlands Unified School District has a sordid history of enabling and ignoring sexual assaults on students by at least 15 predators during the past 20 years and this is the latest example,” said the victim’s attorney Saul Wolf.
This specific settlement related to the alleged sexual abuse perpetrated by former Clement Middle School teacher Timothy Rochester. He allegedly sexually harassed, assaulted and abused the victim in 2003. The complaint claimed that the administration investigated the alleged but failed to take any action such as removing him from teaching, reporting him to law enforcement or separating him and the victim.
“Male and female students have been groomed and sexually assaulted by both male and female teachers,” Wolf said. “It will not stop until the district and school officials who fail to report known abusers as required by law are held accountable by outside law enforcement agencies.”
Investigation and Outrage
- A CBS News documentary in 2022, “Pledge of Silence,” criticized how administrators handled child sexual abuse cases within the district.
- The documentary discovered 50 students have accused more than 25 teachers of sexual misconduct between 1999-2022.
- Of those cases, two happened in 2022, and 11 were investigated by police resulting in the arrest of nine teachers.
The investigation highlighted the case of former Redlands teacher Laura Whitehurst, who originally faced 41 counts of sex with a minor and oral copulation with a person under the age of 18. Whitehurst took a plea bargain and was convicted on six of the counts. Four of the counts involved a case where a 16-year-old boy fathered Whitehurst’s child.
The documentary sparked outrage from parents. The California Department of Justice investigated the district shortly after the documentary’s initial release.
Department of Education’s Investigation
According to the Department of Education, an estimated 12% of all public school students in the United States experience sexual misconduct by the time they graduate high school. This equates to over 5.7 million children being victimized by their teachers. Currently, the Department of Education is investigating 145 public school districts, including Redlands, for allegations of sexual violence.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles.
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for Target 4.7: Number of cases of sexual abuse in educational institutions and the actions taken by authorities to address them.
- Indicator for Target 5.2: Number of sexual abuse cases reported in schools and the percentage of cases that result in legal action or disciplinary measures.
- Indicator for Target 16.2: Number of child sexual abuse cases reported in educational institutions and the effectiveness of investigations and legal proceedings.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles. | Number of cases of sexual abuse in educational institutions and the actions taken by authorities to address them. |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. | Number of sexual abuse cases reported in schools and the percentage of cases that result in legal action or disciplinary measures. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | Number of child sexual abuse cases reported in educational institutions and the effectiveness of investigations and legal proceedings. |
The article highlights the issue of child sexual abuse in the Redlands Unified School District. This issue is connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 4: Quality Education is relevant as it emphasizes the importance of providing a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students. SDG 5: Gender Equality is also relevant as it aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual exploitation. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions is connected to the issue as it seeks to end abuse and violence against children.
Based on the content of the article, specific targets under these SDGs can be identified. Target 4.7 focuses on ensuring that learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. Target 5.2 aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. Target 16.2 aims to end abuse and violence against children.
The article mentions indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. For Target 4.7, the indicator could be the number of sexual abuse cases reported in educational institutions and the actions taken by authorities to address them. For Target 5.2, the indicator could be the number of sexual abuse cases reported in schools and the percentage of cases that result in legal action or disciplinary measures. For Target 16.2, the indicator could be the number of child sexual abuse cases reported in educational institutions and the effectiveness of investigations and legal proceedings.
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Source: cbsnews.com
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