Triton schools take proactive step to combat Human Trafficking
BOURBON — Triton
School Corporation
(TSC) Superintendent
Jeremy Riffle stated that the number one job of educators to a child is to keep them safe. In keeping with that mission, signage will be displayed in the school buildings to provide information on how to get help if a child, or someone they know, has been the victim of human trafficking or sexual abuse.
The signs are being provided by Mellonie
Mendoza, Director of
“The Time is Now”, a local non-profit organization committed to raising awareness about human trafficking, preventing sexual assault, and providing a survivor’s home for healing for victims.
TSC is not in a position to officially endorse the organization. Riffle emphasized that support is for the cause and the effort to raise awareness. “In the end, my whole stance is not necessarily supporting an organization, but raising awareness. If somebody out there is with an organization that is going to try to make people aware of this, and we are also going to try to do something about it and be solution focused - then why wouldn’t we support that? Especially as educators.”
Riffle said, “When you ask any kid in this corporation ‘What is my number one job?’ They will reply ‘Your number one job is to keep me safe.’ If our job is to keep them safe when we are here for seven hours a day; our job is also to keep them safe if and when needed outside of these walls as well.”
Riffle stated, “If we aren’t going to be on the ground saying, ‘Hey, I will open up my house for you.’ The least we can do is say here is a phone number and here
“When you ask any kid in this corporation ‘What is my number one job?’ They will reply ‘Your number one job is to keep me safe.’ If our job is to keep them safe when we are here for seven hours a day; our job is also to keep them safe if and when needed outside of these walls as well.”
-Triton Superintendent Jeremy Riffle
is a name. In our view, that would be the right thing to do for those kids that are hurting.”
Riffle said he didn’t know of much more schools could do. With reliance on the public school system increasing to include sex education and education on social justice, protecting children from any form of abuse takes priority. Educators and administrators report any suspected case of child abuse or neglect to the Department of Child Services (DCS). “Our responsibility and response is immediate.”
He noted that the state of Indiana did require educators and administrators to be trained on the topic of human trafficking. “A couple years ago the state mandated that we actually have human trafficking training for our staff. I think there is a lot of conversation right now about social injustices. I would say that one of the greatest social injustices ever is exploiting kids.”
He validated that the topic of child exploitation can be uncomfortable for people to discuss and to face. “In the end, if that means that I hang a poster and a kid sees that there is somebody out there who cares and where I can go for help somewhere, I feel like that is the least we can do.”
Some children don’t understand that they are even being abused because the abuse started so early for them that it is “normal” to them. Riffle said, “The exploitation of kids just makes me sick.”
Riffle emphasized the importance of protecting children. “My concern is - are we not protecting the lives of specifically young girls, who don’t even have a choice in this situation? They aren’t even being given a choice of who they want to be. That choice is being made for them for a profit or for somebody’s pleasure. That is sickening to me.”
He noted that in the training for educators it was taught that every time someone is allowed into the home the chances of child sexual abuse increase.
Riffle addressed the break down of families which has resulted in more homes where fathers are absent. As a father himself, he understands the importance of that male role model for children, and the protective role a father should provide his children and family. “The breakdown of families piece of that and the absent fathers is big. I am saying that as a father. I am not finding fault with fathers. I am saying that the lack of a father in a home to provide the love and care for somebody to understand what that looks like, what it’s supposed to look like, is definitely something that has contributed to the increase of that.”
Riffle was confident that the school was doing the right thing by placing signage in the school to make children aware of another resource available to them to get help if needed. “We are talking about impacting a life forever. Even if that is just one interaction.”