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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep.
Scott Conklin |
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Conklin urges House action on teen dating violence bill
HARRISBURG, Dec. 3 – Centre County state Rep. Scott Conklin held a news conference today to urge House action on his bill that would require public schools to provide education on teen dating violence.
Conklin's legislation (H.B. 2026) would integrate teen dating violence education into middle and high school curriculums, and would require school districts to develop an anti-dating violence policy.
School faculty and administrators would be taught about dating violence and how to recognize its warning signs. Schools would provide age-appropriate education into the classroom, including warning signs about dating violence and characteristics of healthy relationships.
"Statistics show teen girls are three times more likely to experience relationship violence than adult women, and one in five high school girls reports being physically or sexually hurt by a dating partner," Conklin said. "We need to address these numbers head-on starting within our public school system.
"The numbers are even more shocking when you consider students as young as sixth grade have reported being hit by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Sadly, dating violence becomes a habit or thought of as normal. We need to turn that around before more cases are reported or even worse, more lives are lost."
Conklin was joined by the family of Demi Brae Cuccia, a Monroeville teen who lost her life as a result of dating violence; state Rep. Rosita Youngblood, D-Phila.; Thais Ridgeway, a teen advocate from the University of Pittsburgh; and R&B artist Patrick Palmer.
Conklin's legislation would be named the "Demi Brae Cuccia Law" under a proposed amendment.
"Teen dating violence is a state problem and it's a national problem," Conklin said. "I applaud schools that have already instituted dating violence programs into their curriculum, but we must continue the push to educate students about the warning signs of unhealthy dating as well as characteristics of healthy dating."
Conklin added the news conference coincided with Liz Claiborne Inc.'s sixth annual "It's Time to Talk Day," which raises awareness of domestic violence.
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