EDUCATION FOR GIRLS

There is no doubt that education is important for girls. Educating a girl can benefit her family when she begins one, it can provide her with needed information on how to keep her children healthy, it can teach her how to prevent HIV/AIDS and other STDS, and of course, it provides her with needed tools to have a better standard of living.
Most people decry the Taliban's destroying of schools for girls and its prohibitive practices regarding education for girls. There are some things which have recently come to my attention that I find deplorable. Recently, PLAN USA reported that in Kenya some 1100 teachers were dismissed for abusing girls physically and sexually. Going back to a 2007 report by Amnesty International,  I am quoting the following:
       "Every day, girls are assaulted on their way to school, pushed and hit in school grounds, teased and insulted by their classmates, humiliated by having rumours about them circulated through whisper campaigns, mobile phones, or the Internet. Some are threatened with sexual assault by other students, offered higher marks by teacher in exchange for sexual favours, even raped in the staff room. Some are caned or beaten in the name of school discipline."
Yesterday, Yale President Richard C. Levin and Dean Mary Miller issued a letter apologizing for the pro rape chant by Delta Kappa Epsilon last Wednesday on and around campus buildings. Pledge activities have been suspended and meetings will be held. I verified the petition I signed on Change.org about this incident on the Yale University website.
I am trying to confirm that a high school student at Silsbee High TX who reported being raped by a student was kicked off the cheerleading team. After the alleged rapist pled guilty to a lesser assault charge, the young man was allowed to return to the varsity team. The victim was told to cheer for this person by name, keep a low profile, avoid the school cafeteria, and avoid homecoming activities. After she refused to do this, she was removed from the cheerleading team according to the content of the petition.
So many NGO'S are trying to assure that girls are getting an education, sponsors contribute funds to enable this to happen, and parents who struggle to put their girls through school and college have every right to expect that they will be safe. We simply have to do better by our young people.
Amnesty International in November 2007 urged this action:
    "Amnesty International recognizes the determination of girls all over the world to gain an education.We demand that states take immediate action to fulfill their international commitments and make schools accessible to girls and safe. Amnesty International calls on governments and schools to:
   Prohibit all forms of violence against girls.
   Provide appropriate treatment and support services for victims and survivors of school-related violence, including HIV/AIDS information, medication, and counseling services.
 Develop and implement policies and programmes to include and reintegrate girls living with HIV, pregnant, or married girls in schools"
To this I would add, please don't make girls who report incidents victims all over again. Try, as Save the Children is doing, to build separate latrines/ restrooms for girls and boys.