It happens across America, and yes, even here in Ames. Some individuals diligently fight to expose it, while others ignore it in hopes it will disappear.

Today Madelyne Gorman Toogood and Barbara Dalaba have once again brought child abuse into the public eye. Gorman Toogood has been charged with felony battery charges after a Kohl’s department store surveillance camera caught her slapping and punching her 4-year-old daughter in Indiana. Dalaba, an Ames resident, was recently sentenced to a year of probation, an anger management class and 40 hours of community service after striking her 8-year-old granddaughter with her hand, causing a black eye and scratches.

This type of behavior is unacceptable.

More than 2.8 million reports of child abuse were received by Child Protective Services last year. This averages out to about one report every ten seconds.

In a poll conducted by the CPS, nine in ten Americans said they felt child abuse was a serious issue, but only one in three said they reported the abuse when confronted with an actual situation.

People need to take a greater personal interest and more responsibility in matters of child welfare and safety. This seeming attitude of “don’t ask, don’t tell” is ludicrous. People who fail to report acts of abuse and violence are just as guilty as the individuals who abuse.

Mandatory reporting laws have helped further the fight against child abuse, yet some of these laws need improvement. The state of Iowa’s mandatory reporting laws only single out six job disciplines that are classified as “mandatory reporters.” Education, child care, law enforcement, health care, social work and mental health are the professions required to report abuse in Iowa.

A good start, yes. But why stop there?

Iowa should follow the lead of states such as Indiana and make reporting everyone’s responsibility.

In Indiana, anyone who suspects or witnesses an act of child abuse is legally bound to report the incident to the authorities. If a person is found to have had knowledge and failed to report, he or she can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor.

Increasing accountability in turn increases a child’s right to safety. The Gorman Toogood case is a perfect example of testing this perception the public seems to hold of passive responsibility. Margaret Daily, Gorman Toogood’s sister, has been arrested and charged with failing to report child abuse and assisting a criminal. Steps such as these will ensure a better quality of life for our children today.

Our children are our responsibility, but more importantly, our future. If we cannot act together to nurture and protect this valuable resource, we do not deserve to have it.a

Editorial Board: Cavan Reagan, Amber Billings, Rachel Faber Machacha, Charlie Weaver, Zach Calef, Ayrel Clark.