Some reasons to sign the Petition

Among the reasons 1187 people have signed this petition, in their own words (names excluded): 2021-08-18     "I care about the safety of children in Kirkwood schools. My sister is a survivor of abuse by a teacher. Given the revelations of systemic sexual abuse in this system for five decades, it is imperative that the community and alumni take action."
2021-08-18     "YOU CANT KEEP US SILENT"
2021-08-18     "It is a school's duty to keep its students safe from harm at school. The very people who should have been protecting the students have instead inflicted lasting wounds. It is unconscionable that the administration allowed the abuse to become so widespread and go on for so long."
2021-08-18     "I'm a sexual assault survivor and I will not stand for this abuse at my alma mater."
2021-08-19     "As an alumnus of Kirkwood I am deeply saddened and concerned regarding the district’s lack of meaningful response to the recent report."
2021-08-19     "I'm signing because I have spent my entire adult life fighting against the complicity, culpability and down right child endangerment that falls squarely on school systems that have aided and abetted child predators. It's time to hold them ACCOUNTABLE."
2021-08-19     "This shouldn't happen to innocent young people. They should feel protected and safe whilst they are at school or college."
2021-08-19     "The worst of the current pedophiles is still in his job, still interacting with children, even after the independent report has been completed.  How much of the burden of insuring a safe education is the community going to have to shoulder?"
2021-08-19     "Too many children suffer at the hands of pedophiles. I am supporting my niece because she has suffered in silence for too long. She came forward to stop this awful abuse from happening to other children. She is the bravest woman I know and I'll do anything to support her."
2021-08-19     "My goddaughter was abused at Tillman Elementary.  The district was shameful in their response."
2021-08-20     "Note that KSD has never said that none of the 30 reported perpetrators still work for the district. It would be an easy statement to make if it were true. Note, as well, that Franklin McCallie's name stopped appearing anywhere after the first week of media coverage of the abuse, even though it's clear that his administration of the school covered up the most perpetrators. Incidents in the Encompass report clearly refer to Havener (protection from being investigated) and McCallie (cover-ups), though they are not mentioned by name."
2021-08-20     "My child is in middle school at North. I need to know that this will NEVER happen again to another student. The silence from this administration is UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!!"
2021-08-20     "I’m a 28 year Kirkwood resident my son also attended Kirkwood high school."
2021-08-21     "My child is a survivor"
2021-08-21     "For survivors to truly heal, total transparency is key.  As a former Kirkwood teacher, I know things are often kept “in house” but survivors deserve to get answers to their questions."
2021-08-22     "As a Mom of 3 littles and an alumni of KHS, I'm HORRIFIED by the DECADES of abuse and cover-up. NOBODY should EVER have to say they are a survivor of sexual abuse, much less sexual abuse by someone who is supposed to protect them and is a MANDATED reporter of abuse."
2021-08-23     "ANY entity that interacts with children should NEVER attempt to internally investigate a claim of child abuse as they cannot be impartial and the tendency is to protect the organization.   KSD should have already severed ties with Franklin McCallie instead of allowing him to participate in district promoted racial discussions.   We need answers and removal of any currently employed predators.   I'm stunned to learn of the district's pathetic response to reports from a student of a sexual relationship between a drama teacher and a student.     Check <a href=""https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/base/welcome.do"" rel=""nofollow"">https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/base/welcome.do</a>   for status of the  pending criminal case against the educator."
2021-08-24     "As a victim of childhood sexual abuse. They MUST be stopped. Who is protecting our children?"
2021-08-24     "I signed this petition because I am a parent and social worker who has spent 25+ years fighting for the safety of children. KSD needs to be transparent and accountable AND ensure all children are safe. This will not happen with a pedophile at the helm of Kirkwood High School."
2021-08-25     "It is a sacred duty for a school to keep their students safe."
2021-08-25     "I had several teachers in the Kirkwood School District who have been accused of sexual assault and or abuse."
2021-08-25     "Because change needs to happen!"
2021-08-25     "As a 2003 graduate, I have been aware of many of these abuses for as long as 24 years and seen almost nothing done and almost no consequences for the perpetrators.  It is past time to do something."
2021-08-25     "I am a survivor of sexual abuse.  No child should have to suffer from this ."
2021-08-26     "This situation is unacceptable and things must be changed in a meaningful way to prevent further transgressions and to help start rebuilding trust in the school district and administration."
2021-08-27     "It’s time to value students and staff over the abuser’s cult of personality"
2021-08-28     "I am a survivor of sexual assault and a survivor of spousal abuse."
2021-08-28     "I have friends that were victims of sexual abuse at KHS."
2021-08-28     "Solidarity"
2021-08-29     "Too many children's voices go unheard or are disbelieved"
2021-08-29     "As a victim of sexual abuse from a past teacher of the district I was shocked and outraged to hear sexual abuse was still occurring in the district, and still being covered up. This has been allowed to continue in the Kirkwood School District for 50 years. I am furious and disgusted with the district."
2021-08-29     "There should be no disagreement about making sure children are safe in school."
2021-08-30     "This abuse has to stop.  Our children need to be safe and these abusers have to be prosecuted."
2021-08-31     "This is wrong on so many levels and every single one of these sick pedophiles need to go straight to prison"
2021-08-31     "I am signing this petition so that molesters like Chris Stephens can be stopped before it is too late. I am heartbroken for all his victims. What a monster."
2021-09-01     "Demand answers , be a voice for victims !!"
2021-09-01     "Kids shouldn't be afraid of people in positions of power. They are the future."
2021-09-01     "I think it's just plain stupid for the school board to keep everything a secret.  I didn't know this kind of activity was going on when my brothers went there."
2021-09-01     "Students deserve justice, safety, and support"
2021-09-02     "Nobody should feel unsafe in school"
2021-09-02     "Sexual abuse does lifetime long damage."
2021-09-02     "KHS 1985 4 generations of us through Kirkwood schools. This obfuscation is utterly unacceptable."
2021-09-02     "As an educator in early childhood I am a mandated reporter and strive to advocate for the ultimate safety of all children."
2021-09-03.     "Hold school districts accountable for keeping children safe from sexual predators."
2021-09-05     "Im a former kirkwood high school student."
2021-09-05     "I’m a very concerned Kirkwood parent."
2021-09-05     "This is wrong and must be stopped!"
2021-09-05     "I am concerned about the safety and well-being  of all children. Schools must be safe havens for students. All adults in authority, be they teachers, priests or other must be stopped from inflicting sexual, physical and emotional damage to students. Allegations of abuse from students (past, present and in the future) must be fully investigated. Violators must be brought to justice."
2021-09-05     "I was a former student at KHS, this is insane & it’s also a shame to the prestige of Kirkwood. I hope everyone gets justice"
2021-09-06     "This should have never happened. Shame on adults that act like animals."
2021-09-07     "Kirkwood sucks. It’s time for things to change."
2021-09-07     "I have a sister attending KHS, that’s all I’m going to say."
2021-09-12     "These victims deserve justice and it needs to stop for current students. Just wrong!"
2021-09-16     "I'm so sickened and disheartened by the decades of cover-ups and lack of disciplinary action in response to the Encompas report. What has this world come to? This is sending a message to pedophiles and sexual predators EVERYWHERE that it's okay to sexually violate their victims to bring themselves pleasure. What reputation or legacy can one have when it's all built on lies and sweeping things under the carpet? When is enough enough?!?!?!"
2021-09-16     "I think KSD needs to follow this mayor's example. https://www.theblaze.com/news/mayor-school-board-members-resign-child-pornography-curriculum#toggle-gdprThe accused perpetrators who are currently still employed by the Kirkwood School District need to resign immediately or be fired. The individual who is bullying members of the community to not mention him/her by name needs to set the precedent. Why is Kirkwood School District continuing to remain silent and seemingly sweep decades of abuse under the rug?!?!"

Among reasons people don't sign the petition are fear of some sort of blowback. What may realistically happen to you if _______ finds out that you signed a petition to protect children from child abuse? Realistically? You must assume first that _______ WILL find out. That they are watching and have access to names on the list. And even if so, what sort of person or group of people would be doing this? People you respect? People you serve? People opposed to free speech, to the right to petition, to children's safety? I ask again...what are the real chances any significant blow back can occur if you sign this petition? 

Another reason for not signing is indifference. Quite honestly, if we are indifferent to the suffering of children and to the threats facing them, we are people without heart. To become aware of a situation like this, 50 years of children sexually violated by those who are put in positions of trust and responsibility or their care and educations, and to shrug our shoulders, turn away, not do as much as sign a petition to help raise awareness is a pathetic response, IMO...it is cold. 

Some people are angry about this petition and are angry at the survivors. They are angry at the articles in news media that return to this story, exposing these ongoing crimes against children. They will not sign because they feel threatened, their image of this city is threatened, their image of their former school is threatened. This cognitive dissonance between their utopian fantasy of the "rightness" of all things "Kirkwood," or of the community in which they live, of the "rightness" of their lives that are reflected in the community is too difficult to bear. They would rather ignore this petition and all serious actions to help the children and sacrifice the children and survivors in so doing. And they will not sign. 

There are other reasons not to sign. None of them, IMO, stand up as substantial when set against the ongoing systemic sexual abuse of children and the ongoing cover ups. None of them.