27-02-2025
Clay-Chalkville teachers spreading word about Teen Violence Dating Month
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
Clay-Chalkville High School teachers Emily Florence and Caitlyn Buie are starting the conversation about teen dating violence in hopes to prevent it with the 'Girl Talk' organization.
'Girls they just really don't know where to start their relationship. They're looking to each other, and that's not really great guidelines, looking at different teenagers with relationship advice, so getting the conversation started with an adult is very important for them,' said Florence.
Florence and Buie addressed the topic among students during a school assembly, inviting former Birmingham Police Chief Annetta Nunn to also be a part of the conversation as she has worked alongside victims.
'This was formerly what I did when I worked with a domestic violence organization, and it's important because we know that this type of behavior, it begins usually between the age of 12 and 18, and as we ask those young people at the beginning of class, we asked them, 'How do you learn about what is involved in dating, what do you look for in dating,' and often there is no instruction,' said Nunn.
Nunn said that instruction starts with awareness.
According to research from the Love and Respect Organization, one in three teens will experience abuse of some kind in a relationship.
Knowing the signs is the first step of getting help.
'Someone who does not respect you, you're afraid of them, it's like you're walking on eggshells,' said Nunn.
With teens as the target audience, Florence and Buie said they hope to keep the conversation going, not just at Clay-Chalkville, but also at other schools. They say they're already hearing the discussions in the hallways.
'As a female teacher here, you see a lot of needs here within our girls, so we just thought that a Girl Talk organization would be super beneficial for our girls here,' said Buie. 'It definitely makes me feel good. It makes me feel good that the students are now more knowledgeable and can now look for those signs when they're in those types of relationships.'
If you or anyone you know is in an abusive relationship, call the Birmingham YWCA's 24-Hour Crisis Line at 205-322-4878.
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