The sexual abuse Erin Merryn endured for years as a child was born out of ignorance and meekness, traits she says other children would be spared if legislation awaiting Gov. Pat Quinn’s signature — and bearing her name — becomes law.
“Erin’s Law” would look into how sex abuse prevention could be taught in elementary schools, something Merryn, 25, of Schaumburg, never learned until it was too late.
She was the victim of abuse from ages 6 to 8, and again from age 11 to 13, both times, she says, by someone she knew. She spent much of her teen years taking out her anger on others, only to realize her newly-discovered voice could be used to fight for abuse victims and prevention instead.
“I never got justice for the two individuals who did this, but I do have my voice,” Merryn said.
She’s written two books, appeared on numerous television shows – including Oprah – and become a full-time speaker who travels around the country. She teamed up with downstate Sen. Tim Bivins to draft legislation aimed at arming elementary students with knowledge she never had while attending District 54 schools. She graduated from Schaumburg High School.
“That message never came to me in schools,” she said. “They taught me to duck and cover; they taught me how to run out of a burning building, but I never had to do those things.”
Erin’s Law passed both houses in Springfield last week and is on its way to Quinn’s desk. A spokeswoman said the governor believes it is an “important step forward” and “looks forward to reviewing the legislation.”
The measure forms a task force to examine ways to teach sex abuse prevention in kindergarten through fifth grade. If the bill is signed into law, the task force, which Merryn will be a part of, will begin meeting in January and provide goals and ideas for instruction by January 2012. Those goals could be part of future legislation directing schools through curriculum or other means to inform children on the dangers and warning signs of sexual predators, according to Bivins, a Republican from Dixon.
“We can’t end this evil epidemic. Sexual predators will always exist,” Merryn said. “So, why not protect (children?)”
Merryn believes schools must do the teaching because most of the time a parent, or other family member, is responsible for abuse. And schools need to alter the message, she said.
“I was taught about ‘stranger danger,’ but 93 percent of the time, it’s not a stranger. It’s someone you know and trust,” she said. “That message never came to me in schools.”
Bivins said Erin’s Law focuses on the elementary level to offer the maximum amount of protection.
“By the time some of these things are discussed in school … a lot of abuse has already occurred,” he said.
Terri McHugh, community relations director for District 54, said there isn’t any organized curriculum focusing on sex abuse in its 27 elementary and middle schools. If the bill becomes law, she said the School Board will examine its provisions, which include allowing districts to start examining the possibility of prevention education.
Bivins was introduced to Merryn after the Dixon police chief heard her at a speaking engagement. Bivins said her testimony in Springfield moved legislators to tears.
The legislation, through committees and in the full House and Senate, never received a “no” vote, he said.
Merryn said she was warned the proposal would have a hard time because of legislators wary of unfunded mandates for struggling school districts. But, the measure doesn’t mandate such education, and, any future legislation that could mandate schools to teach sex abuse prevention would have suggestions from the task force for free speakers or videos, she said.
Next, Merryn said she wants to take the idea to Congress.
“Those that doubt … that I can’t get President Barack Obama’s attention: Watch me do it,” Merryn said. “I felt in my heart that there’s a purpose in all of this .”
kthayer@tribune.com
