Quinn signs sex abuse education into law - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

"No child deserves to be abused," says Lois Malone of Malone's Early Learning Center.

She works alongside the Department of Child and Family Services, she says the number of children brought to her who have experienced physical and sexual abuse is daunting.

"In the years that I have been in the child care profession, we have had multiple times that we have children that have been sexually and physically abused," she says.

She along with her staff believe that through educating children, they'll be able to recognize abuse and then report it.

"Children need to be aware of it, they need to go to where they can speak to an adult," says William Malone.

"If we can educate them on what they should do if someone touches them inappropriately and make them feel more comfortable in talking about it and reporting it then we are going to make this a better world," says Lois.

Until now, only secondary schools were required to educate students on the topic.

But today, all that has changed.

Children from pre kindergarten to grade 12 in Illinois will now be taught about sexual assault and abuse.

But according to Louis, the voices of younger children need to be heard too.

"Children are one of the few people in our society who can't speak up for themselves, they can't defend themselves," she says.

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