I chose to discuss child abuse because it is such a hot button topic these days. And as future educators we are sometimes called to be the voices of the abused children that we teach. But at the same time there is only going to be this line that we as teachers do not know when to cross or to even cross in that fact. I feel so strongly about this topic, it baffles me that these so called "parents" are doing this to their very own children, bruising them not only with their fist but their words as well. I believe that emotional/mental abuses can be much worse than physical abuse sometimes. My thought is bruises and marks can go away, eventually but emotional/mental abuse stays with you forever. Physical abuse does as well; I am not undermining the lasting effects of physical abuse one bit. Sexual is equally as bad as the previous two; I just think of how that type of abuse will affect the victim's future relationship, whether it is with their parents, friends, extended family and future significant others. Once someone has been violated in such a way like sexual abuse, I can never imagine how they could be "normal" again. I am imagining never.
What scares me the most as a future educator is reporting and witnessing all these different types of abuses. I know if I ever see any of my future students coming into class with a black eye or swollen lip and I late find out that it was inflicted by their parent (s) or guardian. Well let's just say I am very passionate person and my first reaction would be wanting to jump down the abusers throat. But obliviously that is not an option or proper way to take care of an incident such as child abuse. What scares me the most is not recognizing abuse going on in my classroom? I am so worried I am going to get caught up within my first few years of teaching; I will not even recognize the obvious signs of abuse. And then when and if I do, I am nervous about going about it the proper way. I am nervous I will report just a minor incident and it will blow up in my face. And on the other hand I am worried about brushing as what seems like a minor thing to me off and having a child suffer even worse.
I just feel like there is such a fine line. But I always follow the approach of rather be safe than sorry. And if that means that in the process of being safe and covering all my own bases I make a few parents upset or mad at me, so bet it. Because I know I could not live with myself if I ignored previous signs of child abuse from one of my students and then one day it escalates to a point of no return, whether that be the child pulled from school, the child living in foster care, the child put into the hospital and I know this really foolhardy of me to say but death is a possibility as well. So I guess a question to post to all my readers is would you as educators take a better safe than sorry approach? Or just make a judgment call that caters to a particular situation you are placed in? What would you do? And really try and approach this question from all different angles of the situation.
ED460 Personal and Social Well Being is a course taken by college students in education during their student teaching semester. Topics covered include: poverty, child abuse, bullying, drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, counselors' role in school, adolescents and choices, and the use of technology.
I will tend to take a 'better safe than sorry' approach to a point. I think that, as a teacher, I will follow the law to the best of my ability, which calls for reasonable suspicion, I believe. As we went over in class today, one event of a injury is not 'reasonable suspicion' without a claim or abuse from the student. Accidents happen, and false claims of abuse, especially sexual, can destroy families, jobs, and reputations even after they are found to be false. Three days in a row with different injuries, though. THAT is reasonable suspicion in most cases. It really is a child by child basis, though.
ReplyDeleteI find myself worrying over the same thing, but for bullying. It's true that we'll be worrying over our first year of teaching and be busy 22/7 (the other two hours go towards sleeping) that I find myself wondering if I'll be able to spot all of the signs myself and be able to prevent it.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I just want to roll around in some nuclear waste or find some kryptonite and turn into superman. Then I can fly into space and see everything that goes on in the world.
I agree it is so scary to think of all the things that may be going on in our students lives that we may never know in any instance whether it be bullying, child abuse or any other thing. It worries me that I may not see the signs until its too late or misinterpret the signs. As educators the most important thing is the safety of the child. Each situation is going to be tricky to try to know when to report it or not. Like we said in class the most important thing we can do is have an open relationship with the principle and administration so that they will be on your side when it comes to a report and they will know exactly the details of the situation. This way you will have the support necessary to do what is right for the child without fear.
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