The Role of the Teacher in Reporting Cases of Child Abuse and Neglect

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Child abuse is a growing problem that affects children of all genders, ages, races, religions, and classes. It generally can be defined as “the non-accidental physical, sexual or mental injury or neglect caused by basic omissions of the child’s parents or caretakers”(Colorado State Department of Education, 1998). Narrowing the causes of child abuse to one in particular would be impossible, due to the wide range of factors that contribute. Today, teachers hold an important and unique position, for they are required to have an understanding of the laws and regulations in which to detect and report any suspected cases of child abuse. In Baltimore County, there have been recent efforts to train and educate public school employees on the awareness of child abuse, and the ethical procedures necessary when filing an actual report. As stated by Linda Lumsden, “the school is one social institution outside the family with which nearly all children have consistent, ongoing contact (1991).

Baltimore County requires all educators to be aware of the various forms in which abuse will surface. Physical, mental, and sexual abuse, along with neglect, are the most common variations of maltreatment. Of the 2,806 investigations by the Child Protective Services in 1999, 1,405 were physical abuse (50.1%), 530 were sexual abuse (18.9%), and 871 were neglect (31.0%) (Baltimore County Department of Social Services, 2000).

Physical abuse is recognized by the Department of Social Services as, “the physical injury of a child under age 18 by parent, person with permanent or temporary care of custody/ supervision, or household or family member, which brings harm to a child’s

health or welfare, or substantial risk of being harmed” (BC DSS, 2000). T...

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Colorado State Department of Education. (1998). The Colorado School’s Role in the

Prevention and intervention of child abuse and neglect. Colorado.

Libit, H. (1998, May 24). Schools seek better policy to find abuse; Balto. County plan would hold all adults including parent volunteers and student teachers responsible for reporting suspected cases of abuse. The Baltimore Sun. p. 1B.

Lumsden, L.S. (1991). The role of schools in sexual abuse prevention and intervention. (ERIC digest no. 61). ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management. (ERIC Document Reprocuctive Service No. ED 331152)

Shatzkin, K. (2000, March 3). Social workers demand reduced caseloads; Laws ordering cuts not implemented, demonstrators say. The Baltimore Sun. p. 2B.

Sun staff. (1998, June 18). Fisher case prompts rule requiring school staff to report abuse. The Baltimore Sun. p. 3B.

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