The Role of the Teacher in Reporting Cases of Child Abuse...

Child abuse is a growing problem that affects children of all genders, ages, races, religions, and classes. It generally can be defined as â€Å"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†¦show more content†¦The DSS has outlined warning signs of physical abuse as follows: â€Å"bruises on the face in an unusual pattern, black eyes with no injury to the nose, burns from hot implements such as: a curling ir on, rope, hot liquid, cigarettes (crater shaped on hands), welts, cuts, abrasions, fractures, internal injuries, combined with other warning signs, or any injury that does not seem likely to have resulted from normal activity† (BC DSS, 2000). A teacher would have extreme suspicion that a child has been abused if one or more of the warning signs are present combined with abnormal behavior. Children who are physically abused will often be overly shied, obedient, or aggressive. They tend to avoid physical parental contact, and will change their story about reasons for their injury. In a classroom situation, when an abused child is called upon, he/she will tend to demonstrate startled responses. In 1994, the civil law began to include the term â€Å"mental injury† in the definition of child abuse and neglect (BC DSS, 2000). The law defines mental injury as: â€Å"the observable, identifiable and substantial impairment of a child’s mental or psychological ability to function (BC DSS, 2000). Mental injury is most commonly caused by an act of a parent, caretaker, household or familial member failing to provide proper care and attention to the child. A teacher may properly diagnose mental injury through the same behavioralShow MoreRelatedChild Abuse And Neglect Of Children Essay1276 Words   |  6 Pages Child Abuse and Neglect Tracy Vargas Arizona State University Child Abuse and Neglect In 2002 child protective service (CPS) agencies investigated more than 2.6 million reports of alleged child abuse and neglect (Harder, 2005, p. 1). 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