NCJ Number
46270
Journal
CONTEMPORARY EDUCATION Volume: 48 Issue: 2 Dated: (WINTER 1977) Pages: 98-100
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE BRIEFLY SKETCHES THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE, ITS INCIDENCE, THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ABUSER AND THE ABUSED, ITS DETECTION BY THE TEACHER AND STEPS SCHOOLS SHOULD TAKE TO COMBAT IT, AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS.
Abstract
THE CONCEPT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT GOES BEYOND PHYSICAL MISTREATMENT AND INCLUDES EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY AS WELL. IN OUR LARGER CITIES, BETWEEN 250-300 CASES PER MILLION OF POPULATION ARE RECORDED EACH YEAR, BUT THESE ARE ONLY REPORTED CASES, AND FAR BELOW THEIR TRUE NUMBERS. SOME AUTHORITIES ESTIMATE THAT FOR EACH REPORTED CASE THERE ARE MORE THAN 25 ACTUAL CASES. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT ALL RACIAL GROUPS EXPERIENCE ABUSE AND NEGLECT, BUT ABOUT THREE TIMES AS MANY NONWHITE AS WHITE CHILDREN ARE MALTREATED. THIRTY PERCENT OF THESE ABUSED CHILDREN LIVE WITHOUT A FATHER OR SUBSTITUTE, AND THIS FIGURE IS HIGHER FOR BLACK AND PUERTO RICAN CHILDREN. THE SCHOOLS ARE A LOGICAL PLACE TO DETECT CHILD ABUSE. THAT THEY HAVE NOT DONE SO CAN BE IMPUTED TO THREE PROBLEMS: SCHOOL DISTRICTS GENERALLY DO NOT ESTABLISH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM, TEACHERS ARE NOT INFORMED ABOUT NEW POLICIES WHEN THEY ARE ENACTED BY THE CENTRAL OFFICE, AND LITTLE GUIDANCE IS GIVEN THE TEACHER ON THE DETECTION AND REPORTING OF CASES OF ABUSE. TEACHERS SHOULD BE ALERT OBSERVERS AND REPORT THEIR OBSERVATIONS. ONCE DIAGNOSED, CASES OF ABUSE SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE APPROPRIATE CHILD PROTECTION AGENCY. TEACHERS SHOULD LOOK FOR THE CHILD WHO IS OVERLY AGGRESSIVE, DISRUPTIVE OR DESTRUCTIVE, PASSIVE, FREQUENTLY ABSENT OR LATE, DIRTY OR UNKEMPT, TIRED OR UNDERNOURISHED, PHYSICALLY SCARRED OR BEATEN, INADEQUATELY DRESSED, OR WHO COMES TO SCHOOL EARLY AND LEAVES LATE. THE SCHOOLS SHOULD TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS: SPECIAL TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THE DETECTION OF ABUSE; MANDATORY REPORTING BY TEACHERS OF SUSPECTED CASES; EXAMINATION OF THE CHILD BY THE SCHOOL DOCTOR, WHO WOULD ALSO INTERVIEW PARENTS AND REPORT TO THE PROPER AGENCY; REPORTING BY THE SCHOOL TO THE AGENCY TO DEVELOP A THERAPEUTIC PLAN; AND FOLLOWUP BY THE SCHOOL TO CHECK ON THE SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION OF THE CASE. MEASURES THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN INCLUDE THE PASSAGE OF THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT (P.L. 93-247), AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL CENTER ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, WHICH FUNDS RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN THE FIELD. A CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS PRACTICING PROFESSIONALS NEEDS TO BE UNDERTAKEN, IN ORDER TO MITIGATE THIS PROBLEM. (DJM)