Child Abuse
Introduction
"According to the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect, we have a national emergency: child abuse has reached epidemic proportions, with some three million reports each year, the majority of which turn out to be accurate. And it's estimated that millions more cases go unreported. Teachers can make the difference for many of these children," (Brodkin and Coleman, p. 28, 1995). Teacher's have the responsibility to act. In fact, "teachers are obliged by law to report incidences and suspicions of child abuse either to the police or to child protective services in their area," (Brodkin and Coleman, p. 28, 1995). It is absolutely imperative that teachers be knowledgeable about what child abuse really is along with all the forms that it can possibly encompass, which students are at risk for becoming victims of child abuse, the warning signs/causes of abuse and consequences of child abuse, and what teachers can and must do to not only stop child abuse but prevent it.
Summary
"One important threat to the physical, mental, and social well-being of youth is child abuse and neglect. Data from the 1999 National Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting System (NCANRS) indicated there were almost 3 million referrals of possible child maltreatment brought to the attention of child protective services (CPS) in 1999," ( Dake; Murnan; and Price, p. 76, 3003). Maltreatment of children as recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identifies several components including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, and educational neglect. It is important for teachers to remember that although active physical abuse may appear more blatantly obvious and horrific, physical neglect is much more common among children (Rathus, 2004). Teachers must not ignore the warning signs of any of these forms of abuse or second-guess their best judgment regarding possible abusive...
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