Sex Abuse in Schools – Prevention & Detection Tips for Parents

GAVL

[suffusion-widgets id=’2′]

May 16, 2012

Yesterday, a former high school teacher was sentenced to 30 years in sexual abuse cases involving four female minors, including a relative. This news story is not the only one of its kind. In fact in the last several days, there have been multiple headlines from around the country relating to cases of sex abuse by teachers:

  • Clifton High School Teacher Pleads Not Guilty…
  • Ex Modesto Teacher Goes to Court…
  • Former Highlands Teacher Indicted…

It is completely natural for parents to trust that their child will be safe at school. However, sex abuse within schools is a tragic reality and is often perpetrated by the following:

  • teachers,
  • other students,
  • tutors,
  • administrators,
  • coaches,
  • janitors, and
  • nurses.

Many cases of abuse go undetected. Parents are the first line of detection and prevention. Here are 6 tips for parents to help prevent and detect abuse:

School Classroom

  1. Meet or communicate with your child’s teachers on a regular basis. An abuser is less likely to abuse a child if they know that the child’s parents take an active interest in their child.
  2. Demand to talk to school administrators about a zero tolerance policy. Students should not be communicating with their teachers outside of school, except for school related purposes. Texting and calling is usually inappropriate unless about school.
  3. Talk to your child about appropriate behavior. Do this on a regular basis. Once is not enough. Children need repetition to learn.
  4. Encourage your child to talk to you about inappropriate touching by teachers, coaches, administrators, etc. This means talking to your child about sexuality. A parent who cannot talk to their child about sexuality cannot expect their child to be able to discuss it with them.
  5. Be vigilant, especially with younger children. Young children who suffer sex abuse don’t know how to discuss the abuse and will instead show signs of emotional trouble such as outbursts, aggression or withdraw. If you notice changes in your child’s emotional behavior, talk to them. If you can’t, send your child to a therapist who can.
  6. If your child suddenly has new things, toys or clothes, find out where they got them. Abusers often groom their victims by buying them gifts or giving them money.

Related Legal Articles:

Our attorneys serve sex abuse victims in the following areas: Allegheny County, PA; Berks County, PA; Bucks County, PA; Chester County, PA; Delaware County, PA; Lehigh County, PA; Montgomery County, PA; Northampton County, PA: Philadelphia County, PA; Atlantic County, NJ; Burlington County, NJ; Camden County, NJ; Cumberland County, NJ; Gloucester County, NJ; Salem County, NJ; New Castle County, DE; Kent County, DE; Atlantic City, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Newark, NJ; Doylestown, PA; Media, PA; West Chester, PA; Norristown, PA; Camden, NJ; Wilmington, DE; Newark, DE; Georgetown, DE; and New Castle, DE. Our lawyers can obtain special admission in other states such as New York and Delaware on a case by case basis.

**This website does not provide legal advice. Every case is unique and it is crucial to get a qualified, expert legal opinion prior to making any decisions about your case. See the full disclaimer at the bottom of this page.

Sources:

  • http://www.northjersey.com/news/passaic_morris/passaic_news 151660045_Teacher_fighting_student_sex_case.html
  • http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/ex-modesto-teacher-living-with-student-in-court-on-sex-abuse-charge.html
  • http://www.local12.com/mostpopular/story/Former-Highlands-High-Teacher-Indicted-on-Felony/SWTTON9wLEWJTPf7IZQgcw.cspx