Mandated reporter stuff is also not necessarily a report to the cops thing. In my district, we have School Police who are a subset of LAPD. If we suspect abuse we report not to school police to child protective services, THEN regular LAPD, but not school police.

Other weird thing, if I suspect a student of self harm (such as cutting) I don't report it and in fact CPS will not take that report. But if I suspect them of suicidal thoughts, I have to report.

The whole thing is stomach turning.

In slightly lighter news: BRAINS or at least Jell-o Brains.

Kat, you're right; I wasn't specififc enough.

As a teacher, we reported suspected abuse to DPS AND to school officials. Self-harm/suicidal thoughts, to a guidance counselor who helmed further reportage.

At shelters, we reported abuse to DPS, took photos if any marks were visible, wrote extensive documentation, and in certain instances, also called police. Staff therapists were available in those instances -- in addition to regular therapy sessions, individual and group, required by any youth in shelter -- to conduct interviews with youth or sit in on any police/DPS involvement/interviews.

I had a couple of terrible instances when I had to call DPS on women who were in shelter (DV shelter) who I witnessed abusing their children in shelter. The cycle, it is so hard to break...

Ugh. Sorry to be all Debbie Downer, but I am rather adamant and GRR ARGH HULK SMASH when it comes to child abuse.

Shit. The latest tweet from campus: "Students broke the structure set by police; are rushing en masse down McAllister Street." Seriously, people?

So, Noah has been working on his latest skill: [link] The video is only two seconds long so it comes quick.

He loves to do this because it makes me laugh. Silly little boy.

Good grief, Hil: some days, I just want the largest cluestick in the world and to perform a mass THWAP.

Hil, it's so wild that you're RIGHT THERE!

Noah made me laugh as well.

Noah is working it. Cutie.

I'm so freaking tense. Me stuff, kid stuff, money stuff, KCD crap, missing karate, and probably pms-ing. Work is good. The cats are good. Sleep meds are great. I should take them.

Hot, hot shower and a sleep aid, Suzi?

Noah is adorable. Love the wink. He's such a masher.

Franny has this impecable eyebrow raise, I am SOOO jealous.

I don't have anything rational to add to the discussion about the rape on campus. It reminds me of the church. I feel like that's how that kind of thing happens, there's some kind of knee-jerk reaction to cover things up, as if the harm to the institution is far more worrisome than the harm to the person who has been raped.