Interestingly, in light of the Penn State fiasco, we just got an email from admin reminding us of our legal responsiblities for reporting suspected abuse to DCFS. I suspect that's a reminder none of us really need right now, but I suppose it's always a good thing to keep in mind.
Here's part of the email:
As you likely know, part of the controversy at Penn State has to do with adults having knowledge of the allegations, but not fully reporting that knowledge. Based on Pennsylvania state law, now ex-Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno satisfied his legal reporting responsibility when he reported the abuse to his superior. Conversation regarding Mr. Paterno now circles around whether or not he fulfilled his ethical obligations.
Here is where Illinois law differs from Pennsylvania law: In Illinois, if you are a mandated reported, then you are responsible for making the report to DCFS or ensuring that a report is in fact made if you have reason to suspect abuse or neglect.
This also makes me wonder: are college teachers/admin/coaches considered state mandated reporters like Pre-K-12 teachers?
ION, I spilled coffee on my laptop this morning and now half of my My Documents folder is missing. I suspect this has more to do with my drying off the keyboard while the computer was still on than the coffee directly. Oops.
This also makes me wonder: are college teachers/admin/coaches considered state mandated reporters like Pre-K-12 teachers?
Not in any state where I have lived. I'm a manadatory reporter, but only because I am also a Psychologist.
I want to live in a world where you don't have to be "state mandated" to report an adult raping a child to the police. Where every adult feels the same responsibility to protect kids, or anyone being abused.
The whole Penn State mess hits close to home here. My life is filled with coaches and athletes. We discussed the likely scenario if one of our coaches encountered child assault in the locker room. Consensus is that calling the cops would be the 3rd thing to happen. After 1. Grabbing the child and moving him to a safe location and 2. Beating the crap out of the perpetrator. So many of the adults in my life are coaches and I honestly cannot imagine them protecting one of their fellows in this case. I'm personally not a violent person, but I know these guys well enough to know that violence is how they would respond to that kind of abuse of power.
I see every single day the relationship between coaches and the children they guide and I can't even express how sick this matter makes me. My experience has been watching boys learn, grow, and succeed under the caring guidance of coaches. The contrast to what I see happened at Penn (and other places of course) just makes me sick.
Sorry, hard to be coherent.
How is it that Westboro has the money for going on their snazzy and classy family vacations still? When I don't?
They are all lawyers. And amych is right, they aren't really a church. My hometown is Topeka so those guys get under my skin, and I've gone by many of their protests. It was funny when we drove by one and Em asked "Why do they say God hates flags?"
ION, if I have a bad cold I should probably reschedule tomorrow's dentist appointment, right? (I'm getting a cavity filled.)
ION, if I have a bad cold I should probably reschedule tomorrow's dentist appointment, right?
I would say yes. You could be contagious and your breathing is probably already impaired from your cold.
I think they'd probably send you home even if you went, tommy.
