Issues of Abuse & Neglect

Today we tackled the tough topic of our role as mandatory reporters of abuse and neglect.  The opening reading from The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down really brought home the point that there are large grey areas to consider and, in this specific example, a fine line between respecting cultural traditions and protecting a child from abuse.  I appreciated all of the examples we walked through and grappled with as a group struggling to decide whether each example was reportable as abuse or neglect or not.  It is sad to think of all the hurt we may encounter in children's lives but also hopeful to consider what a powerful force we can be as teachers as protectors and as agents of healing and resilience.