| Teachers, Trust, and Taking Steps to Protect Your Child | ||||
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Boys Town Center for Adolescent and Family Spirituality We’ve all read the headlines: “25-Year-Old Teacher Runs Away with Student.” Most of us think it could never happen to our kids and our families. But it is happening, all acrossAmerica, from coast to coast and border to border. What can parents do to keep their kids safe at school? First, we must all remember that our children’s teachers really are acting as our “stand-ins” when they are with our kids at school. That means that although teachers don’t have all the same rights and responsibilities as parents, they should act with “parental-style” boundaries toward our kids. A teacher’s first priority is the total health and safety of the students in his or her care. This includes not only their physical health, but also their emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual well-being. Teachers are not there to be students’ friends. They are there to instruct, give grades and consequences, and provide safety. The vast, vast majority of teachers are compassionate and dedicated professionals who would never harm a child. But there are teachers who have poor boundaries. They may care too much about being popular with students. They may fall into the trap of being a “friend” instead of just being “friendly.” Unfortunately, acting like a child’s peer instead of like a child’s teacher is one of the opening tactics of an abuser. Here are some warning signs of potential trouble:
None of these signs mean for sure that a predator is at work. In fact, these situations usually are the result of poor or immature judgment, and things do improve with some discussion and solid direction. However, if you do notice any of these red flags, here are the next steps you should take:
Remember, no one knows your child like you do and no one loves your child as much as you do. The best protection we can offer our children is our faithful involvement in their education and a solid awareness of the adults to whom we entrust them. |
