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Q: What would you do if you suspected a student was being abused or suffering criminal neglect?
This is prompted by Hulk's post about an autistic student, but it's a question that's plagued me in the past as i've known of one young girl whom I suspected was being abused. It was something in her eyes, and it's something i've seen in the eyes of others on two occasions, only to have them confide in me later that that was indeed the case. The student in question was not one of my personal students and i'm ashamed to say that in the brief time I studied these signs in her I did not act, being terribly unsure as to how I might go about it or whether I was right or wrong. In the same school I also had a student who was so ill cared for in his personal appearance that I felt it bordered on criminal neglect. And again, being relatively new to the position of responsibility a person chooses when they become a teacher of the very young, I did not act. I deeply regret not speaking up on both of these things when I was in a position to do so. What do you think would have been the correct course of action in either of these situations?
13 years 20 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
Report whoever is doing the abusing to the authorities. ASAP!!! That means now!
BobC:
Hate to break it to you but this is China. What would constitute as domestic abuse or child abuse is not something dealt with as it is a family issue, or within the family. I know the first step in the States is talk to a superior when suspecting child abuse however most issues are swept under the rug or worse yet the whistleblower is considered the problem for saying there is a problem. Because obviously there would be no problem if no one said there was one. For a fun read try seeingredinchina.
You have to remember, what counts as criminal neglect elsewhere, doesn't necessarily count in China. Unless it was an extreme case, reporting it would do more harm than good. That's the sad truth I'm afraid.
If i knew it was sexual abuse,I would inflict as much pain is possible in a short time too them then leave.
I also had such a student in my class and did not know what to do. I even posted a question here. Finally spoke to a Chinese police whom I knew very well and was
advised not to get involved because it would bring many troubles to me and the
student would not be helped, most likely.
I see my post has been... harmonized. Well played, admin. Well played. I guess encouraging violence and homicidal acts aren't allowed here?
mArtiAn:
Don't worry H, I kind of guessed your response before I posted the question. Not saying I disagree with it, though i'm given to understand that violence only begets......etc, etc.......but sure, string 'em up is one way to go. Yeehaw.
I saw a mother tie up her kid once.
People just laughed and took photos.
Unless you fear her life is in danger, let it be. Sexual abuse is more common than you can believe here and the families almost always cover it up to save face. The child will never accuse an adult and the police will never admit it even occurs, especially to the face of a foreigner.
I must be sublimely innocent. I just see kids over indulged and spoiled rotten so I can't imagine that they would be subjected to abuse. Boing!!! Wrong!! (Sigh!!)
If you can't speak Chinese how on earth would you know anyway? And don't say by the kid's behaviour because I have witnessed the whole gamut of unusual behaviour by students and put it down to the result of the one child policy or something in the water.
abuse is actually the norm. fathers especially verbally , physically and mentally abuse their kids especially daughters. they torture them with stone age punishments (stand in an uncomfortable position for hours, kneel on rice). some even make their daughters kneel down and yell praises to them for hours, as if they were gods. but even in cases of extreme abuse or molestation you better stay out of it. because making it public will not put an end to it. it will in fact make it much worse for the victim. or they may pin it on the foreigner.
