I'm SO mad (long)

One of my kids from last year, A. came up from lunch today crying. When I asked her why she was upset, she told me that the school aide who oversees lunch pushed her. A. is Muslim and fasting, and she went into the cafeteria to sit with a friend while the friend ate. When they tried to leave, the aide told A. that she needed to eat. A. said that she was fasting for Ramadan, and the aide thought she was lying because she wasn't covered. She told A. that she would not be allowed to leave till she ate, and shoved A. through the door. She shoved her by the shoulders, which is bad enough, but she also used her knee to push her as well.

I told A. to go to the principal, and I strongly advised A. to also tell her parents. I hope she does. This woman should be fired.

Re: I'm SO mad (long)

you- as a teacher- are a mandated reporter! You have to report this to the principal!!!!!!! If this student tells mom she told you, and it get's back that you did not report this- you wil be in BIG trouble.


Report this- and document it!

Re: I'm SO mad (long)

Who do I report it to? I sent the student to the principal, and mentioned it to him later, so he is aware of it. He told her that he was going to speak to the aide.

Re: I'm SO mad (long)

the principal has to be informed and then he/she has to investigate. I believe in the cases of suspected chid abuse you have to inform the guidance counselor, social worker, and principal. You also have to make sure that the incident was reported.


The reason i say this is bc something similar happened in my school last year and the teacher was told that if she hadn't reported it she would have been "out of a job"

Re: I'm SO mad (long)

Umm, maybe the fact that I am a high school teacher screws with my perception but, how does this constitute child abuse (re: the "mandated reporter" comment)?

If you saw a parent do this - you would call CPS???

I think the OP did exactly the right thing. The shoving was a little harsh and TOTALLY unnecessary and ABSOLUTELY should be reported to the principal and the student should tell her parents. Beyond that, getting social workers involved sounds a little crazy to me...

Re: I'm SO mad (long)

Posted by kellsbells7

Umm, maybe the fact that I am a high school teacher screws with my perception but, how does this constitute child abuse (re: the "mandated reporter" comment)?

If you saw a parent do this - you would call CPS???

I think the OP did exactly the right thing. The shoving was a little harsh and TOTALLY unnecessary and ABSOLUTELY should be reported to the principal and the student should tell her parents. Beyond that, getting social workers involved sounds a little crazy to me...

Re: I'm SO mad (long)

Posted by MrsYank

Posted by kellsbells7

Umm, maybe the fact that I am a high school teacher screws with my perception but, how does this constitute child abuse (re: the "mandated reporter" comment)?

If you saw a parent do this - you would call CPS???

I think the OP did exactly the right thing. The shoving was a little harsh and TOTALLY unnecessary and ABSOLUTELY should be reported to the principal and the student should tell her parents. Beyond that, getting social workers involved sounds a little crazy to me...

Do HS teachers not have to attend the child abuse workshop? And forgive me if I come off as abrasive here but if I saw a school employee grab a child and force them to do something against their religous beliefs.... that seems very abusive to me!!!!

in her first post she did not mention that she told the principal. What i was saying is, in cases such as the one mentioned if you as a teacher become aware of the situation- you have to report it to your superiors.

Re: I'm SO mad (long)

Posted by kellsbells7

Posted by MrsYank

Posted by kellsbells7

Umm, maybe the fact that I am a high school teacher screws with my perception but, how does this constitute child abuse (re: the "mandated reporter" comment)?

If you saw a parent do this - you would call CPS???

I think the OP did exactly the right thing. The shoving was a little harsh and TOTALLY unnecessary and ABSOLUTELY should be reported to the principal and the student should tell her parents. Beyond that, getting social workers involved sounds a little crazy to me...

Do HS teachers not have to attend the child abuse workshop? And forgive me if I come off as abrasive here but if I saw a school employee grab a child and force them to do something against their religous beliefs.... that seems very abusive to me!!!!

in her first post she did not mention that she told the principal. What i was saying is, in cases such as the one mentioned if you as a teacher become aware of the situation- you have to report it to your superiors.

Of course, since I am certified in NYS I do have to attend the child abuse workshop. And I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU that she had to report it to her "superiors". But, I don't believe that it fits the description of what you felt was "child abuse" that needed to be reported to CPS. As you made very clear to the OP, she is a mandated reporter. When you use that term, you are referring to a NYS mandated reporter who must report all suspected cases of "child abuse" to the proper authorities. If you called CPS for this, it wouldn't be enough for any type of action taken on their part. By making a child do something against their religious beliefs, their life/safety is not threatened (and it didn't sound like she force fed the child).

Also, the OP did not say she witnessed the "grabbing" of the student. This sounds like a school employee acting in a manner that is unprofessional and their employment should be reconsidered.

Again, as a teacher who is in the business of training new teachers, I believe that the OP did act professionally and appropriately considering the situation. She made an excellent recommendation to the student and followed up on it. To me, she seems like a caring educator who did exactly the right thing. If the parents or principal thinks this needs to be taken further, than they can act on that. And please keep in mind, I am speaking in reference to THIS SITUATION. If at any point, a teacher suspects that a child is in danger and the "superior" does not agree, then absolutely the teacher needs to report it to CPS. This is not that type of case. If she was to call CPS regarding this, then she would be tying up valuable and important resources. And, not to mention, look like a looney bird to the rest of the faculty,staff, students and parents.

Re: I'm SO mad (long)

i never said to call CPS.... I said to report it to the principal.



eta: last year a para allegedly verbally abused one of our students- another teacher reported it (to administration) anonymously - and it was investigated and dismissed. It always has to be reported to a supervisor.


That's all I was saying!

Message edited 10/5/2007 6:08:53 PM.

Re: I'm SO mad (long)

Posted by MrsYank

i never said to call CPS.... I said to report it to the principal.



eta: last year a para allegedly verbally abused one of our students- another teacher reported it (to administration) anonymously - and it was investigated and dismissed. It always has to be reported to a supervisor.


That's all I was saying!