Thread: .........

we're required to report it before the child leaves school that day or be held liable

check with your counselor, they will likely intervene

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Kontan is right: almost every district requires you to report it. As much as some of us hate to admit it, this is one of those cases where the teacher has to become a guardian and step up to the plate.

I'm surprised that if she refused to see the counselor that the counselor didn't call human services that day. It is your duty as an educator to make sure that these students have all the opprotunities that they possibly can. In this case, the opprotunity is obviously escape. If the mother hasn't acted when she said she would, what's to make her actually act on it before it is too late?

As for the confidentiality issue, you are an adult and should have a better head on your shoulders about something like this then a teen. Just because she thinks that this is supposed to be kept secrect doesn't mean it should.

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If it is, then apparently she needs to learn that she can't do this...and her parents need to leard the game that she is playing. (Trust me, I know what you mean. I had a friend in high school that said her dad beat her. I called DHS...only for them to find out she was a chronic liar and had a case of manic depression that had gone undiagnosed for years.)

In our system, we report such things to the counselor; the counselor then finds out whats going on and goes to DSS. Not sure what your procedure is, but you need to find out and follow it.

I always go to the principal, and sometimes am directed to call DCFS. We are mandated reporters by law. I have to go with my conscience also. Unfortunately, some of the abusers apply so much fear into the kids, and it is the kids who live with the reprecussions. We are not to take the reprecussions into consideration, though.

It doesn't matter if she has lied in the past or is lying to you now. If a student says there is an abusive situation you are legally bound, no matter how you feel about it, to report it.