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Child Abuse Allegation Anxiety

4/9/2012

9 Comments

 
Picture
I sometimes go home for lunch and today I lucked upon some leftover Indian food John had shared with Faith.  That meant I also got to see Faith for all of two seconds before she ran off to complete some errands.  Yay on both counts.

However, after I finished lunch and started the 2 minutes drive back to work, I saw a couple of kids on the side of the road, one hunched over the other one.  I slowed down to make sure they were okay when I realized I recognized one of the kids as a student in my CCD class.

I stopped the car and rolled down my window, calling his name and asking if everything was alright.  Apparently his buddy took a turn too harshly, and since there isn't any pavement over that area (it's a grassy mess), his bike must've come out from under him and he went careening into the curb.I put the car in park, turned on my flashers and went around to check on him.  He wasn't crying, but he was definitely in some pain. 

I'm not a nurse or anything, so I wasn't really sure what to "check."  So I said, "How far are you two from home?"  My student told me they were about 10 minutes off from his friend's house (he was staying there while his mom was at work during break).  I cautioned his friend against driving his bike for the 10 minute trek home, but when I asked if he'd called his mother to pick them up, he said she wasn't answering her phone.

So I said, "Alright, we should be able to get your bikes into my car.  Just get in and I'll take you home." 

As soon as it was out of my mouth, my heart dropped.  I remembered the orientation class I'd had specifically instructing CCD teachers never to offer rides home to their students because of child-abuse allegations.  Then, when I realized that I felt guilty for offering a ride to these kids, I got angry with myself for even thinking that leaving them there was an option.  Then I got doubly irritated that society has become a place that makes this inner struggle a reality.

This thought-process took less than a half-second to run its course, but I'm still grumbling about it.  I dropped the boys off after making sure the injured boy's mother was aware of the situation.  She was thankfully very nice and it's doubtful she had any concern about me taking them home, especially after my student explained I was his CCD teacher (so not a total stranger).  But still... I've now got this nagging worry that I'm going to be either reprimanded or, God forbid, accused of something. 

I realize this is the stupidest worry ever, but is it really all that far-fetched?  How horrible are we as a society that good samaritans can no longer feel free to help a child on the side of the road?  How horrible is it that children must fear every single person they come across?

I should honestly be happy that I got to help a kid out today.  I should be doubly happy that my student was there to witness what it means to be Christ's Hands, and how he helped Divine Providence along (a theme we've talked a lot about this year).  Instead, I'm worried that me helping the kid into my car could be misconstrued as touching him inappropriately.  I'm worried that the Director of Religious Education is going to find out and chide me for being negligent.  I'm worried that if my student recounts this story to his parents that they're going to wonder if I'm stalking him or something.

Seriously - how the heck did our world get so messed up that anyone should end up thinking this way about the simple act of helping a kid?

What the heck? 

And how many teachers / priests / coaches go through this thought-process on a daily basis regarding things like hugging a student, having students after hours in their office / room going over a project or paper, even offering a student a quick ride home on a rainy day when you know the kid walks a mile and forgot an umbrella?

And I wonder how much easier I must have it being a woman.  I wonder if that boy's mother would've been just as grateful if it were a male teacher bringing her son home...

9 Comments
Mary B
4/9/2012 08:00:48 am

Well, you wouldn't teach Vincent to get into the car with strangers. I don't think that's a backward step for society, I think it's a smart and necessary conclusion for any parent who sees what is going on in the world.

There's something to be said for "stranger danger."

Reply
Gina link
4/9/2012 09:35:55 am

I'm not suggesting that we teach our kids that approaching strangers is A-OK. I'm suggesting a happy medium.

Also, as for "stranger danger," it is statistically improbable that a child will be abused by someone they don't know. The chances are much greater for harm to come to them from an adult they trust... family member, coach or yes, even teacher.

So really, it's not "stranger danger" so much as "trusted adult danger" which is probably why so many people are freaked out.

We need to teach our kids how to better discern potentially threatening situations. Resorting to the "everyone is out to get you" tactic is not only unhelpful... it's harmful.

Reply
Theresa
4/10/2012 02:01:15 am

What you did is a big no no in the teaching profession. But I did the samething a few years ago. I was tutoring at the town library and a girl I had in class was there. She didn't want to walk home with her friends and all the boys they picked up. She was scared and litteraly shaking, she had some abuse in her past I later found out. I called her father and he said that it was alright for me to drive her home. I never told anyone though. We've been told at school never to be alone with a student even in class. If just one student comes to see us after school we were told to have the door open and stand near the door with the student. Students are even told to see us in pairs. Always strange stuff but it is the world we live in :(

Reply
Gina link
4/10/2012 02:18:20 am

Ugh, I know. Isn't is stupid we've somehow found ourselves in this situation? We can no longer feel free to offer common decency to the kids we care about because of the insane amounts of fear regarding child abuse.

It's just ridiculous.

I mean, can you imagine how often we used to hang out with Mrs. Kohl? She'd take us to Wendy's as a Thank You for swapping out her classroom decorations or helping her pack away her mountain of papers.

And God only knows how much time Hank and I used to spend with Ms. Kohler or Mrs. Berrios after class.

And the relationship I had with Mr. Kelly??? Are you kidding me?

I just can't imagine how we've gone from innocence to automatic suspect. It's heartbreaking when you think about it.

I mean, seriously - what would you have done had you not gotten a hold of that girl's dad? Would you really have forced her to go home with the others? I don't see you doing that. And I don't think it's fair that that kind of pressure is placed on you by society. It's just messed up.

And I honestly have no answers as to how to solve it. Humpf.

:(

Reply
Gina link
4/10/2012 02:20:44 am

I just realized how bad "And the relationship I had with Mr. Kelly???" sounded.

*blush*

For as much as I was teased about it, there was nothing but innocence there. Ha ha ha. Richie Cunningham was ever the gentleman which is why I took such pains to protect him from our vicious, vicious Sophomore class.

LoL. I hope he's doing well wherever he's at now. :)

Theresa
4/10/2012 02:24:11 am

it did sound really bad lol...you ever find him?

Gina link
4/10/2012 02:40:21 am

Last time I saw him was at that Pro-Life dinner with Henry our senior year. Would love to catch up with him, but doubtful he'd be at our reunion. Heh!

Reply
Recovering Lutheran link
4/10/2012 12:39:19 pm

Your post really hit home for me! I am a male teacher who teaches mathematics at a community college. One evening (after everyone else had left) two of my female students came to my office seeking help in college algebra. I took them to the campus learning center (where there were plenty of other students and teachers) and helped them there for about an hour.

I used to hold help sessions in a vacant classroom in the early evening before a major exam. Not any more. Too risky.

Reply
Gina link
4/11/2012 06:38:04 am

So yeah... I bet you being a male teacher makes it that much harder for you. This sorta thing probably sits on your mind a lot heavier than it would mine.

I've had kids stay after class for a few minutes to ask questions and I never thought twice. No doubt you would've been a lot more cautious (and with good reason).

Sad, isn't it?

Reply



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