Substitute Teaching: Child Abuse Reporting

I was called to substitute at a good school on the very first week of the school year. Early in the morning, hardly awake, I debated if to accept it, and I did.

The day went well enough. Met a friend from the old school, assignment was not bad, students were mostly obedient, and I even had a chance to teach… But at the end of the day, I left the school with a nagging dilemma - to call or not to call?

On the first period of the day, a kid attracted my attention for being too active, not staying in one place, and disruptive. I called him to order several times, and only then I noticed that one of his eyes is swollen and surrounded with dark circles.

Now, I am a Mandatory Reporter of Child Abuse. Every year I go through training and tests that reminds me of all my duties, and the consequences. The question is - does a black eye constitute a child abuse? And is it my job to inquire and report?

So I did what I thought makes sense. I sent him to the nurse with a sealed note. Few minutes later, when he came back empty handed I sent him back. He returned with a generic form, stamped with date and time and signed, but no comments.

I decided to leave a note for the permanent teacher and wrote a second note to the nurse. Before I left the school, I resolved to check if the nurse was still there, and was referred to an AP.  Surprisingly he knew who I was and what it is about, and before I had a chance to speak he hinted that he’d rather not talk about it; that I know what I suppose to do, he knows what he supposed to do, and we both are aware of the jeopardy to our careers. He gave me a form, a phone number, asked the clerk to help me find the student’s information, and, hurriedly, went back to his office.

It was late on a Friday, and I wanted to go home. I resented the responsibility and felt that it was not my duty, being the most temporary element in a school full of permanent teachers and administrators, to deal with the issue. I thought that I did what I was supposed to do – send the kid to the nurse, leave a note to the regular teacher and two notes to the nurse, and talk to administrator. I documented all my steps, and felt that I can come clear before court. I even entertained the prospect of going to jail and thus highlighting the impossible requirements put on teachers.

I completely understood that I was holding a hot potato that no one wants to hold, everyone tries to escape, and when forced to hold it, attempts to get rid of ASAP. In my heart I was apologizing to the nurse, the teacher and the administrator…

In the end, hours later and back at home, I decided to do the easiest thing, maybe also the right thing, and call the phone number I was given. It was a special hot line to the policy department, and a recording referred me to a child protective agency.

When I talked to a live person, at last, I was glad I called, not because I thought I did the right thing, but it felt good to pass the hot potato to the person who wears the right glove. She was nice, polite, not too inquisitive, checked for prior records, and when none was found said she is going to document it, but no need for me to fill a report. She gave me her full name for reference and thanked me for calling.

So, teachers, substitute teachers and all mandated reporters, when in doubt call a child protective agency! It is a lot easier to unload that burden from your chest, regardless if justified or not, and have others take care of it. It just feels better!