If a teacher is told about a child been sexually abused. Do the parents have to be told?

Question

The parents are not doing the abusing, yet finding out would upset them

The parents are not the abusers, yet the father has a heart condition and the abuser is related to the mother

Answer 1

No, the parents do not have to be told., HOWEVER, the law says that you :MUST report the abuse. Confer with your Guidance Counselor and principal first, but DO REPORT THE ABUSE TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
GOOD LUCK IN HELPING THAT CHILD.

Answer 2

In California, at least, the teacher is required to tell the law authorities. In order to prosecute the abuser, they need the cooperation and involvement of the child.

For that, the parents must be told. What do you imagine would upset the parents more? That their child has been abused, or that their child's abuser is on the streets still a danger to their child and others?

Answer 3

Here is the LAW. The teacher must contact Child Protective Services. They are NOT required to contact the police. If the teacher wants to continue to cover their liability in the case, the teacher should contact a lawyer from the NEA (or the local council). This will absolve the teacher from any liability for withholding information. Now, the teacher can tell the parents... but, talk to the lawyer first. I believe the lawyer will tell you to stay out of it and let CPS do their jobs. By getting further involved in the accusation, the teacher becomes liable for slander lawsuits if the accused is found innocent.

Summation:
Call Child Protective Services
Call the Attorney provided by the NEA
Do not become involved more than the attorney recommends

Answer 4

I am a teacher that has reported abuse several times. Teachers do not report specifics about whom they think is doing the abuse, they can not, it would be considered heresy. Teacher must follow a very scrutinized protocol of reporting abuse. Remember this, it is the the law that all teacher must report any potential signs of abuse, not doing so in cases of an abuse is/Haas occurred, the teacher can be held liable. With that said, teachers only have to report it to either the school nurse and or both the nurse and the school counselor. From that point the nurse or counselor follows the steps to find out if an abuse is actually occurring. The teacher is rarely notified or know any other details other than what they reported.

Answer 5

The LAW requires the teacher to immediately report it to the state's Child Protective Agency, who will do the final research, family notifications, etc.

For the teacher's protection, it is anonymous... while parents need to know asap, they may turn on the teacher later as the family falls under tremendous strain, or even breaks, from the repercussions of having an abuser hurt their child, especially another family member. The Child Protective Agency is there to help ensure the child is safe in the future, and take the brunt of the family's grief, rather than the teacher.

Answer 6

If the child wants to heal and get the perv that did it, yes! It will upset the parents, but imagine never knowing, never being able to help your child through that sort of thing.......... never finding justice for your child! If a teacher is told about abuse, they have an obligation to alert the police. The police will handle the delicate but necessary task of informing the parents.

Answer 7

~ First....well of course it's going to upset them!
~ Second...they absolutely need to know, and have a right to know!

This knowledge is essential for the child's parents, so that they can take the necessary steps to remove the child from the existing abusive situation, and provide the child with any necessary medical or physcological treatment.

Plus, they should be given an opportunity to start legal proceedings against the offender.

EDIT:

It's irrevelant...the parents role is to protect their child, not the reverse.
As a parent I cannot fathom a scenario, where withholding information that bears on my child's welfare would ever be acceptable.

Regardless of their medical conditions, no one has the right to decide to withhold information that seriously affects the welfare of their child from them.

They are adults and parents...problems go hand in hand with both of those realities, and negating their right to act as responsible parents; in essence preventing them from becoming their child's advocate and comforter at this time, is unconscionable and unforgivable ...however good the intentions may be.

EDIT # 2:

I responded to your question exclusively from a parental perspective, and was horrified at the prospect of the exclusion of this child's parents from the knowledge of their child's unfortunate and tragic circumstance, and the subsequent prevention of their parental support for this child.

Your inquiry indicates that your a conscientious and caring person. You need to find out what the legal requierments are in your state and school district, and ABIDE BY THEM.

The most important factor in all of this is, that you responded in behalf of a child's welfare and were the kind of teacher that a child in trouble could trust and confide in.
That in itself is a great tribute to the kind of person you must be, as well as the compassion and dedication you bring to your profession.

My wish is, for all of our children to have teachers like you.

Answer 8

If the parents are not the abusers then they have all right to know. It is their child. Talk it over with the child to know exactly how to go about telling the parents without losing the childs trust in adults.

Answer 9

The teacher legally has to report it to the authorities. The teacher is not responsible for telling the parents. And seriously, how can anyone possibly care more about upsetting the parents than they are about protecting the child????

Answer 10

No, they do not have to be told BY THE TEACHER. However, by law, the teacher IS required to report it to the police. The school system probably has a specified procedure that you must follow as well. The parents WILL be told by the police, regardless of whether or not the school system tells them.