Why is it that some teachers can be so blind and clueless?

Question

Like say a child out of the blue starts harassing other children in a very inappropriate way.

Isn't that a red flag that that child has been abused especially sexually?

But oh no teachers don't realize that.

Answer 1

You really should give more details than this. What you're describing is purely circumstantial, and there's no way any of us can properly answer you without knowing more details.

Not only do children say things based on personal experiences, they REPEAT things they hear. One late night watching cable can yield the same results. Chances are that if the teacher heard whatever inappropriate conversations you're referring to, she IS working behind the scenes to figure out what's going on.

Are you a student or a parent? I'm an elementary teacher, so if you'd like to give more details in order to get sincere advice/information, feel free to email me.

Answer 2

If a child is harassing other children in a sexual it is a bit of a red flag. However, I adopted 4 kids from foster care and am familiar with some of these warning signs.

Teachers are not trained to recognize all of these things. Some teachers would not really know why a kid were doing this sort of thing. The teacher does have a responsibility to at least report it to guidance and/or the principal and possibly to children's services. You cannot assume however that the teacher has had experiences in her life that would make her realize why the child is acting this way.

It is also possible that the child saw a television show that they should not have, or saw their parents or older sibling doing something sexual. What people do not realize is that this is indeed sexual abuse. A child should not be allowed to be exposed to this sort of thing.

Really, you cannot blame the teacher. Educate her so that she will know in the future. It is not her fault; teacher training can only prepare you for so much.

Answer 3

Most teachers have 25-30 students in their classroom at any given time, while they try to keep an eye on all of them it's not possible. Generally, however, they report these things to the counselors and the counselors deal with that issue. And no, it's not always a red flag that the student has been sexually abused. Yes, it is something to consider but some students, especially in the higher grades, it is the way that they express the hormonal changes they go though. Don't say that teachers are blind or clueless if you've never done their job.

Answer 4

The child may be being exposed to something inappropriate on television or even by watching a sibling or their own parents behaving this way.

Teachers have to walk a fine line when it comes to calling these shots. We don't always see what is happening outside the class only what's in or what other students report. I know for a fact that if something like this would happen with my knowledge, it wouldn't go any farther.

Please don't generalize just because you may have a clueless teacher.

Answer 5

Most of the time the harassing is done when the teacher is not around. Most harassing takes place on the playground out of the teacher's sight or hearing, at lunch, and at the bus stop.

Answer 6

Teachers are definitely responsible for reporting ANY signs of abuse.
Unfortunately, you don't know how many times teachers get dirty looks, are mistreated and downright ignored when they mention serious problems with students (behavior, academic, cheating, smoking, drugs). This leads teachers to bcm demoralized and to skirt issues even when asked directly about them. Hate the game not the player.

Answer 7

I'm sure they realize it, but they probably get sick of getting yelled at on the countless times taht they try to bring the subject up with parents. Screwed up kids is not the fault or problem of teachers. That's like blaming Forsd when your car runs out of gas...Lame and Lazy.

Answer 8

You certainly sound like a person with an attitude problem. Why are you such an asshole?