The school is an institute of learning and a place where students should be safe from any and all elements. However, a new federal report reveals that US schools are failing to protect students; especially from sexual predators among the staff.
Sexual Abuse Among Male Students Is Underreported
A report by The US Department of Education in 2004 reveals that nearly 10 percent of students in an institution are exposed to sexual abuse. School employees that are the most likely to commit such acts are educators, coaches and substitute teachers. However, analysts of the report note that sexual abuse among male students may be underreported.
According to Ed Source, majority of US schools don't have proper SOP when it comes to preventing and reporting personnel-student sexual abuse. The report also revealed that more than 90 percent of students that suffered from sex abuse stay silent or only talk to a trusted friend.
Only 6 percent of students told the authorities. However, the report also states that teachers do not report the sexual abuse to authorities even if their students told them about it.
Almost all reported incidents of sexual abuse include inappropriate kissing, hugging, touching and forced sexual intercourse. But, as it turns out, schools do not make the appropriate response which perpetuates the cycle of abuse.
"When alleged misconduct is reported, the majority of complaints are ignored or disbelieved. Other students note this lack of response and conclude that teachers (or coaches or administrators) cannot be stopped," the researchers wrote. "If the school will not act, what can a mere student do?"
CPS teacher charged with sexual abuse of juvenile https://t.co/PsKOSDYYo4 pic.twitter.com/jKuM9QGLMQ
— WGN TV News (@WGNNews) January 14, 2016
Mandatory Sexual Abuse Reporting To Law Enforcement Officials Should Be Strictly Enforced
Another lapse in the sexual abuse policies in schools is what happens when the incident is reported to the highest official in the school. While the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act requires all states to report to the law enforcement, many still fail to do so.
"They report to each other but that doesn't necessarily solve the problem. It may in fact lead to problems," Rep. George Miller told NBC News.
Miller shares that most sexual abuse reports never make it past the school. However, state laws say that it is mandatory to report the incident to the state's law enforcement officials. There have been instances where school teachers suspected of sexual abuse in one state were allowed to resign and then hired in another district.
Child sexual abuse is a serious criminal offense and a formal investigation can only start when suspected abuse is reported. Schools need to know that reporting is a duty and even if they only up as suspicions with no basis is dismissed with no punishments whatsoever. However, are these policies enough to keep sexual predators away?
