To Brouder’s surprise, a social worker from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families called her later that day; someone had reported an adult male exposing himself during the class. That was followed by a visit from a police detective sent by the school to do an in-person wellness check.
Brouder explained that her son has epilepsy and autism and sometimes takes his clothes off to feel more comfortable and the inquiry ended there.
But the experience left the mother in the city of Haverhill incensed, and underscores the challenge on educators to make judgments based on fleeting scenes or sounds from a webcam.
“The teachers never asked to speak to me. Nobody said anything” during the class, Brouder said.
Child protection laws require school personnel, along with health care workers and other professionals, to report any suspicions of neglect or abuse. The coronavirus pandemic and virtual instruction have only raised the stakes; in the absence of daily in-person school and extracurriculars, a teacher’s video contact may offer the only window to spot potential problems in students’ lives.
Just like when the cops were called because a kid played with a toy gun at home.
It’s been a disaster for the kids who are still forced to learn at home.
Blame the teachers union. They don’t want to teach kids in schools anymore.
What was Jeffery Toobin doing at this kids house?
in the absence of daily in-person school and extracurriculars, a teacher’s video contact may offer the only window to spot potential problems in students’ lives.
God forbid! Whatever will we do without teachers to talk at and about our children? What will the kids do if Government isn’t there to bypass the parents and help the children ‘with their problems’? They might get a sliver or eat candy or bullied by the dog, cat, or the ever present autistic brother.
WHAT WILL WE DO!!!
And to think, this whole horrible episode could have been avoided if only a teacher could tell the difference between an adult male and a 6 year old.
T’s reservation is correct (adult/6-y-o) but given that, it looks like all the parties here did the right thing. Teacher reports what appears to be an abusive situation, cops and CPS show up, hear the story, and close the case.
Teachers are ‘mandated reporters,’ which puts them in a very difficult–if not impossible–situation given this zoom-edu mode. Teacher doesn’t get to make the call; they MUST report.
The mom is fortunate that CPS/cops weren’t the fanatics we’ve heard of in other communities.
Oh fine Dad29, be sensible about it.
It still amounts to spying on private households, imo. The most damning thing here was that the mother needed to set her 10 year old up on the floor in the hallway. But it is still not abuse to have children you can’t afford and have no living space for.
>And to think, this whole horrible episode could have been avoided if only a teacher could tell the difference between an adult male and a 6 year old.
Maybe this is an advertising opportunity for Zoom?
Ummmnhhhhhhhh………you know she ‘cannot afford’ this kid because of the setup in the hallway? Hey, wanzo, ever hear of “nap-time” for younger siblings?
Sheesh. Try family life sometime.
Nope, I don’t, but I am pretty sure having your 10 year old’s school computer set up on a hallway floor as a best option shows a lack of better options…