UPDATE: I need some prayers/good juju, folks

EmmieB · November 2011

So this is a a request for prayers and good energy and... just whatever you want to send out into the universe, because....

my sister is a 1st grade teacher and today she had to call CPS and report suspected child abuse after an incident involving the victim student and some other students in her class.

Those are the only details I know, but these are immigrant families (Mexican) and they are all poor (she's at the poorest school in her district - which is middle class at best) and these families have a hard road ahead of them.

So thoughts and prayers for these students (and their parents) and some for my sister, who works so hard and cares so much and is so heartbroken that something like this would happen to one of her kids. She's got a long road ahead of her, too - teacher's aren't anonymous when they report to CPS.

Thanks, guys.

ETA: it's suspected sex abuse, if that makes a difference. That poor child.

Update: All of the kids were behaving normally on friday, and the victim student wasn't teased or talked about or shunned in any way. So at least as far as classroom activities go, it looks like it won't be a minefield. She doubts she'll hear from CPS unless they need to interview her, so she's decided to proceed as if it never happened, at least in the classroom. She thanks everyone for their well-wishes :-)

Lexi & Orion's Mommy · November 2011

lots of good juju going out to the family, and your sister

Meritage · November 2011

:-( Praying for your sister and for the sweet children.

kittylove · November 2011

Lots and lots of good thoughts, prayers and juju for the family, child, other students and children. It makes me sick to think of something like that happening to any child. I hate that teachers aren't considered to be protected by anonimity as reporters, it makes mandated reporting even harder IMHO. Knowing a worker might or might not say it was you and knowing you will have to face that family and child over and over again. Ugg so hard!

Dragonfly_Bride · November 2011

I'm keeping them all in my thoughts.

lmvierra · November 2011

:-( Prayers going out to all the students and their families that this gets addressed quickly and with the best possible outcome, and that your sister gets all the support she needs

fjaril · November 2011

ugh, that is so sad. lots of good boogabooga heading that way!

EmmieB · November 2011

kittylove:
Lots and lots of good thoughts, prayers and juju for the family, child, other students and children. It makes me sick to think of something like that happening to any child. I hate that teachers aren't considered to be protected by anonimity as reporters, it makes mandated reporting even harder IMHO. Knowing a worker might or might not say it was you and knowing you will have to face that family and child over and over again. Ugg so hard!

It's because she was reporting an incident in her classroom. If it hadn't been in her classroom, she would have retained anonymity. I think her identity is protected, but CPS can (and probably will) interview her. If someone calls and demands to know who reported it, I don't think they'll share that it was her.