a moral question for you.

[dolf]

should schools, clubs and society in general actively encourage (or even pressure) children to report any criminal activities by their parents & adults they know?

 

[kbate]

1984.

 

[dirtycarol]

Generally I would say, no. The gov't is already way too intrusive!

 

[dolf]

we accept that an adult should report crimes.
at what age or closeness of relationship does that change?

 

[Saint Peter]

Children should not speak until spoken to.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Of course we should!

How else are we to properly employ Child Services and get them into foster care?

The State is much more compassionate, caring, intelligent and educated than the parent...

:nods:

 

[dirtycarol]

With the gov't being what it is these days, I take a live and let live stance.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

we accept that an adult should report crimes.
at what age or closeness of relationship does that change?

We already encourage them to report that they are being molested, even if we have to invent the molestation...

 

[dolf]

With the gov't being what it is these days, I take a live and let live stance.

what about, say, murder? dealing in hard drugs? gun running? serial rape? paedophilia?

 

[dirtycarol]

Murder, rape, robery, I would report, but non-victem crimes, no.

 

[Recidiva]

I think you should. Too many things go wrong when I child doesn't feel like they're part of a community that will help and support them. A child who feels isolated and alone is more likely to be picked out of a crowd as being vulnerable to manipulation.

Give the responsibility to a child to report what makes them unhappy and uncomfortable or scared to an adult they trust, and then reassure the child that anything that happens from there isn't their fault. They shouldn't feel that reporting something means they're responsible for something or the results.

They should be taught the difference between petty grievances and real problems. They should know the difference between the concept of "squealing" - which is telling on someone to garner favor with an authority, and reporting, which is being part of a community of people who look out for each other.

 

[dirtycarol]

"Officer Friendly" has left the building and has been killed by his own gov't.

 

[Saint Peter]

what about, say, murder? dealing in hard drugs? gun running? serial rape? paedophilia?

What about the small crimes? Does a kid know the difference?

 

[stickwork]

should schools, clubs and society in general actively encourage (or even pressure) children to report any criminal activities by their parents & adults they know?

Only when the parents won't buy them sugared breakfast cereal.

 

[RobDownSouth]

"Actively encourage"? No. Report possible criminal activity? Yes.

In my home state of Georgia, teachers this year were asked to report any child that habitually smelled of the odor of "cat urine", which is indicative of a meth lab.

The first child reported under the new rule was found to routinely carry her new kitten around in her school backpack, and the kitten showed her displeasure by routinely urinating inside this backpack.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

I think you should. Too many things go wrong when I child doesn't feel like they're part of a community that will help and support them. A child who feels isolated and alone is more likely to be picked out of a crowd as being vulnerable to manipulation.

Give the responsibility to a child to report what makes them unhappy and uncomfortable or scared to an adult they trust, and then reassure the child that anything that happens from there isn't their fault. They shouldn't feel that reporting something means they're responsible for something or the results.

They should be taught the difference between petty grievances and real problems. They should know the difference between the concept of "squealing" - which is telling on someone to garner favor with an authority, and reporting, which is being part of a community of people who look out for each other.

Exactly!

They can make the abortion decision, they can know when to rat out their parents!

 

[RobDownSouth]

Exactly!

They can make the abortion decision, they can know when to rat out their parents!

Good thing you homeskool!

 

[blobfish]

As long as the schools or clubs are private and not government-owned, they should be able to pressure the children how they see fit. Public schools, however, should not be allowed to do this, as it is an overreach. Let the separate facets of the government (law enforcement and education) remain separate.

 

[Recidiva]

As long as the schools or clubs are private and not government-owned, they should be able to pressure the children how they see fit. Public schools, however, should not be allowed to do this, as it is an overreach. Let the separate facets of the government (law enforcement and education) remain separate.

What if a teacher suspects a child is being physically, emotionally or sexually abused?

 

[blobfish]

What if a teacher suspects a child is being physically, emotionally or sexually abused?

Then the appropriate authorities should be alerted, and they can investigate.

 

[stickwork]

What if a teacher suspects a child is being physically, emotionally or sexually abused?

In most states in U.S, teachers are mandated reporters. If they don't report they can get in trouble.

 

[dirtycarol]

Then the appropriate authorities should be alerted, and they can investigate.

Be damn sure you're right before reporting though!

 

[blobfish]

Be damn sure you're right before reporting though!

A lot of false alarms are reported. It's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Saint Peter]

"Actively encourage"? No. Report possible criminal activity? Yes.

In my home state of Georgia, teachers this year were asked to report any child that habitually smelled of the odor of "cat urine", which is indicative of a meth lab.

The first child reported under the new rule was found to routinely carry her new kitten around in her school backpack, and the kitten showed her displeasure by routinely urinating inside this backpack.

In this case the child did not do the reporting. It is a cute story. What keeps the authorities from showing up at the kid's house in full body armor and breaking the door in order to take the meth lab by surprise?

I do not see easy answers to this. I want to protect the weakest and most vulnerable people in our society. I also am leery about giving the authorities the power to squeeze kids for information.

 

[Recidiva]

Then the appropriate authorities should be alerted, and they can investigate.

I don't think that's a useful distinction in who has authority. In this case you'd be referring from one governmental body to another, a school to a police officer or social worker. A teacher has a rapport theoretically, with a child, and information should be gathered before a complaint is made.

A child's demeanor and answers make a big difference between "accident prone" and "traumatized" and a teacher would have more experience with that particular child and be better able to get an accurate answer.

Any investigation by police or social services would be aided by as much information as can be gathered ahead of time to give them direction in what or how it should be investigated, or whether it should be investigated at all.