It seems we can do far better monitoring problem teachers
For obvious reasons, reasonable and loving parents in Southern California and across the country look at their sons’ and daughters’ schools as sanctuaries.
That is, they regard those venues as special places where their children go to learn and socialize without fear of being rendered vulnerable to some of life’s harms that simply shouldn’t be visited on our youngest and most impressionable age group.
Like bullying. Like demeaning or otherwise humiliating behavior doled out by adults in authority positions. Like emotional or physical intimidation.
And, of course, like unwanted physical contact and acts of sexual abuse perpetrated by coaches, counselors, mentors and, centrally, teachers.
We note on our website at the Los Angeles personal injury law firm of Taylor & Ring that, for obvious reasons, “teachers are among the most common perpetrators” of school-based sex abuse.
And it is certainly clear why that is the case. After all, they are in close contact with their young charges all day long and command carte-blanche authority in the classroom.
As we point out on our site, that can make teaching a closely calculated career choice for instructors seeking “to meet, groom and abuse new victims.”
How sad is that? And how imperative does it make close scrutiny and control of the teaching profession in order to safeguard children against a select minority of egregious wrongdoers?
Such concerns comprise a top-shelf focus for school districts and licensing authorities both at the state and national level. We’ll take a close look at some of the material results that emerged in one recent survey addressing tracking that is focused upon teacher misconduct in our next blog post.
A heads-up on that report: There is a dire need for improvement.
Serving clients throughout the Greater Los Angeles and Southern California area, we represent victims in a variety of civil litigation cases. If you or a loved one has been injured, turn to an experienced Los Angeles personal injury or sexual assault lawyer.
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