By Ivey Dejesus
The Patriot-News
December 12, 2011
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/12/jerry_sandusky_case_prompts_mo.html
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| Former Penn State football defensive coordinator Jerry" Sandusky, right, leaves the office of Centre County District Justice Daniel A. Hoffman under escort by Pennsylvania State Police and Attorney General's Office officials in Bellefonte, Pa. on Thursday, Dec. 7, following a grand jury investigation related to numerous child sex charges. ANDYCOLWELL for The Patriot-News |
The timing was purely coincidental.
The same week that the stunning child sex abuse scandal rocked Penn State University, Livia Riley, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Harrisburg, had scheduled a meeting of all athletic coaches to review conduct and the mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse.
The training represented another effort on the part of the Diocese to drill home its zero-tolerance policy against child abuse. In the years after a clergy child sexual abuse scandal embroiled the Roman Catholic Church, the Diocese had ratcheted up procedures to protect children.
"We talked about timely issues on ethical conduct, communication skills and diocesan policy," Riley said. "Even the bishop spoke."
At the Carlisle Area School District, superintendent John W. Friend seized the opportunity amid the national media attention brought by the charges against former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky to review with senior administrative staff the policy that mandates all school employees to report suspected child abuse.
"This is a pretty big deal," Friend said of Penn State fallout. "It's got a lot of attention. We used it as learning experience for us and reviewed it then pushed it down to the schools."
Joseph V. Kristobak, superintendent of the Cornwall-Lebanon School District, said his staff was clear on the expectations, but he still gathered them recently for another primer.
"Look at what happens when you ignore it," he said. "You never want that to happen at your school."
Never an issue far removed from school agendas, the topic of child sexual abuse has been a priority conversation in schools as educators this month sign off on one of the latest amendments to the law that requires anyone whose occupation brings them into contact with children to report any suspected child abuse to authorities.
The scandal that has thrust Penn State front and center of the nation's attention has prompted educators to revisit the nuances of mandatory reporting, focusing attention on what constitutes abuse and when should a teacher blow the whistle.
"I think Pennsylvania has pretty good requirements," said Michael Crossey, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the largest teachers union. "I think everyone is on the same page. We don't want anyone in schools who would be a danger to students, staff or anyone in the community. We want qualified, excellent educators in front of every classroom."
Schools play a critical role in the protection of children.
According to the state Department of Public Welfare, last year, mandated reporters — teachers, principals, nurses, doctors, priests, etc. — reported 77 percent of all suspected abuse reports, referring 18,972 reports of suspected abuse.
Sexual abuse was involved in 54 percent of all substantiated reports of child abuse.
Schools have consistently reported the highest number of total reports from mandated reporters. Last year, schools reported 6,921 cases of suspected child abuse. Of those, 389 cases were substantiated, leading to the removal of 965 children from abusive situations.
"I've never seen or heard of an educator that backed away from that responsibility," said Crossey, who spent 34 years as an educator in Allegheny County.
School employees this month sign off on background disclosures that must report any prior arrests or convictions pertaining to child abuse. Whether school staff can be fired for something that happened 30 years ago remains to be seen, Crossey said.
Crossey said the union was not pushing new legislation, although proposed legislation has warranted the attention of educators.
The Pennsylvania Legislature last year enacted three laws pertaining to the safety of children. The laws impact adoption cases, sibling placement and visitation and foster care situations.
Advocates have long rallied to shore up what they see as other shortcomings in state law governing child protection, pushing bills that would broaden the requirements for reporting suspected abuse to eradicating statutes of limitations.
House Bill 832, introduced by State Rep. Louise Williams Bishop, D-Philadelphia, would make it a criminal offense for any adult who has knowledge of suspected sex offenses against children to fail to report it to law enforcement.
House Bill 878, introduced by Rep. Michael McGeehan, D-Philadelphia, would open a temporary two-year window for all past victims of sexual abuse to bring lawsuits against their assailants. Current law states that a civil claim can be brought up to 12 years after a child victim becomes an adult.
Last month, Rep. Kevin Boyle, D-Philadelphia, introduced a bill that would require any staff member of an institution who witnesses suspected child abuse report it to appropriate authorities.
"Anything we can do to tighten up any perceived weaknesses in the law we should do," Crossey said.
Statutes of limitation, he said, should generally be expanded to allow victims more time to report.
Crossey, however, cautioned that legislation that would make it a crime for someone not to report child abuse could prove thorny in the schools setting.
"It's a matter of interpretation," said Crossey, who taught for 34 years in Allegheny County. "If a kid comes in and is ticked off at mom and dad he may say something and you go 'Uhm.' But is it really abuse or is he just ticked off? I certainly don't want anyone getting away with child sexual abuse, but at the same time, I don't want people jumping the gun and reporting every little thing that comes out of a child's mouth. I think there's gotta be some qualifier."
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