Child abuse by teachers often goes unreported by schools

Child abuse by teachers often goes unreported by schools 
By SHEENA DOOLEY • sdooley@dmreg.com • November 18, 2010
The Des Moines Register

Iowa law does not require school districts to report student abuse when it happens from their own teachers — even though licensed school employees are considered mandatory reporters of abuse.

The way districts handle abuse cases stems from an opinion by Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller's office regarding the state's mandatory reporting law.

In 1979, Brent Appel, then an assistant attorney general and now an Iowa Supreme Court justice, said the law pertains to abuse by people responsible for the care of children. That does not include teachers, he wrote.
The decision and lack of subsequent action by lawmakers made Iowa the only state to keep parents or others from reporting child abuse by teachers to the Iowa Department of Human Services, said Kathy Collins, a retired lawyer with the Iowa Department of Education. Parents can, however, report alleged abuse by teachers to police.

If parents contact the Department of Human Services regarding teacher abuse, the agency refers them to police*, a department spokesman said.  FULL STORY

*How about just cutting to the chase? CPS is an utterly worthless criminal organization. They destroy every life they touch.  Real child abuse is a CRIME and should be handled as such by the POLICE, not the incompetent, malfeasant thugs and domestic terrorists at CPS.