School Role in Averting Child Abuse Is Stressed

Schools must take a more active role in detecting and preventing the tide of child abuse that has been uncovered nationwide in recent years, a social worker says.

Teachers, nurses, custodians and bus drivers are all in a special position to identify possible victims because of their contact with students, said Rose Cook, who has a master’s degree in social work.

Up to 500,000 children are physically and sexually abused every year, according to some estimates, and schools could help reduce the incidents by educating personnel to recognize the symptoms of abuse.

“The goal of schools is to educate and the key to prevention is education,” Cooke told the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex.

“The schools are in the unique position to identify, intervene and prevent the occurrence of abuse.”

Cook, who works for the Cherry Creek School District in suburban Denver, said school personnel should be educated to look for symptoms of abuse such as withdrawal, a tendency to mother other children, seductive behavior with adults or children, inappropriate language and a reluctance to participate in physical activities.

Cook said parents and students also must be educated about the danger and symptoms of abuse.

While schools are in a special position to combat the problem, which has become a national issue since such cases as the McMartin Pre-School in Manhattan Beach, where the owner and teachers were indicted on 207 counts of abuse, it must be a total community effort, Cook said.

“School can’t do it alone . . . but it is our professional responsibility to respond to the needs of children.”