When it was time to go outdoors, 3-year-old Casandra said she didn’t want to play and headed for her locker. At the teacher’s gentle insistence, Casandra reluctantly joined the other children on the playground. Tears rolled down her cheeks when the teacher boosted Casandra onto a swing seat and began to push her. The teacher stopped the swing and helped Casandra off. She held her closely for a few minutes and then asked why she was crying. Casandra initially denied that anything was wrong. However, when the teacher persisted, said she “ had fallen the night before and hurt her bottom.”
The teacher took Casandra inside and asked to see where she had been hurt. When Casandra pulled down her shorts, the teacher noted what appeared to be a large burn with blisters approximately 2 inches in length by 1 inch in width on her left buttock. Several small bruises were also evident along one side of the burn. Again, the teacher quietly asked Casandra how she had been hurt, and once again she replied that she “ had fallen.”
Describe the teacher’s professional role and legal responsibilities in this situation.
1. What actions should Casandra’s teacher take?
2. Would you recommend that the teacher report the incident right away or wait until she gathered more evidence? Why?
3. Should the teacher ask the parent what happened before reporting? Why or why not?
4. Would your feelings and responses be different if this was a first time versus a repeated occurrence?