Goverment's Role

I saw this story posted on a variety of a Facebook accounts and a couple of websites. The individuals responding to this story were outraged and blamed everyone for this blatant wrongdoing. The story and all the news articles are reporting what the family is telling them, and only have half the information regarding the situation is being presented. I think this happens quite often within the media where only half the story is being reported and very little follow-up will be conducted following the events. Even though, only half the story is being reported, I think, the story presents several wonderful questions that need to be considered for all parents and members of society.

1. Whose responsibility and to what degree do children need to be protected? i.e. Should we of standards of neglect or abuse and who determines standards?
2. Should governments role to protect the child be placed above potential misguiding’s? 
3. Often times, parents do not perceive their role as neglectful or abusive even though their actions could have detrimental effects of the child, and do these variations in actions affect government’s role to protect the child?

These are a few questions that I thought of when looking through the story and questioning the appropriateness of a government agency to take a person's child. This current story appears to have parents who are full of love and caring and only want the best for their child. However, in most cases the parents may not see their neglect or abuse as something wrong rather as a punishment or lack of appropriate social etiquette.

I am not saying that these parents deserve to have their child taken away, and if it is a case, where the child was taken away wrongfully what recourse should the parents have. I saw comments related to the story suggesting they sue or that it was the doctor’s fault because he was on a power trip. I think this story presents a great example of when is the correct time to intervene. Should the child be subject to extensive amounts abuse before they are taken away from the family, or do you protect the child at the risk of causing the parents emotional distress. Ultimately I believe, the responsibility should be to the child versus parents because the parents can at least defend their actions verbally or in an appropriate and effective manner.

More information can be found at
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/cps-takes-baby-after-parents-seek-second-medical-opinion/ or News 10

Autistic Boy Abused

In new jersey, an autistic boy was being verbally abused by a teacher and teacher aids. The father placed a recording device on the child, to find out what was happening during class. Read full story here

A website was started by what appears to be the father Stuart Chaifetz. On the website it contains clips from what the teachers and teacher aids where saying to the boy. You will also be able to sign a petition to help stop the teachers from further bullying their students. According to the father, the teacher was not fired but simply moved to a different school, which makes this a very notable case because in past cases the teacher was removed from teaching or required to take remedial training course.   Link to the website

This video is from the father describing the recording and I think is an especially power video of a father standing up for his child's rights.

The aggressive verbal attacks carried out by the individuals responsible for the safety and education of the children in the class room is simply not acceptable. Children should not have to subjugated to these types of attacks from anyone, but more importantly especially not from an adult with the capacity to know what they are doing is wrong. This incident is only one of many indiscretions where a child has been abused by an adult in which the adult is acting as a care giver and these abuses should not be allowed. As you will notice, no were did I mention that because the child has autism he should be specially protected because all children deserve an equal opportunity to grow and prosper. The behavior of the teacher and teachers aid is despicable because they were working with children and children with special needs. I hope you take the time and pass this information on because everyone should be aware of this horrific event.

N.Y. elementary school aide accused of making child porn

A teachers aide is being charged with making child pornography in the class room. This scandal is one of many in recent times. The arrest happened in early January, and the individual accused had admitted to viewing and trading child pornography on a daily basis. This case is being handled by FBI. For full details

Girl abused and killed, siblings removed from home

A 7 year old girl from Georgia was sexually assaulted, beaten, and killed last Friday. A man who worked at the apartment complex where the girl lived is considered a suspect and has been arrested. In the wake of the girl's disappearance, her mother lost custody of her other children to the Department of Family and Children's Services for alleged lack of supervision.

Read the full story and watch news videos here.

Sandusky arrested, victim count at 10

Jerry Sandusky was arrested today with two new counts of child abuse. Read the full story here.