5/10/01
Question 95
Dear Preschool
Teacher,
Can a preschool teacher be brought up on
abuse charges for supposedly spanking a child 3 years ago, when he was
2 and he remembered that only one time she hit his thigh. This scenario
was presented during a employee meeting and our director had no idea.
Can she?
Abuse Charges
Dear
Abuse Charges,
A preschool teacher can probably be brought up on charges at any time.
There is no time limit that I know of. Each state may be
different. There are cases of adults accusing parents of abuse
when they were children. Due to the age of the child there may be
doubts, but if the parents have a
witness or some other kind of proof, it may be possible to convict
someone.
This case, if it is real, needs
to be referred to legal counsel.
Jackie
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear
Abuse Charges,
It is my understanding that allegations of abuse must have substantial
evidence to get a conviction. I personally doubt that the
'memory' of a child at age 2 would serve as sufficient evidence for a
conviction. But, let's face it. Unfortunately, the damage
is generally done to a teacher's reputation once
allegations are made and it is a frightening situation for all of us
in the child care field!
Shelley
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear
Abuse Charges,
I really doubt that a teacher can be brought up on abuse charges from
an incident that happened 3 years prior. Without knowing the
whole situation it is really hard to answer this question but abuse is
determined by standards that would be hard to determine after such an
amount of time has passed. I
would not recommend spanking any children though.
Julie
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear
Abuse Charges,
There bring it up now because their time limit is almost up. My dad is
a lawyer and I just asked, in a scenario, this question. He said that
alot of it has to be proven through any pictures or documentation. Because
they can not go buy what a two year old says. Two year old's are
not old enough to say what actually happen.
The only thing they can use is the pictures and documentation. They
also have to have had it reported to authorities at the time it
happened.
That Question is a only if Question. Someone would have to have specifics
to know exactly.
Roni
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear
Abuse Charges,
I really don't know the answer to your question. I wouldn't
think that a 2 year old could remember in any kind of detail what
happened three years ago.
Lynn
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
