Recently, the news reported a couple of instances where principals or other higher-ups did not report allegations of child sexual abuse. Some folks, including those on talk shows, have been critical of the charges lodged against these Rhode Island educators. Without addressing the merits or lack thereof of the most recently charged individuals, since they are entitled to their day in court, I’d like to rebut the seeming sympathy for educators who do not report instances of abuse. They most definitely should be charged and here are the reasons why.

Children trust teachers

There is much research and actual case documentation which prove that children tell teachers about abuse, particularly if it is occurring at home or the parent(s) have problems like alcohol and the child doesn’t want to burden them. Teachers deserve to be trusted and to maintain the open channels of communication, children have to be assured that their teacher will act in their best interest. To shun off the responsibility is to erode a safety channel for children.

Principals have disincentives to report abuse

In many instances principals have emerged from the rank and file and have loyalties to union members. A false sense of protecting the fellow union member must never trump responsibility to the children entrusted to educators. Another element that makes a principal leery of reporting abuse by a teacher, staff or among the students is that it may be perceived that the principal is not doing her/his job since this happened right under their nose. This casts a negative reflection on the principal’s leadership, the school head might think. That concern is dead wrong since the principal cannot be everywhere and omniscient.

When I was attorney general I saw often saw disagreements between law enforcement and collegiate leaders. Under the guise of "giving options" to a coed who had been raped, the universities often steered the case away from reporting the crime. Beneath the veneer of giving opportunities for the young lady to decide was really the concern that the university didn’t want to lose its standing as a safe place to send daughters. Much could be lost if the school got a reputation for sexual assault, so it was far better to have a private review in place which never became public. Due process considerations were also stretched to exonerate the perpetrator since the university had an interest in acquittal since that buttressed the safe perception of the campus.

So, while nobody takes pleasure in seeing educators tumble from their exalted station, the line has to be drawn and they must report child abuse. In this day and age with child perps, porn addicts, and other deviants roaming society, school has to be the place where a child can find peace and refuge. The last thing that should happen is to erode the responsibility of educational professionals from reporting these matters to the Department of Children Youth and Families for further investigation.

The public needs to save its sympathy for those who are the most vulnerable in this society. The expression, ”in loco parentis”, is a time honored appellation for teachers who stand in the stead of a parent. In today’s society they need even more to do so.

Arlene Violet is an attorney and former Rhode Island Attorney General.