A 5th grade student was writing in a journal (along with several other girls) about sex and sexual

abuse. They
left the journal out after talking about it in front of me. I chose to read the journal and contact social services.
Facts
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

5th grade girls writing in a journal about sex and sexual abuse
The girls talked about it in front of the teacher, the teacher overheard them
The journal was left out
The teacher read the journal
The teacher contacted social services

Ethical Questions
1) Should the teacher read the journal?
2) After reading the journal, should the teacher contact social services?
Arguments
Yes
1) Wisconsin law requires all employees of Wisconsin public school districts to report suspected child
abuse and neglect, Wis. Stat. sec. 48.981(2)(a)16m
2) The law prohibits anyone who makes a report in good faith from being fired, disciplined or otherwise
discriminated against in regard to employment, or from being threatened with any such treatment
3) A reporter is protected from both civil and criminal liability
4) The penalties for not reporting are a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to 6 months in jail
5) An abuser needs to be stopped and the child needs to be as far away from the abuser as possible. Not
reporting could be seriously dangerous for the child
6) The teacher has reasonable suspicion because she overheard the girls talking about sex and sexual abuse.
7) The Code of Ethics Principle 1 and 2 number 8
8) The journal was left out making it legal for the teacher to read it
No
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Fear or unwillingness to get involved.

Fear that a report will make matters worse, especially if no consequences are given to the abuser.
Reluctance to risk angering the family.
Concerns that making a report will negatively impact an existing relationship with the child or others.
Belief that someone else will speak up and do something.

Decision
This really is a no brainer because teachers are mandatory reporters and can be penalized by fines and/or
jail time. Not to mention it would look seriously bad on your record, if they allowed you to keep your teaching
license. There are laws to protect a reporter so there should be no fear or unwillingness to get involved.
Sometimes we dont know the consequences. Reporting this may make matters worse initially, but in the long
run, any child who is being abused will benefit from it. They will be able to communicate with a counselor, heal
emotionally and physically, and regain peace in their lives. The only potential problem would be if the abuser is
not charged and can still access the child, then matters may become worse. This decision is both
Consequentialist and Non-Consequentialist because reporting the abuser keeps anyone in his/her path safer and
its also following the law, duties, and obligations of teachers. The teacher overheard the girls talking about sex
and sexual abuse so it became the teachers responsibility to get involved even if there was no journal for proof.
But the journal was there and left out making it legal for the teacher to read it.