Challenges

This section of the book literally frightens me. It frightens me in the sense that I'm don't know what to do if my students approach me with issues like these-- which is a very real possibility. It seems that every student gravitates toward some teacher in particular that they can trust. And once they trust you, they very well may open up about many of the issues this section talks about-- Child Abuse, Depression, Racism. And I know by law I would report it, I would "do the right thing". I won't argue that sometimes when students speak, it needs to move on to higher authorities; Sometimes that's the only way students can get the help they need. But I come from a different background. When I was in school, I opened up to a teacher that I felt comfortable talking to. I told them of things I never told anyone else-- things going on in my life that I didn't want anyone to know about. Of course they went and reported the incident-- which I don't blame them for-- but even now I wish I had never said anything because of all the problems it has caused me--more harm than good. So what do you do? As a teacher you need to protect yourself, but you also have an obligation to honestly help your students. It's the fine line that frightens me the most.