What To Do If You Believe Your Child Was Sexually Assaulted by a Teacher

Parents have an immense amount of trust in the teachers and educators with whom they leave their children’s responsibilities. It is because children spend a lot of time with their teachers rather than you at your home. You might be hesitant to suspect the teachers because it is not easy to deal with such situations easily.

So, in this article, we will discuss what to do if you believe that your child was sexually assaulted by a teacher. You can choose any experienced teacher sexual abuse lawyer to know more about the sexual laws.

What is Teacher Sexual Assault?

It is a crime in which a person engages in lewd activities with a child under the age of 16 which is illegal. It includes the acts that promote the arousal, passion, gratification, or sexual desire of an adult or a child. Educators must adhere to the laws in which consent is important for the child over the age of 16 years but if the child is below 16 years then it is illegal.

What are the Signs of Sexual Assault or Abuse?

It is not easy for children to outrightly disclose the abuse that they are experiencing. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the common signs of abuse so that you can take early interventions.

There would be behavioral changes such as withdrawing from friends, family, and other activities that they previously loved. There would be behavior such as bedwetting, increased aggression, thumb-sucking, inappropriate sexual behavior or anything like this would be a warning sign for you.
Depression or persistent sadness can also be a sign of sexual abuse. There would be excessive worry, fear, panic attacks, low self-esteem, extreme mood swings, or fearfulness and nervousness around certain people.
In some cases, there would be some unexplained bruises, injuries, cuts, complaints of pain, itching, or discomfort in some important areas. There might be signs of sexually transmitted infections, difficulty in sleeping and there might be some frequent nightmares.

There would be more signs of sexual abuse like difficulty in maintaining social relationships and it would increase the secrecy about the child and their activities. There might be some different behaviors among children but above mentioned changes are some common signs that can be seen among children who face sexual assault. So, you must be vigilant about these signs and ensure that you take appropriate actions on time.

What Should You Do If You Suspect Sexual Assault?

If there are any signs of sexual abuse in your child, and you suspect such assault from a teacher, then the first step would be to stay calm. You must separate your child from the suspected perpetrator by removing them from the class. You must make your child comfortable and take them to a safer spot to talk with them. Ask them some open-ended questions and also ensure to remain calm and cool. You must be calm in asking the questions and make them comfortable so that you are not upsetting them. Always ensure to listen to them carefully and assure them that you believe them.

In all your interactions, you must ensure that they do not feel that it is their mistake. The child must not be in guilt or embarrassment. After listening to them, you can contact your local law enforcement agency to protect your child. You can also consider filing a civil lawsuit and also pursue other legal options if available.

You can also consider talking to an experienced teacher sexual abuse lawyer who can help you more in such cases by exploring legal avenues.