Every student attending high school or college deserves to feel safe. Yet, each year there are reports of mistreatment or assault by school faculty.
When talking about compensation for sexual assault, there are many variables. Flirting, touching, and other actions from the staff are inappropriate, which means you may have grounds to file a claim through our Philadelphia teacher sexual assault lawyer. At Marrone Law Firm, LLC, we want you to know you are not alone. As a parent or a student, you do not have to suffer in silence if you are uncomfortable with a teacher’s or faculty member’s actions.
Sexual abuse in schools can take the form of any sexual misconduct or exploitation. It happens when teachers or staff abuse their authority to manipulate or pressure students into sexual activities. Therefore, school sexual misconduct or abuse can take many forms. It may include:
It is crucial to note sexual assault by an educator can happen anywhere. Classrooms, hallways, bathrooms, school-sponsored activities, athletic practice, and more are all potential private or semi-private places where inappropriate behaviors can occur. Students can also become victims through online communications with teachers, which happens more often with increased online learning.
No matter how insignificant the incident may seem, students should take it seriously. The pain and anguish caused by dealing with this type of abuse can cause devastating effects for not only that person but also others who may suffer from abuse later.
Sexual abuse by a teacher can happen at any age range. The student may feel unsafe talking about it or “telling on” their teacher because of intimidation, or they think the perpetrator is well-known enough that no one will believe them.
If a parent suspects someone at school is hurting their child, they can look for signs indicating an issue. Some common signs of school sexual abuse include:
Parents know their children better than anyone. If they suspect abuse, they should try to get to the bottom of the situation, and consider legal action if possible.
School districts should exercise due diligence in selecting faculty members. This means doing thorough background checks before hiring anyone to work with students. Anyone convicted of severe crimes should never be hired to work within the school district.
In addition, all staff must learn the rules regarding appropriate or inappropriate conduct. The Training Guide for Administrators and Educators defines ways to avoid adult sexual misconduct (ASM) charges. It is also expressed in Chapter 235, Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators.
If a Philadelphia school district is notified of an incident, it must take immediate action. When warranted, the district must report the crime to local authorities, conduct internal investigations, and support the victim and their family.
Any allegation of abuse, sexual or not, should be reported as soon as possible, even though there isn’t a statute of limitations for teacher misconduct. However, when filing a complaint, a person must be sure of the claims before proceeding. This means establishing proof, including:
The more details a plaintiff can provide, the more successful they will likely be in filing a claim against the school or the educator.
Proving misconduct and sexual assault by a teacher is not easy. Not only is it sometimes difficult to prove because it is done in private, but it can also be emotionally difficult for your family.
Marrone Law Firm, LLC has handled many sexual assault and personal injury lawsuits over the years. We know the critical details that will help your case, and we can put our knowledge to good use. If you or your child has been a victim of teacher sexual assault in Philadelphia, contact us for a free consultation regarding your case today.