Stressors on Children and their Adverse Effects as Adults

I have had several children in my classroom that have experienced different stressors this past year in my classroom.  For example, I had at least one who as experienced a possible case of sexual abuse, one child with a possible case of physical abuse, and one case of neglect.

                The best experience I can give you is how I handle each situation.  First,  the case of sexual abuse information was not given to me, but was told to the administrator by the parent, and I was not told anything by the administration,  however I was told by the parent a few weeks later.  Well, according to the law we are supposed to report this information to the administration, which I did.  Unbeknown to me however, the administrator had been informed already by the parent.  The child was a sweet one who ended up leaving me in the middle of the school year.  I wonder what this child is going through often, and hope he is okay.

                Next, was the case was physical abuse.  The child had told our assistant that his father spanked him or her really hard after wetting the bed. The child was taken to the principle’s office and questioned.  From that point,  I do not know what went on.

                Finally, there is neglect, and this one is actually common.  I found out that a child was going home to an empty house.  Now, at four or five sometimes they do not realize that someone would be there by the time they got off the bus, but this child could not tell you anything.  It was very sad.  The funny thing is the child was pulled from the records several days later after just being admitted into my classroom.

ACE and Prevalence As Adults

According to the Center for Disease Control, early childhood stressors can have adverse health effects on these children as adults.  A study was done called Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACE), and the ACE made great strides in linking stressors and risky behaviors or health problems in adulthood.    If you would like to research this topic more you can go to the site:  http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/pdf/childhood_stress.pdf  .  This site clearly shows a somewhat high prevalence of these stressors reappearing in the adults.
France and Child Abuse:

  On June 17, 1998, Law 48-468 was put into place by France to increase protection against sexual predators toward minors.  The law mandates physical and psychological evaluations for children who have been sexually abused.  The law also mandates psychological evaluations and medical treatment for sexual offenders/convicts, which is to help prevent the abuse happening again.  The measures provided by the court maybe upheld to ten years.  The convict can also be put under surveillance by the court also.  A sexual offender could spend up to 10- 20 years imprisoned for his or her offence, but will be made to 2-5 if the obligations brought on by the court were not met.    

Immunizations and a Child's Health

         On a recent episode of Bravo's "Pregnant with Heels" Rosie Pope had a pregnant women who wanted to provide the most organic, non-toxic environment for her baby before it was born,  Part of this future mother's plan on providing the most organic, non-toxic environment was her belief on not having her baby immunized.  Rosie Pope totally disagreed the mother to be on this aspect, and I had to agree with Rosie.  There should be no compromise of a child's health.  The future mother's argument was that most of the diseases we provide vaccines have been eradicated, which is not true a lot of third world counties still have cases of diseases.  Another statement the future mother made was that after the baby was born the baby will be able defend itself from the natural antibodies provided by the mother.  That is true, but only up to six weeks.
          Rosie tried to prove her point for vaccines by using a cool, glowing cream on children's hands that shows all the germs picked up by humans each day.  Finally, she had to take the future mother-to-be to a pediatrician to provide first hand experience and more facts on why it is important vaccinate the baby.
          I understand that many people believe vaccinations are causing the rise in Autism, ADD, ADHD, and other behavior and social struggles in children, but I personally do not think I would not want to take a chance against a life-threatening disease for my child.  Vaccinations are not something to be compromised on.
          In France,  there is great debate on the new vaccines they wanting to make mandatory, but just like in the states children have to have vaccines  in order to be put into school.