CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

(Policy against Physical & Emotional Abuse Inflicted by Teacher and

other Personnel)

I. Abstract

II. Introduction

a. Legal Basis

b. Goals and Objective

III. Types of Abuse

a. Physical Abuse (defines, types, effects)

b. Emotional Abuse (defines, types, effects)

IV. Duties and Responsibilities of Schools

V. Preventing Child Abuses

VI. Conclusions

VII. Recommendations

VIII. Bibliography

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE.....................................................................................................................1

TABLE OF CONTENT.....................................................................................................2

ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………….3 - 4

INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………….4 - 5

A. LEGAL BASIS............................................................................................6

B. GOALS & OBJECTIVE............................................................................6 – 7

TYPES OF ABUSES...................................................................................................7 – 9

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITY OF SCHOOL

& OTHER PERSONNEL.........................................................................................9 – 10

PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE.............................................................................11

CONCLUSIONS.....................................................................................................12

RECOMMENDATIONS...........................................................................................13

BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................................14

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I. Abstract

“The youth is the hope of the fatherland”, a famous statement of our national hero

Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

This statement stresses out the importance of children in our society and of in our

future also, so we as individuals must care, love, guide and protect them properly against

any kind of abuses.

Child Protection Policy is a guideline that operational Plan’s global commitment

to the protection of Filipino children and the prevention of child abuse. It also refers to

programs, services, procedures and structures that are intended to prevent and respond to

kind of abuse.

To address this important concern about children, the national government using

the Philippine Constitution of 1987 as the basis made a review and finalized a policy that

will give total protection to our children. This policy is coursed through different

government agencies concerning human rights specifically the Department of Education

which caters the needs of Filipino children.

Pursuant to the 1987 constitution, the state shall defend the right of children to

assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of

neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development.

We chose the Child Protection Policy (against physical and emotional abuse

inflicted by teachers and other personnel) because it’s a very timely topic sensing child

abuse cases which are rampant in the society nowadays. We find it very meaningful and

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informative to come up with a paper which will enlighten others that children must be

treated well and not maltreated by teachers and other personnel. In this study we want to

make sure that all students and out of school youths are aware of their rights against

abuses inflicted to them. We also want to provide special protection to children who are

experiencing abuses which affect their normal development.

We also believe that every child has rights and these rights must be exercised to

ensure that every child grows in an environment where the spirit of love, concern, support

and understanding prevail.

II. Introduction

“The youth is the hope of the fatherland”. That is the famous statement of our

national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

This statement stresses out the important role of children in the future of our

nation. So it is just but right and proper to take care, love, guide and protect our Filipino

children to be assured of the development of their well – being and full potential.

To address this important concern about children, the national government using

the Philippine Constitution of 1987 as the basis made a review and finalized a policy that

will give total protection to our children. This policy is coursed through different

government agencies concerning human rights specifically the Department of Education

which caters the needs of Filipino children.

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Save the children defines Child Protection as measures and structures to prevent

and respond to abuses affecting children in all settings, such processes are essential to

ensuring children’s right to survival, development and well – being in all settings at all

times. It is when children are not protected that their rights as well as their families are

threatened.

Child Protection Policy is guidelines that operational Plan’s global commitment to

the protection of Filipino children and the prevention of child abuse. It also refers to

programs, services, procedures and structures that are intended to prevent and respond to

kind of abuse.

Children have the right to be physically and emotionally safe at all times. It is the

responsibility of adults within the family, the community and the State to ensure that

children are safe and that their needs are met.

The effects of physical abuse upon children can be traumatic and long-lasting, in

some cases physical abuse results in the death of a child. Child physical abuse refers to a

situation in which a child suffers, or is likely to suffer, significant harm from an injury

inflicted by the child's parent or teacher. The injury may be inflicted intentionally or may

be the inadvertent result of physical punishment or physically aggressive treatment of a

child. Behavior by a parent or teacher which may cause significant harm to a child, and

is therefore physical abuse, includes; hitting; biting; shaking; punching; burning;

administering poison; suffocating; and drowning. Physical abuse may lead also to

bruises, cuts, welts, burns, fractures, internal injuries, or poisoning. In the most extreme

cases, physical abuse results in the death of a child.

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a. Legal Basis

Pursuant to the 1987 constitution, the state shall defend the right of children to

assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of

neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development.

(Article XV, Section 3 [2])

The Constitution further provides that all educational institutions shall inculcate

patriotism and nationalism, foster love of humanity, respect for human rights,

appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical development of the country,

teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop

moral character and personal discipline, encourage critical and creative thinking, broaden

scientific and technological knowledge, and promote vocational efficiency.

b. Goals & Objectives

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) aims to protect children from

all forms of physical or mental violence, injury and abuse, neglect or negligent treatment,

maltreatment and exploitation including sexual abuse. The same convention establishes

the right of the child to education and with a view to achieving this right progressively¸

and on the basis of equal opportunity, it obliges the government to take measures to

encourage regular attendance in school and reduce drop – out rates. Thus, it is mandated

that all appropriate measures be undertaken to ensure that school discipline is

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administered in a manner consistent with the child’s human dignity and in conformity

with the CRC.

We chose the Child Protection Policy (against physical and emotional abuse

inflicted by teachers and other personnel) because it’s a very timely topics sense child

abuse cases are rampant in the society nowadays. We find it very meaningful and

informative to come up with a paper which will enlighten others that children must be

treated well and not maltreated by teachers and other personnel. We chose this topic

because we want to make sure that all students and out of school youth are aware of their

rights against abuses inflicted to them. We also want to provide special protection to

children who are experiencing abuses which affect their normal development.

We also believe that every child has rights and these rights must be exercised to

ensure that every child grows in an environment where the spirit of love, concern, support

and understanding prevail.

III. Types of Abuse

Physical abuse is an act of another party involving contact. It intended to cause

feelings of physical pain, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm. It also refers

to a situation in which a child suffers, or is likely to suffer, significant harm from an

injury inflicted by the child’s parent or teacher. The injury may be inflicted intentionally

or may be the inadvertent result of physical punishment or physically aggressive

treatment of a child. There are lots of physical abuses; some of these are by hitting,

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biting, shaking, punching, burning, suffocating and drowning. Light physical abuse may

lead to bruises, cuts, welts, burns, fractures, internal injuries but in the most extreme

cases, physical abuse results in the death of a child.

All types of abuse can have tremendous negative effects on physical health of the

abused. Those who suffer from such abuse often have trouble sleeping and experience a

loss of appetite. They also may experience headaches or avoid physical contact with

others. There are more consequences or effects if child is experiencing a physical abuse.

There are initial and long term effects of child physical abuse. Some example of initial

effects are immediate pain, suffering and medical problems in some cases death caused

by physical abuse of a child. Emotional problems such as anger, hostility, fear, anxiety,

humiliation, lowered self – esteem and inability to express feelings. Behavioral problems

such as aggression by the child towards others or self – destructive behavior,

hyperactivity, truancy, inability To form friendships with peers and poor social skills.

Poorer cognitive and language skills than non – abused children. The long term

consequences of child physical abuse are long term physical disabilities, for example,

brain damage or eye damage. Disordered interpersonal relationships, for example,

difficulty trusting others within adult relationships or violent relationships, a

predisposition to emotional disturbance, feeling of low self – esteem, depression, an

increased potential for child abuse as a parent and last drug or alcohol abuse.

There’s another type of abuse that a child is experiencing in the school or in their

houses, this is what we called Emotional Abuse.

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Emotional abuse or mental abuse also referred to as psychological abuse is a form

of abused characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another. Emotional abused is

bad than physical abuse. Some people minimize the significance of physical abuse by

saying that we should be more concerned about emotional abuse and that is a more

serious and insidious problem. Emotional abuse is very serious because sometimes it is

undetected. However, this does not lessen the impact of physical abuse. Furthermore,

physical abuse is often accompanied by emotional abuse.

Children’s or teens who are suffering from emotional abuse also develop a

number of emotional problems. They often experience deep and profound sadness and

depression, anxiety, guilt, self – blame (illnesses that are a result of the mind rather than

of any physical problem). Abused individuals often have difficulty controlling their

emotions and may lash out unexpectedly and without warning.

Individuals who are suffering from emotional abuse will suffer also a

psychological trauma, including chronic depression, or post – traumatic stress disorder.

Such abuse is often associated with situations of power imbalance, such as abusive

relationships, bullying, and abuse in the school or workplace.

IV. Duties and Responsibilities of School & Other Personnel

Schools have duties and responsibilities to do especially by the school heads,

school administrations, teachers, academic and non – academic and other personnel. This

is important in preventing child abuses in occurring.

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This duties and responsibilities are; school heads must ensure the effectiveness of

child protection policies and procedures in their institutions, he must also ensure that their

school adopts a child protection policy. School heads also must ensure that all school

personnel are aware of the said policy. It’s important also that he/she must organize and

convene the Child Protection Committee for the school; conduct the capacity building

activities for the members of the CPC and Guidance Counselors / Teachers. They must

coordinate also in appropriate agencies like Department of Social Welfare and

Development (DSWD), government agencies or non – governmental organizations on a

Child Protection Hotline For reporting abuses against children’s. They must also ensure

that all incidents of abuse and other similar acts are addressed in accordance with the

provisions of the Department Order.

Teachers and other personnel have duties and responsibility such as; they must

exercise special parental authority and responsibility over the child while under their

supervision and custody. It must apply to all authorized activities whether inside or

outside the premises of the school or institution. They must also give them love and

affection, right counsel and advice, companionship and understanding; enhance and

maintain their physical and mental health all times; furnish them with good and

wholesome educational materials to study. It’s also important that they must practice the

positive and non – violent discipline and they must not inflict corporal punishments on

them. Last they must strictly comply with the school’s child protection policy.

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V. Preventing Child Abuse

Recognizing and reporting child abuses are important to prevent abuse and

neglect from continuing or recurring. Schools also must be involved in working to

prevent abuses from ever occurring at all. Schools are in a unique position to address this

problem by the virtue of the staff’s training and expertise, the school’s position in the

community, and the availability of physical facilities.

We, as individuals can also prevent abuses from occurring. This is through

awareness, then early detection and intervention. Learning about the problem like a

counselors doing is the first step to prevent child abuse. Generally, child abuse

prevention activities are geared towards the abusers. This is because; the child’s usually

done nothing bad to attract abuse. There are some ways or things society can do. The

first way is a parent or teacher with stress and difficulty should seek assistance from

appropriate services. Second, parents and teachers should undertake parenting skills

courses to learn more on how to deal on a certain children and on growing children.

Third, families must pay attention to the needs of children, and the larger family should

get involved with the activities of children. Fourth, society also should help or invest in

Public awareness and they must create supportive communities that will help to reduce

abuses among children’s. Last, parents or teachers that abuse drugs and alcohol must get

help and they must stay away from those behaviors, so that their anger control is not

impaired and so they also have a right mind in any kind of situations that will happen.

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VI. Conclusions

This paper has provided an overview of the significant ways on preventing child

abuses. It also provides the corresponding protective measures to get the children away

from any form of child abuse. It also includes the different duties and responsibilities of

school and school personnel’s. This paper also highlights both the complexity of the

child abuses, and the complexity and size of the response needed to effectively prevent

child abuse at the societal level.

I therefore conclude that physical abuse is not bad as emotional abuse; because in

emotional abuse you can’t see the signs of abuse that have been done to a certain child

unlike in physical abuse you can see the bruises on the body of a child.

We also conclude that there’s a lot of consequences or effects in the children’s

who suffered physical and emotional abuses and these effects can be a short term effects

only or long terms and sometimes it caused death.

We also conclude that there’s so many ways on how to prevent the occurring of

physical and emotional abuse on children and even though you’re just a simple

individuals you can help on preventing abuses from children.

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VII. Recommendations

Advocate for stronger involvement of the Department of Education in

developing and standardizing child protection policies and mechanisms for

schools must be facilitated.

Concretize the collaboration of different stakeholders for the protection of

children by establishing clear, functioning for Violence Against Children

case reporting and processing as well as for school monitoring.

Provide adequate information to local government officials, other

community leaders, school officials, teachers, parents and children on

relevant laws relating to child abuse and child protection.

Enact local legislation at the barangay and the municipal levels, which

would further help protect children from possible abuses and various

forms of violence.

Step up and concretize programs promoting children’s rights in schools

and in the communities through campaigns addressing specific forms of

violence against children in schools.

Promote alternatives to corporal punishment by documenting and

disseminating cases demonstrating the merits of positive approaches to

discipline, and facilitating discussions with both adults and children in the

schools and the broader communities.

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VIII. Bibliography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_abuse

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_abuse

http://www.secasa.com.au/sections/for-students/child-physical-abuse-

understanding-and-responding/effects-of-child-physical-abuse/

http://www.ehow.com/info_effects-physical-emotional-abuse.html

http://www.legalmatch.com/teacher-student-abuse-laws.html

http://www.childwelfare.gov/educator.pdf

http://www.pap.org.ph

http://www.gov.ph

http://www.crin.org/docs/Philipppines_pdf

http://www.issuu.com/deped.Philippines

“Towards A Child – Friendly Education Environment”, PWU – CWC – UNICEF

for Plan Philippines in 2009

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