CHOICES

Child abuse is a real issue and fingerprinting is a non-solution. MEAF has put together a set of suggestions as to how we can make a real difference to children rather than presenting only a facade of safety. We are always open to suggestions. If you have ideas you can add, write to info@slipperyslope.org.

 	POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM

               	 OF CHILD ABUSE IN MAINE



        Defining the Problem--General Premises


1)  Child abuse is child abuse no matter where it occurs.

2)  Child abuse committed by Maine school personnel is statistically almost
    non-existent (2/10ths of 1%) compared to that committed elsewhere in 
    Maine society.

3)  Limited resources of time, money and personnel should be applied where 
    they will have the greatest positive effect on child abuse with the least
    negative fallout outside the problem (i.e., abetting the impending teacher
    shortage crisis, etc.).



        Alternatives--Within Schools


1)  Improve and bring consistency to existing background check and hiring
    procedures by:

        A)  requiring training in effective checks/hiring procedures of all
            candidates for administrators' certificates (to be offered by 
	    State and/or universities), or upon renewal of same;

        B)  studying and implementing ways to overcome the "pass the trash"
            problem of references failing to give candid appraisals of job
            applicants.

2)  Offer training to all school personnel in how to recognize signs of abuse.
    Since school personnel are statistically the ones most likely to report
    abuse, give them professional training in reading the signs.

3)  Teach students how better to protect themselves from potential abusive
    situations.  We can never watch all members of the community; there will
    always be undetected and first-time pedophiles out there.

4)  Provide better support for networking of existing agencies and school
    personnel, each of which may have a piece of the bigger solution but 
    lacks the resources to coordinate efforts.


        Alternatives--Outside Schools


1)  Re-allocate the fingerprinting/FBI check money to DHS to be used to
    investigate and fully pursue ALL cases of suspected abuse.  1999
    figures show 1264 cases referred to DHS and deemed appropriate 
    for investigation but not followed up on due to lack of resources.

2)  Examine the judicial response to child abuse where it effectively returns
    pedophiles to the community without rehabilitation within a matter of
    months, so perpetuating the problem.

3)  Offer training in recognizing the signs of abuse to police, clergy and
    other members of the community.

4)  Consider crisis intervention/hotline centers where citizens can speak to
    trained personnel about suspected or known child abuse.



                Prepared by Maine Educators Against Fingerprinting
                                March,  2000






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