Child Abuse Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Child Abuse Critique - Essay Example tatistics released by the Virginia Department of Social Services Online Automated Data System (2007) physical neglect is far more prevalent in Virginia accounting for 54.5 percent of child abuse reports for 2007. Physical abuse rates second in reporting history representing 26.2 percent of child abuse reports in 2007. (Virginia Department of Social Services Online Automated Data System, 2007) The prevalence of physical abuse and physical neglect dictate that educators remain vigilant for the purpose of detecting and identifying signs of both physical neglect and physical abuse. Legal definitions of child abuse and neglect however are inadequate for the purposes of recognising and circumventing child abuse and neglect. To this end educators are more appropriately guided by what is termed â€Å"operational definitions.† (Child Abuse and Neglect: Recognizing, Reporting, and Responding for Educators) Operational definitions are utilized by reference to indicators. (Child Abuse and Neglect: Recognizing, Reporting, and Responding for Educators) For instance the legal definition of physical abuse is such that it â€Å"causes or threatens to cause non-accidental physical injury.† (Child Abuse and Neglect: Recognizing, Reporting, and Responding for Educators) The operational definition of physical abuse indicates that conduct by a parent, guardian or any type of caregiver is such that it causes â€Å"physical injury or a particular behavior.† (Child Abuse and Neglect: Recognizing, Reporting, and Responding for Educators) Put another way: Physical indicators may be manifested in a variety of ways. These indicators include â€Å"questionable bruises and welts, or other injuries†. (Child Abuse and Neglect: Recognizing, Reporting, and Responding for Educators) These types of injuries will typically appear on the child’s face, lips, mouth, torso, back, buttocks and thighs and will be in â€Å"various stages of healing† and â€Å"clustered.† (Child Abuse and Neglect: