13 year old Student Possibly Pregnant...what to do?

Question

One of my students confided in me today that she might be pregnant. She is going to take a home pregnancy test tomorrow. If I find out she is pregant am I LEGALLY obligated to tell her parents since I am her teacher?

I will obviously do my very best to convince her to tell her parents as soon as possible and help her do it, if necessary, but wanted to find out my legal obligations first.

Answer 1

no your not. if you were a doctor you'd be legally obligated NOT to tell her parents. i feel sorry for her. but i guess it is her own fault. tell her to get the father to tell her parents.

Answer 2

Talk to your principal or guidance counselor. S/he should be able to guide you as to the rules and laws in your area.

Answer 3

As a teacher you need to contact the school psychologist and guidance counselors.  I am a middle school teacher, and this happens in my school no less than once a year.  If you know that this child is engaging in s*x with someone who is not a minor you are legally bound to contact your local CPS (child protection services) as that is rape therefore child abuse.

Answer 4

no you're not legally obligated. but you can send her to the consuler and tell her that she needs to tell her parents. but the girl must do something. and since she confined to you she may want your help to tell her parents. this is sad to hear about a 13 year old pregnant but its happening every where she should have gotten BC. good luck with the situation

Answer 5

In my state, I am legally obligated to tell these things to parents for the girl's welfare and the baby's.  In these situations, I've always asked the girl how she would like to handle this situation - her to tell them, for us to tell them in an afterschool meeting for me there as support, for me to tell them in a phone call.  I give her 24 hours to make this decision at most.  Then it 24 hours to carry it out.  At that point, I follow up with a phone call if she says she is going to do it by herself and I tell her this.  This allows her responsibility in the situation and for her to "own it."  I would feel legally comfortable allowing 48 hours from time I've been told to the time I follow it up with mom and dad.  

I've never had to use it, but in case where abuse is suspected, contact social services either through the school or county.  

If you have questions regarding your legal responsibility in situations like that, contact the head of your school counseling department at your school.

Answer 6

Sounds like she may have other issues that led to this. Pray about it, talk to her convince her to talk with her parents and then just stand back and be very, very supportive.

Answer 7

NOPE.  You actually have no obligation because pregnancy is not a "duty to warn" situation.  Pretty much her parent's will find out soon enough.  You could tell them because under 14 is not confidentiality.

Answer 8

no wtf y would u be legally obligated to do that

Answer 9

No you are not legally obligated to do anything. Let her handle it. Send her to the school counselor, advise heavily that she tells her parents. These kind of things are better left to the child and not you, the teacher.

Warn her you might tell, but don't.

Answer 10

If she does it tommorrow like she says you have nothing to worry about. I guess otherwise it would depend on district policy

Answer 11

I don't know if you are legally required to tell her parents. She does need to tell them if she is. I would talk with my principal and ask her what the law in your state says. Then I would handle it from there. Is it possible that the child was taken advantage of by an older adult, possibly a family member? If so you would definitely need to report it to the authorities.

Answer 12

you may not be legally obligated, but in my opinion you are morally obligated.  This is not a 16 or 17 year old girl you are talking about.  This is  a girl who is still very much a child and her parents have the right to know if she told you something as serious as this.  if i were the girls parents, and I found out the teacher kept something like this from me, I would be furious.

Answer 13

I don't thing you are obligated unless the "father" is over 18.

Man, people having s*x at 13, wow...

Answer 14

I wouldn't think that you would be legally responsible to tell. Talk to the girl and tell her that she needs to tell her parents. Let her know that you will be willing to go with her (if you are, that is). Right now she really needs to have an adult on her side and if she was comfortable enough to tell you then she is willing to listen. Just be sure to warn her about every angle of the conversation with her parents. Like worst case scenario and best case scenario.

Answer 15

Uuh, do you know why we students have to learn about repro. and s*x in school??! I don't want to do that! Why can't we just learn about that home?

Answer 16

It should be up to the student to break the news to her parents the teacher should not get envolved with the situation after she has told her parents