Recent events at Penn State, though, have brought pain to many, many alumni and fans. My next-door neighbor, who graduated from PSU more than five decades ago, is hurting. As a retired high school math teacher, and current Boy Scout troop leader, though, he is also horrified at how things unfolded. The same is true for everyone with whom I have had contact.
Joe Paterno (JoePa, as he is affectionately known around here) screwed up. There are no two ways about it. Paterno was not mandated by law to report the suspected abuse to the Department of Public Welfare because, under the terms of his employment at Penn State, he did not come into contact with children "in the course of the employment, occupation or practice of [his] profession." (cited below) In other words, since his job was to coach football players, most of whom are legally adults, Paterno was required to report the suspected abuse to his supervisors, not to the legal authorities. This is, to my (admittedly limited) understanding, why he was not indicted by the grand jury.
Frankly, though, when Sandusky continued to appear on Penn State campus, using the facilities and continuing to have opportunities to spend time with children, JoePa should have taken the ball into his own hands and made the report. His failure to do so is worthy of condemnation. Had he demonstrated care for those children--the same level of care, commitment and love he reportedly shows for "his" football players--JoePa would continue to be a hero today.
For all that JoePa screwed up, he is not the alleged criminal. I think he should considered one, though.
I am a mother. I am a pastor. I want my son, and every other child, protected much more securely than the current statutes in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania provide. Regardless of whether or not an individual works directly with children, if abuse is suspected, I would like mandatory reporting to be standard. In my mind, it's simple. Anyone who has any reason to suspect child abuse would be required to report it to the Department of Public Welfare, whether or not they work directly with the children.
It has taken more than a week since the public revelation of the events at Penn State. The media is now focusing on Sandusky, whose recent interview with Bob Costas did nothing positive for him. He has admitted to behavior which, as the mother of a young boy, scares the hell out of me. Based solely on what he admits in that interview, I do not want my son around someone like him. If he is guilty of the crimes that caused the grand jury to indict him, I'd like to see him spend the rest of his life imprisoned.
I would also like to know that those who fail to protect children would not be excused for that failure. I know that JoePa could not be indicted for breaking laws that did not exist when he was employed by Penn State, but I'd feel a bit safer about entrusting my son to the care of others if I knew that all of the adults who surrounded him were held accountable for reporting suspected abuse.
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For the record, the law states: (a) General rule. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6311 (relating to persons required to report suspected child abuse), licensees who, in the course of the employment, occupation or practice of their profession, come into contact with children shall report or cause a report to be made to the Department of Public Welfare when they have reasonable cause to suspect on the basis of their professional or other training or experience, that a child coming before them in their professional or official capacity is a victim of child abuse.
(b) Staff members of public or private agencies, institutions and facilities. Licensees who are staff members of a medical or other public or private institution, school, facility or agency, and who, in the course of their employment, occupation or practice of their profession, come into contact with children shall immediately notify the person in charge of the institution, school facility or agency or the designated agent of the person in charge when they have reasonable cause to suspect on the basis of their professional or other training or experience, that a child coming before them in their professional or official capacity is a victim of child abuse. Upon notification by the licensee, the person in charge or the designated agent shall assume the responsibility and have the legal obligation to report or cause a report to be made in accordance with subsections (a), (c) and (d). (Source)
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