Seeing the invisible: Educators contending with childhood neglect among their students

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 7:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Non-academic Outcomes and Student Well-being: The Importance of Schools and Communities

Abstract

Background: Despite educators pivotal role in identifying neglect, there is a notable gap in research examining their role.
Objective: This study explores how Israeli educators experience, define and attribute meaning to neglect.
Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 educators (22 teachers, 9 counsellors), who have encountered neglect within their professional role.
Results: The results show that educators experience neglect in a multifaceted and contradictory manner. Thus, whereas a spectrum of neglect types were encountered, educators experienced considerable challenges in identifying and responding to neglect.
Conclusions: This study calls for a more nuanced understanding of neglect that considers the overt and covert dimensions of the issue and suggests educators’ need for clearer guidelines and support from child welfare agencies.

Authors

• Eran P. Melkman, Tel Aviv University

• Laura Sigad, Oranim College of Education