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Child Advocate Discusses Videotaped Beating

Aired September 23, 2002 - 14:40   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Amy Simon is with the Child Advocacy Center in Manhattan. She joins us live from our New York bureau.
Hi, Amy.

AMY SIMON, CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER OF MANHATTAN: Hi.

PHILLIPS: That was a discussion that was raised this morning. We are seeing this tape over and over again. Do you think it is a good thing or a bad thing, because this isn't the only woman who is hitting her child?

SIMON: Well, I think it is really important that professionals and parents are aware of how prevalence prevalent this problem is.

PHILLIPS: Do you think that is made obvious by this videotape? Do you think this videotape is a good idea, that journalists on all the networks that keep airing this?

SIMON: I think what is more important is that there is a general knowledge of the prevalence of abuse, and that professionals, especially teachers, are really aware of some of the signs and symptoms, so that we can help children with this problem.

PHILLIPS: Well, I can definitely tell you it has sparked a lot of debate, Amy, on how we punish our children. Is ever a time that is OK to use a physical force of any kind on our children?

SIMON: Well, every state, actually, has different laws about abuse, so it would be important for professionals and parents to know what the laws are in their state. That being said, I think it's safe to say that in none of the states is it OK to inflict punishment on a child that would leave marks or bruises.

SIMON: Well, we see this videotape and we think of little Martha, 4-years-old. Can you at all determine the fate of a child like Martha? At what point -- I mean, if she is never hit again, will she be OK, or this something that no matter how young or how old it really traumatizes you down the road?

Well, I think it depends on how severe the abuse is and, like you said, how often it occurs. But a child who is harmed one time and then receives a lot of support and maybe the parent is rehabilitated to get help so they don't use this kind of discipline or punishment anymore, that child could go on to live a relatively normal happy life.

PHILLIPS: I am sorry, go ahead.

SIMON: But if it is repeated and it's severe, well, that has long-term effects, and we as a society have a responsibility to report those cases.

I think many people are afraid to report cases because they are scared to put their name, but what they need to realize that is you can report a case anonymously.

PHILLIPS: Well, you have seen this videotape probably a number of times. You bring up the point of rehabilitation. When you see something like that, can you say that someone like Madelyne Toogood really could be rehabilitated?

SIMON: I can't say for her specifically, but many parents go on to take parenting classes and address some of the issues in their life as to why they were abusive in the first place. And that parent could be helped.

PHILLIPS: My last question, Amy, foster care. That's where little Martha is now. We have done stories on how foster care isn't always a good thing to do, either. We hear of abuse cases within foster care. What kind of checks and balances are in place right now when it comes to a foster family?

SIMON: Well, you know, you want to make sure that the child is in a safe place; that is the main thing. That is a very important message to give to a child, that they are going to be somewhere safe, maybe while the parent is getting help.

PHILLIPS: Amy Simon, from the Child Advocacy Center, thank you so much.

SIMON: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 23, 2002 - 14:40   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Amy Simon is with the Child Advocacy Center in Manhattan. She joins us live from our New York bureau.
Hi, Amy.

AMY SIMON, CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER OF MANHATTAN: Hi.

PHILLIPS: That was a discussion that was raised this morning. We are seeing this tape over and over again. Do you think it is a good thing or a bad thing, because this isn't the only woman who is hitting her child?

SIMON: Well, I think it is really important that professionals and parents are aware of how prevalence prevalent this problem is.

PHILLIPS: Do you think that is made obvious by this videotape? Do you think this videotape is a good idea, that journalists on all the networks that keep airing this?

SIMON: I think what is more important is that there is a general knowledge of the prevalence of abuse, and that professionals, especially teachers, are really aware of some of the signs and symptoms, so that we can help children with this problem.

PHILLIPS: Well, I can definitely tell you it has sparked a lot of debate, Amy, on how we punish our children. Is ever a time that is OK to use a physical force of any kind on our children?

SIMON: Well, every state, actually, has different laws about abuse, so it would be important for professionals and parents to know what the laws are in their state. That being said, I think it's safe to say that in none of the states is it OK to inflict punishment on a child that would leave marks or bruises.

SIMON: Well, we see this videotape and we think of little Martha, 4-years-old. Can you at all determine the fate of a child like Martha? At what point -- I mean, if she is never hit again, will she be OK, or this something that no matter how young or how old it really traumatizes you down the road?

Well, I think it depends on how severe the abuse is and, like you said, how often it occurs. But a child who is harmed one time and then receives a lot of support and maybe the parent is rehabilitated to get help so they don't use this kind of discipline or punishment anymore, that child could go on to live a relatively normal happy life.

PHILLIPS: I am sorry, go ahead.

SIMON: But if it is repeated and it's severe, well, that has long-term effects, and we as a society have a responsibility to report those cases.

I think many people are afraid to report cases because they are scared to put their name, but what they need to realize that is you can report a case anonymously.

PHILLIPS: Well, you have seen this videotape probably a number of times. You bring up the point of rehabilitation. When you see something like that, can you say that someone like Madelyne Toogood really could be rehabilitated?

SIMON: I can't say for her specifically, but many parents go on to take parenting classes and address some of the issues in their life as to why they were abusive in the first place. And that parent could be helped.

PHILLIPS: My last question, Amy, foster care. That's where little Martha is now. We have done stories on how foster care isn't always a good thing to do, either. We hear of abuse cases within foster care. What kind of checks and balances are in place right now when it comes to a foster family?

SIMON: Well, you know, you want to make sure that the child is in a safe place; that is the main thing. That is a very important message to give to a child, that they are going to be somewhere safe, maybe while the parent is getting help.

PHILLIPS: Amy Simon, from the Child Advocacy Center, thank you so much.

SIMON: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com