Can a child or student under 18 commit child abuse?

• A. No, only adults can commit abuse.
• B. Yes, abuse can be committed by an adult or by a child/student to another child/student under 18.
• C. Yes, but only if the child is over 16.
• D. No, children under 18 cannot commit abuse.

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is that abuse can be committed by anyone, including minors, not just adults. In school reporting policies, the focus is on protecting the child and ensuring safety, so if a student harms another student, that act is still considered abuse and must be addressed and reported just as it would be if an adult harmed a child. A peer can be the perpetrator, and the harm to the other student is what triggers reporting and investigation.

In practical terms, this means a student under 18 can commit abuse against another student under 18, and adults can commit abuse as well. That’s why the best interpretation is that abuse can involve either adults or students as the perpetrators, with the recipient being a child under 18.

Choices that imply only adults can commit abuse or that no abuse occurs when the perpetrator is a minor don’t fit the policy, because the emphasis is on the act of abuse and the safety of the child, regardless of the ages involved.