With back-to-school season underway, students and teachers alike are excited to get back to learning. For some students, attending school (whether online or in person) may be their first interaction with the world outside quarantine in months. This means that you, as an educator, have the unique opportunity to identify and reach out to victims of human trafficking or domestic abuse. Students in need of help often do not feel safe or comfortable confiding in adults, so it is important that you are able to recognize even the subtlest signs that they are in danger.
Please note that this article does not represent a comprehensive list of signs of human trafficking or domestic abuse. Also note that these are not definitive signs that a student is a victim of human trafficking or domestic abuse.
Money, Finances, and Personal Identification:
Your student has possessions uncharacteristic of his or her social class. For example, the student has the latest technology, expensive jewelry, and brand-new designer clothing, but his or her family works low-paying jobs. These items may be gifts from a human trafficker or pimp.
The student does not have access to their identification or personal documentation such as a birth certificate, a passport, or a driver’s license. Oftentimes, human traffickers steal these items from their victims to prevent them from leaving.
Your student does not appear in control of his or her finances or bank account information.
Jobs and Employment:
Your student talks about his or her “job” in vague terms and will not tell you exactly what that “job” entails.
The student works late hours and comes to class exhausted.
The student mentions spending an unreasonable amount of time on “household chores.”
Your student might say he or she works in a hotel. Hotels are a common place for trafficking victims to be sold.
Your student talks about needing to pay off large amounts of debt.
Family, Friends, and Relationships:
The student has a noticeably older romantic partner or a “sugar daddy.” This person may be the student’s trafficker or pimp. Additionally, the student may be seen with a number of different adults. These may be individuals who have purchased him or her.
The student appears to be dating an extremely controlling individual.
The student seems isolated from others at school and does not have many friends. Human traffickers usually coach their victims to avoid speaking to others.
The student’s family is inattentive or not involved in the student’s life.
Physical signs:
Your student has tattoos depicting a crown, a barcode, a person’s name, or symbols relating to money. These are common tattoos with which traffickers “brand” their victims. The neck is the most common location for these tattoos, although they can be anywhere.
Your student has bruises, burns, scars, or other signs of physical abuse. Many, but not all, victims of human trafficking are beaten into submission.
The student appears to be drugged or drunk. Many traffickers use drugs and alcohol to control their victims.
The student shows signs of dehydration or malnutrition.
In class:
The student appears extremely uncomfortable or nervous when asked personal questions by you or other figures of authority at school. Conversely, the student’s responses to personal questions seem coached or memorized.
In online classes, the student refuses to turn on his or her camera when asked. Human traffickers do not want the student’s teacher or classmates finding out where the student lives or is being held.
The student changes schools often or has large gaps in his or her academic record.
Your student skips school frequently or is always tardy.
Your student performs poorly in school and does not seem to care about his or her grades.
Meet the Artist: Adrian Glasmyre is a double major in Digital Communications and Art at Lebanon Valley College. Since her freshman year, Adrian has been passionate about using her art to raise awareness on fast fashion and human rights. She is proud to create graphics that educate others on these important issues.
Sources:
https://www.napnappartners.org/tattoos-human-trafficking-victims
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oese/oshs/humantraffickin101-schladmin.pdf
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/sites/default/files/In%20Depth%20Review%20for%20Educators.pdf
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/resources/human-trafficking-awareness-educators
