Why are teachers mandatory reporters?

The responsibilities of school personnel

Arizona law  (A.R.S 13-3620) states the following:

• Protecting the welfare of students is the most important responsibility of every professional educator.
• The purpose of the law is to ensure the safety of children.
• It is a Class 6 felony to fail to report "reportable offenses."
• It is a misdemeanor to fail to report physical injury, child abuse, and neglect.
• View the following video clip (2:24 minutes) to find out the responsibilities of educators and parents.

Teacher responsibilities from UA College of Education on Vimeo.