Legal Question in Family Law in Mississippi

Legality of Latch-Key Kids

I have a business teaching guitar lessons. I was recently asked to teach a 10 year old at his home who is a ''latch-key'' kid. He is home alone from 3:00PM until around 6:00 or 6:30PM. I was reluctant but knew the mother very well so I agreed. The student was not interested in guitar and would simply tell me ''No'', put his guitar down and turn the TV on. I began to feel that I was wasting the parents' money and was also uncomfortable being there without another adult present. The student told me that his dad verbally abuses him and that he gets severe spankings if he loses a softball game or can't hit the ball. For this reason, I hated to tell the parents that he wasn't interested in guitar. I simply said I was uncomfortable with the situation of being there without another adult. The mother persisted relentlessly that I find another time to teach him. I finally told her that he is not interested in guitar, won't practice, etc., and that I had been hesitant to tell them because he told me he is abused for simple things. The mother agreed that he DOES get spankings for not hitting a baseball, etc. because they expect the best from him. Should I call DHS? He's home alone a very long time after school and possibly abused.

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