Some students move money for family because trust is real; some students are pressured in ways that are not safe to disclose aloud. The classroom needs a lane that teaches skills without demanding confessions.
Beatriz becomes the story surrogate: errands, transfers, shared phones, “just sign here.” Students can analyze fictional texts and scripts with the intensity they would bring to real screenshots, without exposing real households.
Teach verification habits: official app, known phone numbers, slow-down prompts, and the difference between helping and cosigning. Connect to Marquis when peers push for “easy” apps.
Name mandatory reporting and counselor supports at the level your district requires. This article cannot replace policy; it can align pedagogy to safety.
Red flags without red scare
Use a fictional chat thread: urgency, secrecy, gift cards, and “use your account because mine is frozen.” Students label each line with a risk category and a next-step script.
Emphasize: reporting paths exist, you are not training students to investigate family members.
Privacy-positive classroom norms
No “share your parents’ bank app” homework. If reflection happens, it is optional, private, and guardian-aware.