Boy Urinates on Girl!

[Loosing It]

Someone please help me before I loose my mind. I teach in a private preschool. I have 4 and 5 year old children, getting ready to enter pre-k. Since I came to this room, I have one boy who is routinely disruptive and physically abusive to the teachers and other students. I have written close to 50 incident reports documenting his behavior. I have reported to the administrator that he has told us his father has given him beer to drink when he visits him. I have reported that he had suspicious bruising on his legs. He has exposed his penis to one girl, urinated on his nap mat (stood up and pulled it out - not accidental), urinated on a young girls clothing and this week, he urinated on her chest on the playground!! You would think that for the protection of the other kids, he'd be expelled by now? NO!! They are letting him come back next week and he will go on to their state sponsored Pre-K program.
I am appalled. What does this kid need to do to be removed, put someone in the hospital? I feel that the school has failed repeatedly to safeguard the other students, as well as the teachers. He should have been reported to DFCS long ago but it is clearly not going to be done by my school. I cannot help but want to call them myself. The state should be aware of this and that the school routinely lets our class go over ratio - sometimes 35 kids to 2 teachers (4 y/o). My husband is afraid that if I call DFCS, I will be fired.
What do I do? If I don't report this, his behavior will continue to escalate. Personally, I am tired of coming home with bruises on my legs from his merciless cowboy boots. I truly worry that he will injure a child seriously. How can I tell that child's parent that the school and teachers are not at fault when we have known about this behavior and let it continue? I feel obligated to act. What should I do? I live in the state of Georgia.
Any input is greatly appreciated!

 

[dee]

Laws to protect you

And as a mandated reporter, you must call to help this child. Usually these calls can be anonymous. Use a friend's phone or even a payphone. I may have my head in the sand, but we all went into this to help children, and this may truly be the one child that needs a CHINS (Child in Need of Services) report done. Frankly, you can get a paycheck anywhere. If the program is state-sponsored, can you involve the state DOE?

Perhaps others have more experienced suggestions. By the way, I'm not naive, I am 44 with 2 of my own and do sped.

 

[GB]

Hotline?

Call the state hotline. You should be kept anon. Document, document, document. Man! I cannot believe the other kids' parents aren't just pestering administration to get something done. As a teacher, some things would *change* involving this child, and I would call it "natural consequences" to anyone that asked. As a mom, I'd be fairly furious if a child went on my child. I'd be parked at the principal's office until there was action.

He needs to wear a belt or something that won't let him just open up. He needs to be in softer shoes since he cannot handle the boots and uses them as a weapon. You shouldn't get any bruises. I hate that a new standard is getting set that part of the teacher's job includes possibility of injury, with no reprecussions to the student or students' parents. Very scary. I would get the alternative apparel at a thrift store and make him wear it, in light of his "problems." No one else is bothering to take care of this, are they?

 

[Loosing It]

I reported it ... I got fired.

I called DFCS last night and told them what I knew. They felt that this was cause for a case worker to visit the home immediately. Unfortunately, they would not go without my giving them his address, which I am not given access to at the school. They asked me to be creative in getting them the address ASAP.
Today, I go to work and have ten incident reports to write before lunch. Eight of these were for injuries, the other two involved an unruly student that also exposed his penis to other students - this time boys. At the end of the day, I am told that I write too many incident reports and that it paints a negative picture for parents, they do not want to know that their children are bad. They said that it embarrassed parents. I was then fired. As I left, they asked me to sign a from saying i was being dismissed for absenteeism and tardiness, which I checked that I disagree with and signed. I have never had a written warning in my file, yet they sent me home.
I guess doing the right thing sometimes hurts. Funny, I have had days with two reports and days with 12 but today was the day it was a problem. I thought my job was to document, document, document? I was under the impression that this protected the school and the teachers. I guess the school does not want a paper trail showing that they overlook these behaviors.
They did not give the incident reports to the parents - including the one about the exposure. It is no wonder these kids are so unruly and violent. No one wants to be accountable and help them. What a shame!
I just hope that this child gets the help he needs. As for me, I hope this does not hinder me from getting hired on in the public schools when I finish my E.C.E. degree next year.
Oh .. PS as I left, they asked me not to pull my daughter from the Pre-K program. They don't want to loose that state check for her enrollment for the next month. Unreal. Now I just need to find work for the summer that accommodates my kids. At least I still have my integrity. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Mrs. G]

Shocked!

I was shocked when I saw you were fired. I don't say this very often, but I think you should consult an attorney.

I hope you do pull you child from that school immediately! It sounds like they have no business running a school. Allowing that behavior is absurd!

 

[Wanda]

Do you have a union or association representative.
I hope you got a copy of the form that they had you sign.

You are much better off not working there under those circumstances.

 

[kjm119]

Wow!

I'm glad you made the call. I am so sorry to hear that you were fired. Did you keep a copy of all the incident reports for yourself, just in case? I would definately contact a lawyer and take legal actions. For the summer, look into a day camp. Some camps offer discounts for the staff's children to attend. As for a teaching job, don't sweat it. The state will soon catch onto what is happening at the other school.

 

[GB]

Shocked, too!

Unreal! You pay union dues to have their big-time lawyers fight for you in these cases. Use them.

Maybe the school needs to be investigated if they are allowing such unruly behavior to take place, and fire the teacher for correcting situations.

 

[4MyKids]

No Union. Private School.

I wish I had a union but it is a private school. They offer Ga. Pre-K, which means that they are basically contracted by the state to offer the program free. It is still a private school.
A friend told me to go file unemployment. Several have said to get a lawyer. Another said to just leave it off my resume and move on. I saw one of my parents at Home Depot this weekend and he was pretty upset that I am gone and thanked me for telling him when his daughter acted out. It just reinforced my belief that parents need to know the truth and children are better for it. (sigh) I guess I have some legwork to do tomorrow.
I am still debating on pulling my little one from the Pre-K program. On one hand, I do not want to cheat her out of her remaining field trips and fun with her few friends. On the other is that last Friday, she had an asthmatic episode and they let her wheeze with chest pain for an hour without notifying me. Add that to everything else and I just don't want her there. I think I am going to collect her stuff, let her say her goodbyes (if she wants) and just entertain her for the next few weeks until school is out. Hubby and I will have to discuss this in the morning.

Thanks again for the support. I was feeling like I had screwed up for a bit there. I am so glad to have found this site. It is nice to speak to real teachers and get real answers.
BTW: I registered as a member. Loosing It did not seem like a great name. I just picked a name to remind me why I do this in the first place. Thanks again!

 

[GB]

Certified?

Put in resumes now for next year. Are you certified? (Sometimes non-certified teach at private schools.) I don't know about leaving it off, they want to know your most recent employment. I also know private schools are notorious for wanting to retain kids and firing teachers on the spot like this. It's for status.

The school is acredited through someone at the state. I'd organize your concerns in a listing or outline form, along with anything else and send it to them. Check first with your Elementary and Secondary Education department in the capitol. They have lawyers, too. I don't believe in revenge, but think the school is failing at requiring some sort of discipline standard. Kids can't be allowed the type of behavior you describe. My kids sure wouldn't be attending there, guaranteed. I bet someone would at least stick their nose in if you informed them of the goings on. Your admin. sounds ignorant of structuring a school. Hmmmm.... Keep us posted.

 

[blcw]

"On the other is that last Friday, she had an asthmatic episode and they let her wheeze with chest pain for an hour without notifying me."

This is neglect on their part, and extreamly dangerous. Children can die from asthma. Pull her out immediatly and get in touch with the powers to be about this. Would they neglect a severe injury??

Good Luck!
BLCW

 

[unbelievable]

Please remove your child from that school! Children really do die from Asthma attacks. Is she under doctor's care right now? I hope she's recovering from the attack... my thougths are with your child.

 

[teachervet]

I would

completely pull my child out of there. I agree with the attorney thing. That is completely wrong. They are more worried about looking good than a child who is hurting others. There's something wrong with that school.

 

[4MyKids]

She's Out.

I never sent my daughter back. She is on steroid inhalers three times a day now, plus two other meds. Her doctor was furious about what happened. I filed for unemployment, which I got approved for this week. I am filling out my county applications and hoping for a parapro spot or at least steady sub work. I've chosen to just be honest on my applications about why I was dismissed. If a school does not support my choice of the children's welfare over my job security - I don't want to work there anyway. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.
Now the sad part - I met with a teacher yesterday who is still there. She informed me that the boy is back in class and he has urinated on this same girl again. He has also exposed himself to two other children. He has not been suspended again or expelled. She did say that the state had been to the school but the did not stay long. I can only hope that DFCS is following up on this. This boy is crying out for help. Thank you all for your support. It was a tough pill to swallow but I appreciate knowing that others would have made the same choice.
PS I have been contacted by our local Atlanta news. They want to interview me and investigate the school. Any idea if this violates any type of laws to discuss children (w/o names) or if it is better to let sleeping dogs lie?

 

[Mrs. G]

Go for it!

I would go for this opportunity. If they interview you tell them you do not want to be seen to protect the students you used to teach. I think as long as you don't mention any students names it is legal. This will force the state to take action at this school.

 

[4MyKids]

Going For It.

I was considering being nice and letting DFCS handle this. I do not consider myself to be a malicious person. I try to do what's right and let my conscience be my guide. I thought .. well .. they are letting my unemployment go, maybe they had a change of heart and will be doing the right thing. I guess I am naive. I found out that they have challenged my unemployment and tried to trash me to the claims manager. My recourse?? I get to leave my side in 4 minutes or less on a voicemail to the claims manager, they do not even answer the phone.
In my favor, they do not have a single piece of paper in my file as a disciplinary warning, they cannot back up what they said to the Dept. of Labor. So, I can only file an appeal if I am denied. UGH.
The school is demonstrating by it's actions and lack of appropriate response to the continued behaviors of this child that they are concerned about money, not kids.
I passed word back to the contact at the news that I will talk to them and let them start digging. What a sad world this is. I wish this could have turned out better. I just hope this boy gets help. If he does, this will all be worth it.
Thank you again for your support.

 

[MsYork]

Please continue to keep us informed. This is a ridiculous scenario that you've been faced with, but I just want to add myself to the list of people who are supporting your actions. Thank you for your honesty and I hope that everything works out for the best.

 

[funhaha]

I am assuming that you have all of your documentation with you? As proof that you have been documention serious trouble with a child? I would take that as well to the new. This kind of daycare, that does nothing to prevent harm coming to other children, should not even be in business. It isn't revenge if you put it in the news. It is protecting children. I would definitely have an article written up about all that you have experienced, and all that was not done, despite documentation on your parent. And, I would fight unemployement again, if they decide to take it away from you. Also hire a lawyer. You don't want anything to come back and bite you in the butt, so if you cover all bases, and appear to be as angry as you should be, that you were putting the children first with no help...you should be fine. I would also go to children's services myself, if I were you, and take with me all of the documentation-forget about being anomyonous...so that now maybe they will investigate further.

 

[4MyKids]

Children Removed From Home By DFACS

I was just informed that the children have beenremoved from that home and sent to live with another relative. At least I did not loose my job for nothing.

 

[Ashly]

Unbelievable

4mykids, I just read all of the posts regarding your situation since earlier this year. This is amazing. Were you denied your unemployment? How did the news investigation go? Are you working anywhere now? I am just curious as to how this has all played out since this summer. Hope things are well. Good luck to you!