Child Safety at Day Care

Yesterday when I was picking Hayley up from pre-school there was a little boy in her class that had pooped his pants. He was crying and getting even more distraught because he was trying to leave the classroom and couldn't get out. He's three. He was embarassed I am sure.

The teacher asked me to stay with the children for a moment and she walked him over to the two year old room which is where they are required to change "soiled" pants. She was gone two, maybe three minutes. She apologized when she returned and I thought nothing of it.

This morning I got a phone call from the school administrator. She wanted me to know personally before I picked up Hayley from school that unfortunately the teacher having left the children unattended with me was a violation of company safety procedures and they fired the teacher.

I am completely overwhelmed by this. I understand wholeheartedly that rules are made specifically for the safety of our children. I also understand that if I was an unsavory parent, an abusive parent, or a pedophile that even that few minutes could have been dangerous for the children in the room. As the administrator pointed out, the school does not background check the parents.

But I am just not able to accept this termination without asking them to reconsider it. First of all, we absolutely love this teacher. LOVE HER.  I am saddened for the loss that the children will experience as well as I know my little Hayley has grown attached to Mrs. G and that this is going to be hard.

I was so upset by this phone call that I cried all day. I even left work immediately after receiving the call, drove to the pre-school and talked with the administrator in person. I asked her if she would ask the district manager if myself and the parents of the other four children left unattended were to write letters acknowledging that the teacher violated company policy and was being given final warning would they reinstate her instead of terminating her.

I wrote an e-mail. I called. I asked again when I picked Hayley up at the end of the day and I haven't heard anything back which leads me to believe this is all falling on deaf ears. I have even suggested to them that I will make myself available to every single parent (whether their children were involved or not) to explain the situation and my stance on why this teacher should be allowed a second chance. I also told them that if the parents of the other four children did not agree with allowing the teacher a second chance I would respect their choice and not pursue this.

But can I just ask? If you were one of the other children's parents how would you feel about this? If the incident was explained to you and you had an opportunity to talk to the parent that was there would you do it? Would you want to save a teacher's job over this or are you a "by the rules" kind of person?

I mean, I am just so torn. I completely understand that the rules are made to protect our children. My children. That heaven forbid- but if this had happened and I wasn't the parent I would want to know that disciplinary action was taken. But I also like to believe that I am a person of reason- and that the punishment should fit the crime. If the teacher left a roomful of children unattended so she could make a personal phone call... If the teacher asked the UPS guy to real quick stay with the kids while she ran to the bathroom... I mean, I also would like to think if a situation like this happened, and I wasn't the parent involved but I had the opportunity to talk with the parent involved I would like that chance to have the conversation and make my own judgement about how unsafe I felt the situation was.

Really, what would you do? It brings tears to my eyes even after ten hours to think that a loving teacher was terminated for trying to do the right thing for a child that was completely distraught. I think it was a reaction and not intentionally putting the other children at risk.

For the record, the school policy was that the teacher was to stand at the door of her room and call out to the administrator in the office at the front to come and attend the kids while she left the room. Or the teacher was to ask me to go tell the administrator on my way out.

I'm sad. Very, very sad for this teacher that we loved so much and are so powerless to help.

Comments

[Crys]

As someone that has worked in child development centers for a long while my first question would be, why was there only one teacher? I know times are tough and all, but when it comes to children and a school-runned program shouldn't there always be at least 2 teachers there? My mom is the director at one now and sometimes she stays late if there are two or three children, but there are almost always at least two.

To answer your question though, I guess that off the back if I heard that a teacher left my child with an adult (in a non-parent co-op establishment)that I didn't know I would be upset. But I can't say that I would call for an automatic dismissal. Maybe a suspension or probation.

[Carla]

A warning seems completely appropriate. Go ahead and get the other parents involved--the daycare might ignore the voice of one person, but hopefully a group will get their attention and at least make them reconsider. If I were one of the other parents, I would want to know what happened so that I could make up my own mind about my child's safety. But given the situation, it sounds like the school is totally overreacting!

[jennifer]

a warning should definitely have been the first step. i understand that rules are rules, and you can be too careful with other peoples kids, but youre right, the punishment should definitely fit the crime. that is too sad, especially since she is obviously a good teacher.

[Mrs M]

I would be gutted too Jenn - Please continue to do what you can for this lady. Yes she may have breeched policy, but unless they class her actions as gross misconduct, I do not believe she should have been dismissed.

Hugs to you x x x

[Megan]

I say keep trying too! She only left the room for the sake of another child and in some ways helped the other children...had she not attended to the poopy mess soon - it could have gotten all over things in the class room which could have in turn made the other kids sick! I feel for the poor lady...keep us posted!