DD was sorta lost at school (long)

[ash&abby'smom]

Please tell me what you would do!

DD is in Pre-K. I pay $300 a month for private school. It is a small school. She only has 18 kids in her class, the older classes has 22. My child is shy in big groups, so I picked this school for that reason and its a good school. My SIL kids go there too.

Here's what happened:

Yesterday, at lunch some of the kids go to the lunch pavilion to buy juice or milk. My dd wanted to do this instead of bringing her own juice, so I said okay, so she has been doing this for a few weeks now. The teacher's assistant walks them there and they get their juice and return to class where they eat in the room (only Pre-K does this). Well, yesterday, the microwave in the room wasn't working so the aide heated up the lunches in the pavilion. She sent the 4 or 5 pre-k kids back to the classroom, without an adult. My dd said the other kids went to fast and could not keep up. I'm assuming the kids probably ran since there was no supervision. She ended up not knowing where to go and was standing outside crying. Luckily my nephew saw her and was able to bring her back to class. The teacher told me about this after school yesterday, and I just said okay. So I went home and talked to my dd about it, and the madder I got. My nephew said she had not gone far.

So, today I asked the teacher where my dd was exactly. Her reply was I don't know HUH? She said the aide sent them back and my dd did not come. So she just assumed she was with the aide. My thinking was, why did you not make sure? Then my nephew shows up with her. She says it will never happen again, but I don't feel satisfied with this. She did not know exactly where my child was. My thoughts have been: if someone would have taken her, no one would have known. This world is just so crazy.

If you were in my shoes, what would you do? I just don't feel like this teacher thinks it was bad to have these kids sent on their own. I think I am going to go to the principal and talk with him. Do you think I'm overreacting? I just really don't. I'm really mad. Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[nowellsl]

I work in an elementary school and our pre-K students are never allowed anywhere without adult supervision! I would speak to the principal.

 

[piglet too]

Speak with the principal! The aide should never have let them go by themselves, and then the teacher should have made sure where your DD was!

 

[Nancy]

They never should have been sent back by themselves. While the scenario of being taken is not very likely to happen...the fact that it "could" happen, or that she could have wandered off and they would not have known it until the aide came back to the room without her is not a good thing. Good thing her cousin was there to help her out.

 

[laurie31]

You're not overreacting. They were too young to be sent back unsupervised. Also, I think those classes are pretty big, especially considering what you pay. I pay $125/month and dd is in a kindergarden class of 10. Her school does not allow more than 14 in a class. Older dd is now in public school (3rd grade) and she has 20 in her class. 18 sounds like a lot of preschoolers...

Back to your situation, I'd talk with the principal. No child should be out of an adult's sight in pre-K.

Laurie

 

[Kimberle]

We are in Kindergarten now. But when Brittany was in pre-school, if any child was left unattended for even a minute for whatever reason, the teacher was fired on the spot. No exceptions.

I agree, speak to the director/principal.

 

[bratray]

MY child also attends a private school & paying the amount that i do i expect higher standards- but whether my child was in a public school or private school...as far as i am concerned there is no excuse for not knowing where your child is at!!

i would talk to the principal and ask to have that teacher and aide present so they know your exact feelings on this situation & i bet once this is discussed it won't happen again!

good luck and stand firm

 

[CheshireVal]

Sounds like it was the aide's fault. Why blame the teacher?

 

[piglet too]

Any news?

 

[ash&abby'smom]

Well I spoke with the principal yesterday. I was very frustrated when I left the meeting. Basically, he was backing his teachers. The thing that bothered me was he was not reassuring me that my dd would never be put in this situation again. When I asked if he felt it was okay for the 4 yr. olds to walk themselves, his reply was they should know where they are going. He really didn't see the problem. He asked if my dd was upset because she got left behind or actually lost. I told him, she was upset because she got left and then she didn't realize which way she needed to go. I told him if she would have disappeared, they would have never known what happened to her. He said, he didn't really think that could happen, because they watch the kids MOST of the time. What did that mean - MOST? Anyway, before I left I told him I did not want my dd unsupervised at anytime. If they can't provide this, then I feel we are in the wrong school. He said okay. I just didn't feel reassured at all.

This morning, when I dropped dd off, her teacher stopped me. She apologized and said she didn't realize I felt her safety was jeapordized. She also said this was the 1st time something like this has happened and it would never happen again. So apparently the principal did indeed talk to the teacher. So, hopefully they will keep better supervision of the kids. I'm still a little concerned about his most of the time comment.

There were definately a lot of parents concerned about this as well. Their children went home stating how my dd was lost. Maybe this was a lesson learned for the school, I just wish it wasn't at my child's expense or anyone elses. Thanks for your advice and concerns.

 

[laurie31]

Well, it seems the teacher shared your concern, even if the principal didn't. Or maybe he was trying very hard to CYA and didn't want to admit that they'd been negligent. A 4 year old should not be expected to "know where they're going" in a school. It's easy for them to get disoriented. They are used to following their teacher in a line. They're only watching the kid in front of them, they often aren't paying any attention to what's around them. All those hallways can start to look alike!

Anyway, hopefully they will be more careful now!

Laurie )

 

[capthooksmom]

There is absolutely no excuse for a child that age to be left unsupervised. I think the principal's reaction is inexcusable -it seemed as if he was putting the blame on your daughter for getting lost.
At the very least the aide should be counseled about leaving children unattended. I don't know where in La. you live, but seeing as I'm from La. too I'm dying to know what school this was.

 

[grlpwrd]

My dd said the other kids went to fast and could not keep up. I'm assuming the kids probably ran since there was no supervision. She ended up not knowing where to go and was standing outside crying. Luckily my nephew saw her and was able to bring her back to class. The teacher told me about this after school yesterday, and I just said okay. So I went home and talked to my dd about it, and the madder I got. My nephew said she had not gone far.

So a child (your nephew) was the one that noticed she was crying/needed help/was in distress? I am . I would wonder why an adult (a teacher etc.) wouldn't have noticed and intervened.

Private or public school - doesn't matter.... From what the principal has stated sure seems like they don't give a rip and I wouldn't let my child continue enrollment. There is no excuse for such maltreatment.

 

[piglet too]

I am glad that the teacher at least realized how serious this is. Thanks for the update!