Is this teachers aide out of line?

[Cindy B]

My son is in a 5th grade class. The classroom aide (not a specific 1 on 1 aide) just had a baby about a week ago. This aide was cleared for only two weeks leave according to the board of education minutes.

So two weeks after she has her baby, she is back to work AND BRINGING THE BABY WHILE ON DUTY.

My son states this is the 3rd or 4th time she has brought the baby with her while she is working a full day. My Dh saw her bring the baby in this morning and she was carrying the baby and holding it during the recess hour.

First off, WTH is this lady doing? An elementary school while you are supposed to be working is NOT A DAY CARE CENTER. She is there at least half a day with the baby during working hours.

I understand that she had a baby and may not have care, but first off why only take two weeks off? (We aren't done until June 21st) and secondly, why bring your baby if you can't focus on work?

For the record, I've had two newborns and a work scenario as well. If someone wanted to see the baby, out of respect for others I would wait until after hours or weekends to bring them in for others to see.


What ticks me off is that the principal is out of the building a lot and doesnt see this.

this is really bothering me because there was a problem at recess today and because all the teachers aides were looking at the baby with this other lady and NOT DOING THIER JOB, someone (my son) got hurt.

Also many other teachers, teachers aides, custodians, and lunch staff have babies as well.... and they can't bring them in. Why does this teachers aide have the right just because she's a single mother?

I understand the teachers aides don't make a lot of money and to pay for a babysitter puts you in a negative pay situation... (been there done that), but if that is the case, quit your job and stay home.

I complained to the principal today. Was I out of line?

 

[Pop Daddy]

Cindy, you know I like you, so it really hurts me to say that Im gonna have to call the "long post cops" on ya

 

[trip]

My quess is that it wasn't her first choice to bring the baby to school.

 

[tinatark]

I know at the schools my boys have attended (both small, private ones) the admin let a few staff members come back to work with their babies, rather than not have a *body* there - granted, usually said babies sleep most of the day.

 

[Tiziminchac]

You sound really angry, try and relax.

 

[Cindy B]

This is a public school in NJ. No one else gets a free ride for day care.

I have seen a circumstance (one time only) if a teacher lives in a different district than her own children her child is off and that child can come to work with the parent.

However, that is not a newborn. It is usually a school age child that is too small to be left alone.

How can you focus on your job when you have a newborn? Our teachers aides get 12 sick days and 10 personal days a year. This aide has been in the district many years. I'm sure she could take the time off to be home.

 

[famofsix]

"I complained to the principal today. Was I out of line?"


What did the principal say?

 

[Beth76]

Isn't it the law to get at least 6 weeks maternity leave? No this person should not be at work. Has her doctor even cleared her to work? No way could I have gone to work two weeks after having my first child. And this baby should not be at the school. Not only can she not do her job with the baby but I can't even imagine the amount of germs this poor child is getting.

How much money does a teachers aide make? It can't possibly be enough to be worth this.

 

[Cindy B]

"I complained to the principal today. Was I out of line?"


What did the principal say?

I emailed the principal. I haven't heard back yet.

She (the principal) is out of the building often with meetings, so the best way to contact her is via email.

 

[Cindy B]

Isn't it the law to get at least 6 weeks maternity leave? No this person should not be at work. Has her doctor even cleared her to work? No way could I have gone to work two weeks after having my first child. And this baby should not be at the school. Not only can she not do her job with the baby but I can't even imagine the amount of germs this poor child is getting.

How much money does a teachers aide make? It can't possibly be enough to be worth this.

Teachers aides in the district start at about 6.50 an hour and go up to $15 an hour. You only get $15 an hour if you've been in the district for 20 years. We can be generous and say since she isn't a 1 on 1 aide she's probably making somewhere around 8-9 an hour.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Too distracting. Baby shouldn't be there. You were not out of line.

 

[rparmfamily]

Two weeks!! I feel sorry for the aide!! Poor woman! Actually, I don't what the big deal is myself. I wouldn't care if one of the assistants brought her newborn to my daughter's class. Isn't school nearly out for the year anyway?

 

[famofsix]

I think it's okay to question why this person is bringing the baby to work especially since you believe your son in negatively affected. I wonder if the baby is in the classroom all day? Is someone watching the baby at the school for some reason and she takes the baby with her at recess? Seems weird to have a newborn at school with a bunch of germy kids around! Personally, I would ask the classroom teacher about the situation. Maybe since the kids saw her "grow" through the pregnancy she was just bringing him or her to school for the kids to see and then maybe the baby was so "quiet" she took advantage of the situation. I'd get all the facts before assuming she is doing it because she doesn't have childcare. Whatever the reason, if it bothers you you have every right as a parent to question the situation.

 

[Beth76]

Actually, I don't what the big deal is myself. I wouldn't care if one of the assistants brought her newborn to my daughter's class.

Well apparantly the OPs son got hurt because all the aides were oohing and ahhing over the baby and not doing their jobs. There's a handful of other reasons why the baby shouldn't be there. I wonder if this is even legal.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

This is a public school in NJ. No one else gets a free ride for day care.

I have seen a circumstance (one time only) if a teacher lives in a different district than her own children her child is off and that child can come to work with the parent.

However, that is not a newborn. It is usually a school age child that is too small to be left alone.

How can you focus on your job when you have a newborn? Our teachers aides get 12 sick days and 10 personal days a year. This aide has been in the district many years. I'm sure she could take the time off to be home.

I can agree that really the baby does not belong in the school. But look at it this way. She is a teacher's aide making probably at most $9 phr.
And you said that "This aide was cleared for only two weeks leave according to the board of education minutes". That means any other time off for her would be without pay. Would you be taking 4 more weeks off work without pay? Especially as a single mother? And think about this, maybe she doesn't have anyone that lives near her that could take care of the baby for her (ie: no parents, deadbeat dad, no friends, etc).

I understand the teachers aides don't make a lot of money and to pay for a babysitter puts you in a negative pay situation... (been there done that), but if that is the case, quit your job and stay home.

Would you quit your job when you're a single mother just so you didn't have to pay for a babysitter? Where is the sense in that? You would rather her be at home sitting on her behind and collecting welfare than to be working and trying to stay off welfare?

And how can she concentrate on her job? Well, as you probably know, most newborns eat, poop and sleep most of the time. How can a person with more then one young child at home concentrate on taking care of the others when taking care of the baby? They quickly learn to multitask. Probably what this TA is doing.
For your statement "However, that is not a newborn. It is usually a school age child that is too small to be left alone", you think that a newborn should be left at home alone?

As for your son getting hurt, I'm sorry about that. But she and her baby did nothing to hurt him. The other teachers that were supposed to be watching the children they are teaching couldn't seem to be adult enough to keep their minds and eyes on their jobs. That is strictly their fault. And I can't understand why a school principal is spending more time outside of the school than in the school. Sounds to me that there is poor teaching/teachers and administration in your school. This would be my main concern. Not that the aide may be temporarily bringing her baby to class with her.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

i don't think you were out of line at all. This baby should NOT be at the school. And 2weeks old??? the germs and such this child must be getting.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

And 2weeks old??? the germs and such this child must be getting.

Actually, newborns are generally protected by the antibodies they receive through the placenta before birth and through their mother's breastmilk after birth. (As quoted here ).

 

[Tinkerbelle'sMOM]

Wow...only 2 weeks after having the baby? I would hope that her doc cleared her...most places of employment need that info.

Also, I wouldn't want my 2 week old around all those kids...mom's antibodies or not, I can't tell you how many cases of whooping cough we have had on our peds floors with kids in that age range. Scary.

Would I be mad....probably not. And where were the other people that should have been watching those kids...if they were fawning over Junior then they are at fault, not just the Mom.

If you are really concerned, email the school board.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't imagine why it would be "illegal".

Was the baby the prime reason your son got hurt--or would he have gotten hurt anyway?


I guess I am not seeing the big issue here other than the aide should probably have taken her minimum maternity leave of 6 weeks and that she shouldn't be exposing her baby to that type of environment so early.

 

[shortbun]

I think you should be fighting for the aide to have better benefits. Two weeks is ridiculous. Sorry your son got hurt. Mine gets hurt on the playground a lot. Can we assume that your son is in a special class because they have an aide in 5th grade? In that case, they need their aide to be focused on them. I still think MY focus would be directly to the school board and insisting that the benefits be brought in line.