Let me start by stating that I'm a NYC teacher with 12 yrs. experience. I have to say that this TT on Staten Island is terrible. My 1st problem happened back in March. I got a call at 6:30 PM from the Director and she said my child couldn't attend tomorrow because he doesn't have up-to-date vaccinations. I gave them the records back in Sept. but they realize this now? I said I have no one to watch him. She said she can’t help me !b/c the Dept. of Health is coming and they can’t have my son in the building. That was really nice of her (sarcasm).
Last week, as I came out of the elevator, I could hear screaming coming from my child's room. I went to the door and saw the teacher yelling & pointing at my child’s face . He was separated and had to sit alone at a table as the class watched him get verbally assaulted. This is what I refer to as CORPORAL PUNISHMENT. The Asst. Director said she would look into the matter, but of course, nothing was resolved. The following 3 days, the teacher did not say hi or bye, and made my wife & I feel uncomfortable. Fast forward to today. I arranged for another meeting and tried to "clear the air" so we can move past this incident. Instead, the teacher made the following statements to me: 1. "I'm not going anywhere and I've been here for almost 1 year and no other parents have complained about me". 2. "Don't compare me to other teachers!" 3. "You make a horrible father-figure!" Yes. That's right. That's not a typo. The teacher had the audacity to say that to my face in front of the "Behavior Specialist" and the other Asst Director. After my child's teacher insulted me, I kindly asked for a refund of my tuition and will never set foot in that place again.
I was told during my tour that the children are reprimanded in a nurturing and kind manner. Instead, I witnessed the opposite. The Behavior Specialist (whatever that means!) said she doesn't believe the teacher yelled at my child in the way I described, even though she wasn't there. She also said it is OK to yell at the children.
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