To the Parents of the 2-Year Old Girl Who Was Left Alone today at P St Playground by JCC in Dupont

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is the legal maximum. Many preschools, including Apple Tree, have much better ratios.

PP: Can you please provide details about this being the "legal maximum"? Is this a local law?

Yes, this is a local law. http://nrckids.org/STATES/DC/dcmr29.htm#0_pgfId-1013105 Scroll down to 343.5.

Thanks!

One more question: Are public and public charter schools with early childhood classes (PS and PK) subject to these laws? While the don't seem to be listed in the exceptions, I don't know if they qualify as "childhood development facilities." TIA!

No, public and public charter schools are under the supervision of other agencies, such as the Public Charter School Board.

After having talked to the Public Charter School Board and OSSE, I do not believe charter schools are subject to the 8:1 ratio which governs the private childcare programs such as the JCC. I was told that there are no legal maximums for charters unless they are going to the OSSE to get licensure for aftercare or for "govt assistance" ( I assume she talking about head start-ish programs).

[Anonymous]

Also call st. Albans early cc. They may add spots in the fall.

[Anonymous]

For current JCC parents, especially the parents of the girl who was lost: Have there been any real changes since then? Did the changes outlined in the letter (as minimal as they might have been) actually happen? Does it feel any safer?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I'd like to hear the Director respond to the parent's report that the changes initially instituted (like adding the 3rd teacher) were rescinded. As a PP noted, the existing protocols should have been enough to prevent what happened. Why are these teachers still working there?

[Anonymous]

hoping for a response from the school. bump

[Anonymous]

[e-mail] wrote:I apologize to the parent of the child involved and am both grateful she was not harmed and resolved to do everything I can to make sure it never happens again. The teachers are disappointed in themselves, and I agree there is no one safer than a teacher who made a mistake because they are the most vigilant in ensuring it never happens again. I have faith and trust in our teachers to work diligently to prevent an event like this from ever recurring.

This is the most ridiculous thing ever. Seriously? This is one of those situations where you fire staff first, or suggest they voluntarily resign, and ask for justifications for keeping them second.

Theoretically some people are more careful after an event has happened. In practice however, some people respond to safety incidents with a lack of confidence that perpetuates poor decision-making.

Would you willingly fly in airports where sleeping air traffic controllers were given a new manual?

There is no excuse for this. Period.

Je suis vraiment desolee pour la petite fille et la maman

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

This is insane. There is NO WAY that with that ridiculous ratio ANY of the children in care are getting even close to enough attention during the course of the day. HENCE noone noticing a child was missing FOR 1/2 AN HOUR???? I cannot think of one good reason to use large center care with this type of ratio. NONE.

[Anonymous]

The teachers are disappointed in themselves, and I agree there is no one safer than a teacher who made a mistake because they are the most vigilant in ensuring it never happens again. I have faith and trust in our teachers to work diligently to prevent an event like this from ever recurring.

Only a very naive or inexperienced manager would believe this. I agree with the other poster that someone who demonstrates egregious judgement errors is more likely not less to repeat similar issues. The teacher may not lose a child at this particular park in the next few weeks but it is unlikely that she will change her level of general disengagement. I have had experiences where employees demonstrate this lack of judgement. They are extremely worried and focused for a few weeks but once they realize that they did not lose their jobs they go right back to their prior performance. The director is trying to talk herself out of firing anyone and convincing herself that this was just a mistake. The employee will do the same. In the end , they will all feel it was just a big accident and they are not accountable. The director is overlooking that this was not just a simple mistake. Her employees did not realize that they left a child at the park and never realized that they had fewer kids in the class then they started off with in the morning. By convincing herself that this was just a simple mistake, the director is also trying to distance herself from any accountability. Chances are that these teachers showed other warning signs that they do not pay attention which were ignored by the director. If the director had taken action before to ensure that the teachers pay attention to the kids, then this would have never happened.

By not firing the teacher, the director has also signalled to the rest of her employees that they are not accountable for their actions. If she had fired the teacher, she would send a clear message that disengaging from the children is not tolerated. Sadly, for this school disengagement is acceptable employee behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The teachers are disappointed in themselves, and I agree there is no one safer than a teacher who made a mistake because they are the most vigilant in ensuring it never happens again. I have faith and trust in our teachers to work diligently to prevent an event like this from ever recurring.

Only a very naive or inexperienced manager would believe this. I agree with the other poster that someone who demonstrates egregious judgement errors is more likely not less to repeat similar issues. The teacher may not lose a child at this particular park in the next few weeks but it is unlikely that she will change her level of general disengagement. I have had experiences where employees demonstrate this lack of judgement. They are extremely worried and focused for a few weeks but once they realize that they did not lose their jobs they go right back to their prior performance. The director is trying to talk herself out of firing anyone and convincing herself that this was just a mistake. The employee will do the same. In the end , they will all feel it was just a big accident and they are not accountable. The director is overlooking that this was not just a simple mistake. Her employees did not realize that they left a child at the park and never realized that they had fewer kids in the class then they started off with in the morning. By convincing herself that this was just a simple mistake, the director is also trying to distance herself from any accountability. Chances are that these teachers showed other warning signs that they do not pay attention which were ignored by the director. If the director had taken action before to ensure that the teachers pay attention to the kids, then this would have never happened.

By not firing the teacher, the director has also signalled to the rest of her employees that they are not accountable for their actions. If she had fired the teacher, she would send a clear message that disengaging from the children is not tolerated. Sadly, for this school disengagement is acceptable employee behavior. [/quote

I have read every post and have been following this since the beginning. As an early childhood administer I have empathy for everyone involved. Nonetheless, let's be clear about one thing, the policy should be simple "if you lose a child-you lose your job". It's that simple. I would not trust the employees afterwards.

[Anonymous]

I have read every post and have been following this since the beginning. As an early childhood administer I have empathy for everyone involved. Nonetheless, let's be clear about one thing, the policy should be simple "if you lose a child-you lose your job". It's that simple. I would not trust the employees afterwards.

[Anonymous]

apparently the washington dcjcc is more afraid of losing staff than losing children.

[Anonymous]

I have a feeling the situation is being handled at JCC on all levels. I don't know if every decision and action needs to be advertised to the bloggers of DC Urban. Most likely the present and future families of the JCC center are getting continuous feed back. And I do not think the JCC is "more afraid of losing staff than losing children."



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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a feeling the situation is being handled at JCC on all levels. I don't know if every decision and action needs to be advertised to the bloggers of DC Urban. Most likely the present and future families of the JCC center are getting continuous feed back. And I do not think the JCC is "more afraid of losing staff than losing children."
.

The director thought it appropriate to respond early in this discussion - and is now quite......

In the past Sarah has used this forum to communicate to the greated DC area parent community, but for some reason she has not responded to the posts from the parent of the child lost.

I wonder if it is a legal issue and she has been advised not to communicate in a public forum b/c there is a pending (on possible) legal action?

[Anonymous]

Perhaps you are right. I think Sarah didn't realize the intensitiy of this group, DCUM. There can be a variety of reasons she is not talking. Maybe no matter what - it won't please everyone Or it isn't everyone's business Or she has been so advised? Either way, others should note that putting info/opinions on this site opens up the flood gatess both good and bad. It's especially tricky when you stamp your name on it. DCUM is a free for all: Evryone can sound off- the sympathetic, well intentioned, informed, and of course, those who just want to say something, anything to mix it up. Everyone can share. It's a forum. So if she is not sharing on this site, well , frankly I don't blame her. At this time JCC and their community should be working together. Not wasting time responding to this site.