Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is that a solution though?

Only time will tell. She might have just been burnt out herding cats - maybe when she gets to work one on one with kids, it will improve.

This makes me sick to my stomach.

Putting an abusive staff member in a position with the most vulnerable children, and where she's most likely to be alone with them, seems like a really bad idea.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lafayette Pre-K parent here. Yes, it's true that one has been reassigned. I wish she were fired and not just shifted to an older grade, but apparently she has tenure. I still think verbal abuse should be a fireable offense. At least one other aide who is a yeller is still in place and I hope more changes are made. I've complained to the principal about the yelling I've seen. I hope other parents do the same so that something will change. I have hope it will with the new principal.

This is such good news! For those of us who tried in the past and were met with ambivalence and disregard this is very promising. Many of us who went through PreK couldn't do anything except accept the situation or pull our kids out. Lafayette is a great school but has a lot of dirty laundry that some don't want aired publicly. Regardless, it sounds like the new principal is addressing some of these long term issues. Hopefully the tide will change and those of us who were frustrated, disappointed and perplexed won't feel like the only place to bring up these issues is on DCUM.

Another PK parent here. She didn't go to an older grade but will be assigned to special ed students -- not sure if that is better or worse. But anyhow, the great thing about it was how the new admin dealt with it. The new principal really listened and found a solution, very quickly. I hope other parents will contact her if they are worried about their own kid's aide.

That's even worst because some children with special needs probably can't voice their negative experiences to their parents. This aide doesn't need to be around children period!

I'm a PP and have definitely heard aides use language and tones I would fire a babysitter for using. IMO there are two main offenders and one has been moved. The other one needs to go as well, but my kid isn't in that class, so I can't do much about it.

Anonymous wrote:I've had 2 in Lafayette pk so far and have never seen what I would call verbal abuse. I have seen firm or sharp corrections on occasion but not any different than your average cranky parent. I actually think it's a good thing when adults say what they mean to kids. I'd rather my child be overcorrected instead of being left to mess up and not take criticism because adults are scared to offend a child or parent. I don't want my kids to grow up with limited ability to self correct and an overability to take offense and overanalyze.

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When I take my crankiness out on my kids by speaking to them more sharply than I should, I feel bad. I try to minimize that as much as possible. I don't think it's developmentally correct for 4 and 5 year olds to have to deal with the equivalent of a cranky parent every day, all day.

I've had 2 in Lafayette pk so far and have never seen what I would call verbal abuse. I have seen firm or sharp corrections on occasion but not any different than your average cranky parent. I actually think it's a good thing when adults say what they mean to kids. I'd rather my child be overcorrected instead of being left to mess up and not take criticism because adults are scared to offend a child or parent. I don't want my kids to grow up with limited ability to self correct and an overability to take offense and overanalyze.

As an example my dd told me this year the aide kept telling her to put her head down during nap time. She did an impression of her and it sounded sharp in that dc kind of way. My kids have all given up napping by 18 mos so far, and they know naps are for adults to regroup so they know to just use their imagination to fill the time till the adult is ready. So my response was to ask her why her head was up. She told me she couldn't breathe because her nose was stuffy (tail end of a mild headcold, no fever). I told her to tell her aide and we packed a pillow pet in her bag which I don't even think she remembered to use. It's my job to give her the tools to deal with all types of situations and people.

The aide just wanted her to fall in line and not be distracting to others. She wasn't being a jerk.

Report what you see if you think there's a problem. I haven't had to do this though.

Oh and i do remember a substitute teacher for my ds kindergarten class who seemed OVER being with the kids all day. She was a lot older and I used it as a learning Op for my ds telling him that some people are cranky or get annoyed easily when people don't listen or when you have to repeat yourself.... Was his day like that? And he said she was always like that.

So that's when I told him some people want to retire because they are old and sore and everything bothers them or need to find a new job especially if they work with people or kids. And it's his job to be a good kid and not contribute to someone else's bad day. Since then he would make little jokes with her and I'd see her smile at him.

Kids will deal with all types. Better to arm them early.

Anonymous wrote:Is that a solution though?

Only time will tell. She might have just been burnt out herding cats - maybe when she gets to work one on one with kids, it will improve.

Is that a solution though?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lafayette Pre-K parent here. Yes, it's true that one has been reassigned. I wish she were fired and not just shifted to an older grade, but apparently she has tenure. I still think verbal abuse should be a fireable offense. At least one other aide who is a yeller is still in place and I hope more changes are made. I've complained to the principal about the yelling I've seen. I hope other parents do the same so that something will change. I have hope it will with the new principal.

This is such good news! For those of us who tried in the past and were met with ambivalence and disregard this is very promising. Many of us who went through PreK couldn't do anything except accept the situation or pull our kids out. Lafayette is a great school but has a lot of dirty laundry that some don't want aired publicly. Regardless, it sounds like the new principal is addressing some of these long term issues. Hopefully the tide will change and those of us who were frustrated, disappointed and perplexed won't feel like the only place to bring up these issues is on DCUM.

Another PK parent here. She didn't go to an older grade but will be assigned to special ed students -- not sure if that is better or worse. But anyhow, the great thing about it was how the new admin dealt with it. The new principal really listened and found a solution, very quickly. I hope other parents will contact her if they are worried about their own kid's aide.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lafayette Pre-K parent here. Yes, it's true that one has been reassigned. I wish she were fired and not just shifted to an older grade, but apparently she has tenure. I still think verbal abuse should be a fireable offense. At least one other aide who is a yeller is still in place and I hope more changes are made. I've complained to the principal about the yelling I've seen. I hope other parents do the same so that something will change. I have hope it will with the new principal.

Some studies show that verbal abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse. This should not be tolerated at all.

Especially in a school that has a school wide Peace program.

Anonymous wrote:Lafayette Pre-K parent here. Yes, it's true that one has been reassigned. I wish she were fired and not just shifted to an older grade, but apparently she has tenure. I still think verbal abuse should be a fireable offense. At least one other aide who is a yeller is still in place and I hope more changes are made. I've complained to the principal about the yelling I've seen. I hope other parents do the same so that something will change. I have hope it will with the new principal.

This is such good news! For those of us who tried in the past and were met with ambivalence and disregard this is very promising. Many of us who went through PreK couldn't do anything except accept the situation or pull our kids out. Lafayette is a great school but has a lot of dirty laundry that some don't want aired publicly. Regardless, it sounds like the new principal is addressing some of these long term issues. Hopefully the tide will change and those of us who were frustrated, disappointed and perplexed won't feel like the only place to bring up these issues is on DCUM.

Anonymous wrote:Lafayette Pre-K parent here. Yes, it's true that one has been reassigned. I wish she were fired and not just shifted to an older grade, but apparently she has tenure. I still think verbal abuse should be a fireable offense. At least one other aide who is a yeller is still in place and I hope more changes are made. I've complained to the principal about the yelling I've seen. I hope other parents do the same so that something will change. I have hope it will with the new principal.

Some studies show that verbal abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse. This should not be tolerated at all.

The sad thing about this is Lafayetts is one of the "good" schools. Imagine what happens at the shitty schools when parents are out of earshot. They need to pay these aides better so they can get better than bottom-of-the-barrel types.

Anonymous wrote:Lafayette Pre-K parent here. Yes, it's true that one has been reassigned. I wish she were fired and not just shifted to an older grade, but apparently she has tenure. I still think verbal abuse should be a fireable offense. At least one other aide who is a yeller is still in place and I hope more changes are made. I've complained to the principal about the yelling I've seen. I hope other parents do the same so that something will change. I have hope it will with the new principal.

There is no such thing at tenure anymore in DC. Don't let admin tell you there is. I'm a teacher in DC and all of us (including papa-professionals) are held to a evaluations each year.

Aides with tenure?! Say it ain't so.

Aides can have tenure? I don't think so. Union protection but definitely not tenure.