A New Jersey kindergarten aide is accused of slamming a 5-year-old’s head into a metal cabinet after grabbing the child and forcing her into a chair — leaving the young girl covered in bruises, according to a report.
The girl’s anguished mother is now demanding answers from school officials and police after her daughter was left bruised and shaken Thursday from the alleged assault that erupted inside a classroom at John Fenwick Academy in Salem, CBS Philadelphia reported.
“As a parent, it’s like you do whatever you can to protect your kids, but I never expected this in a kindergarten class,” said Mariah, the student’s mother, accusing the school of mishandling the situation.
Mariah said the principal contacted her around noon Thursday, claiming her daughter was misbehaving in class, and less than two hours later, she was asked to immediately come to the elementary school.
When she arrived, school officials informed her of the alleged attack — prompting her to ask whether the police had been notified and about the whereabouts of the unidentified paraprofessional.
“I asked where the paraprofessional was, they said they sent her home, and then I asked where the police were, and they said they do not contact the police; that they were doing an internal investigation,” the concerned mother told the outlet.
“I think I was numb, I just kind of stared at her.”
A staffer who witnessed the incident filed a police report that said the enraged aide picked up the young student and forcefully placed her in a chair, causing her to hit the back of her head on a metal cabinet.
Mariah said she hasn’t been allowed to speak with the teacher who notified police, and bruises have since appeared on her daughter’s legs, arms, and neck, leaving the girl reluctant to return to school.
The employment status of the irate worker is not immediately known.
“Salem City School District’s top priorities are the safety, well-being and academic success of every student,” school officials said in a statement to the outlet. “We are deeply committed to maintaining a secure and supportive learning environment for everyone in our community.”
“We want to assure our families and the public that any concern is taken seriously. All matters are handled internally with the utmost care, thoroughness, and fairness, ensuring full compliance with established procedures and the law.”
While no official charges have been filed against the paraprofessional, the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office and the State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families are investigating the incident.
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