My daughter started kindergarten this year in a little town in NC. I have had many issues throughout the year.

First of all her kindergarten teacher constantly yells and tells the class to shut-up. I don’t even tell my daughter to shut up nor do I allow her to say it. I feel like she is setting a horrible example. I am a senior at ECU and going to school to be a teacher. We are taught other methods for classroom management and her strategies floor me. I have tried discussing it with her and she says that it is the only way she can get the students to respond.

Secondly, there is a little girl that is constantly choking, hitting, and kicking other students. My daughter has come home with bruises and such on more than one occasion. I have been to the teacher several times with no changes. She says that she sends referrals to the principal, contacts the parent, etc. but nothing does any good. I even tried discussing it with the principal because other children have to fear coming to school, but nothing ever changes.;

Lastly, my daughter came home last week and stated that a little boy had gotten spanked a lot today because he was so bad. I had never heard anything like this before, so I began asking questions. Apparently the TA spanks some of the children with a fly swatter in front of the entire class on a regular basis. I researched the NC corporal punishment laws which state that there must be written parental consent, the parent must be notified and given the option to come to school and do it themselves, it must be done with a paddle, at least one witness must be present, and no other children must witness it. Although they have never done it to my child I still feel very passionately about the situation. I talked to the principal this morning, who acted as though she did not want to waste her time. She said that she did not condone spanking even though it was allowed in the county, and was not aware that this was going on. She said no parental consent forms were ever sent home for signatures. She said she would handle it, but acted as though she could care less. If she handles it the same way she does the little girl who bullies others, nothing will change. After talking to other parents, apparently there are several teachers out there who use spanking as a primary source of discipline.

Please offer any advice on other steps I can take!!

Tags: Disturbing, Elementary, school