Deputies launched an investigation after three preschoolers reported abuse in the classroom. It all started after a 4-year-old told her parents a teacher had yelled at her for not taking naps. The parents contacted the teacher, who assured her that no one was yelling at the girl, but that kids were required to be quiet during naptime.
However, a few days later the little girl refused to respond when her parents asked how her day went. She said it was because she got in trouble at school and later said that the teacher told her not to tell mommy anything. She also confided in an aunt that the teachers yelled at her and whipped her butt.
Family members said they noticed a bruise on the girl’s ear and she said another child bit her. The family was concerned because they weren’t notified of the incident. The family began to question the child who said that he didn’t get butt whippings anymore because she’d been good and that the teacher had grabbed her by the ear and sometimes squeezed her hand really tight. The mom said she’d spoken with school officials, and they said there was no evidence of any wrongdoing.
A few days later, another parent contacted the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office who said that their 3-year-old also said he was afraid of the teacher because she gets mad. He said she smacks his hand and grabs it really tight and that she grabs kids’ ears when they look away.
Another parent reported their child had witnessed the teacher abusing the other two kids, but hadn’t been assaulted themselves.
Officers took information for a report and referred the matter to Lawrence County CPS.
