Granada Hills Montessori Preschool is facing severe backlash after allegations surfaced involving one of its teachers using duct tape to silence and punish children. The teacher, along with two co-teachers from the same classroom, has been dismissed following an internal investigation initiated on July 3rd. According to CBS News, parents report their children were subjected to having their mouths duct-taped shut for being overly chatty and slapped on the back for minor misdemeanors.
Upon learning the grave nature of these allegations, parents have started questioning the timeline provided by the school. They argue that concerns raised as early as last fall were ignored, creating a mismatch between parental accounts and the school's version of events. In a statement provided by ABC7, one mother detailed the harrowing response from her son, who did not want to disclose the misconduct because "I've been a good boy."
This series of alleged abuses has reportedly left many of the children traumatized and fearful, with one parent revealing the emotional toll it took on their child. "I get really emotional talking about this part, he said he wants to die, and that no one at school likes him, and his teacher is mean to him," the parent explained to ABC7, painting a stark picture of the reported psychological impact on the preschoolers.
Granada Hills Montessori has responded with a pledge to overhaul its reporting and training procedures, ensuring that a system is in place for the anonymous reporting of misconduct and that every staff member undergoes formal child abuse prevention training. The school also stated it self-reported the incident to the Department of Social Services and is cooperating with the investigation, stressing in a missive quoted by CBS News, "We are committed to maintaining a positive environment for all children under our care that families can be confident about and rely on." However, parents remain skeptical and some have taken steps towards pursuing legal action.
The Department of Social Services has confirmed they are investigating the claims. In the past, one investigation was carried out related to an injured child but was found unsubstantiated. Echoing the distress of many families, Melissa Gutierrez told CBS News, "It's heartbreaking."" We don't trust a soul near our children anymore." Counseling services have been offered by the school to all students affected during the alleged abuse.
