We expect daycare owners to hire the correct and qualified caregivers that will be working with the children. This will be essential toward the success of their business. A daycare owner can’t hire a person who does not have the patience for young children. This, unfortunately, was the case at StarBright Learning Center.
What Happened At This Houston Daycare?
StarBright Learning Center, located in Houston, Texas, did not follow through with proper procedures for hiring, leading them to hire an unqualified daycare worker who abused a child while under their care. This lead to this employee using violence on a young child. Children are extremely delicate and must be handled with care, as well as patience. At times it is hard to care for three children at a time, and most times, teachers are asked to look after twenty. Children can be extremely active and full of energy, and patience from the staff should be a requirement. Focus and awareness are also things that should be required because that is what it takes when dealing with these little ones. No one ever said that this was an easy task, but this is something that the staff signed up for. Everyone must be held accountable for their actions. Starting with those at the top.
A mother went to go pick up her child from daycare, and on their way out of the building, she noticed that the child was visibly shaken and wouldn’t stop holding his left cheek. When she got him inside the car and asked him questions, the child then moved his hand from his cheek, and to her surprise, there was a handprint across his cheek. The mother described the injury as “a giant hand-print plain as daylight across his face.”
The mother immediately went into the daycare facility and confronted the daycare’s director and her child’s teacher. The child’s teacher openly admitted she had hit her son's face. The teacher was then arrested and charged with a felony. These things happen quite often, and some children are afraid to speak up and continue to be mistreated by the hands that are supposed to protect them. It is extremely painful even to have to visualize these things happening and also to know that the truth of the matter is that it is happening all across the world on a daily basis.
“I want to make sure she’s never allowed to be around children again. Who’s to say she hasn’t done this before, and if it hadn’t been reported, she would still be hurting kids," said the mother, and she is absolutely correct. This is why it’s important to report any injury that your child has suffered at the hands of these daycare programs, no matter how big or small you may think it to be. If a caregiver is willing to put their hands on a child, there is no telling what other things he or she would do to other children. They know that is unacceptable and is completely against the law, but they make the choice to do it anyway. This type of behavior is reckless and shows signs that the daycare as a unit is not a safe place for children to be. The hiring process is clearly not up to standards, and you can bet that there is a number of violations being committed at the facility.
If you want to learn more about the first step to take after a daycare injury, follow this link on how to make an incident report in your state.
Daycares often get swamped with kids, so they get desperate and hire anyone who comes through the doors asking for a job. We have a guide on how to select a daycare and what qualifications we believe a caregiver should have. Knowing the things to look for when choosing the right daycare facility can greatly reduce the chances of your child experiencing neglect or preventable injuries.
What Can The Button Law Firm Do to Help?
If your child has been a victim of daycare abuse, please give us a call at (214) 699-4409. Our daycare negligence team is ready to handle all your needs and answer any questions you may have. When your child is hurt, the last thing you want to do is deal with is some of the complexities of a lawsuit. Let us guide you through that process so you can focus on your child’s well-being and your family.