So when you drop off your kid at daycare, you have a reasonable expectation that he/she will be safe there. That the employees will be caring and kind and that when you come back, your child will be unharmed, healthy, and happy. You also expect that if there's a fight between the kids that one of the caretakers will step in and resolve the conflict before anyone really gets hurt. It's a fair expectation.
What you don't expect is to find out that your 3 year old was forced to physically pummel another 3 year old for entertainment while the workers laugh and the children cry. And it was all caught on an employee's cell phone video.
That's what happened in a Delaware daycare earlier this year. The Hands of Our Future, in Dover, was temporarily shut down (but has since re-opened) when police got their hands on the video. Three of the employees were arrested, too, and charged with second degree assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and conspiracy.
Now the mothers of the children in the video are suing the daycare, it's owners, and the women who were entrusted with the care of their little ones. The suit claims false imprisonment, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and breach of contract.
I have to ask the question: Why would someone force toddlers (who didn't even want to - not that willingness makes it that much better) to physically fight each other? It's like c***-fighting, or dog-fighting, or any other illegal fighting but this time it's human children. I have to give this a big 'ol WTF!?!
It's not treating kids with any dignity or respect. It's treating them worse than animals. I brought this up and discussed it with friends and was surprised by what I learned. Here comes the controversy:
I was told that "toughening kids up" is common in ghetto-type cultures. And that forced fights are not an uncommon way of accomplishing it.
What do you think? And if you were the mothers of the children involved, would you sue the daycare, too?
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Comments (16)
I cannot even imagine this happening in my 23 mo old's daughter... this makes me so sad for these kids futures. With that being said I don't know what suing accomplishes. I think our society is very quick to sue. Suing doesn't undo the damage that has been done or even fix it for that matter. These kiddos and families would benefit more from play therapy and trying to reverse the psychological and emotional damage that has been done.
o.O I'd be suing them as well. If you're a parent and it's you who is doing the "fight club" thing. That's a bit different (not saying it isn't bad, the parents should definitley be punished for the crime) but daycare? You bring your kid to daycare so that they will be safe while the parents are at work or whatever.. O.o Smh..
What the blazing hell is wrong with people?
When my boy was still small and I was trying to go back to work, I went to a few daycares and observed them throughout the day. I visited about fifteen daycares over the course of a month. And the lack of attention the workers paid to the kids was enough for me to stay home awhile longer. But that? I would destroy anyone who forced my kid to fight for entertainment.
This really makes me sad. Those poor kids! I'm glad the workers are paying for what they did, and I'm even more glad the parents of the children are sueing. I know many people believe sueing doesn't do much good, but it's one of the only ways victims can teach the offenders a lesson. Plus, if they win, they'll be able to pay for therapy and whatnot. The job of our child care givers is to be just that, care givers. I honestly think there need to be tougher screening processes and more hoops to jump through (i.e. urine tests, background checks) for those wanting to be hired on as daycare workers. I applied to a daycare center the year I got married, and was offered a job the same week. I taught pre-school for two years while in high school and worked in the high school's daycare, but most applicants don't have to have any experience at all. It's almost like daycares will hire anyone off the street. I will admit that someone with perfect credentials and an awesome interview can be a psycho, but better screening would hopefully eliminate some of the problems.
As far as the whole concept of toughening up goes, I feel horrible for the children affected by this backwards notion. Making kids fight is just stupid and wrong on so many levels.
Of course I would sue. These women better rot in prison for a very long time. What the hell is wrong with people?!
People do tend to sue a lot, but usually they are for reasons that are no ones fault or they just want the money. In this case the parents have every right to sue, because the day care is 100% at fault. They should pay the mothers salary since she will probably be too traumatized to go back to work and send her kids to daycare!
I think that those people deserve everything that's coming to them.
@LondonsMommy - How I agree with you! They should rot in jail and pay compensation for life to the children!
I would get the workers and force them to fight each other until they each had at least three broken bones.
Seriously, this is common in ghetto type cultures? That's appalling. How is the child supposed to turn out to be anything other than a thug?i'm not sure why you're censoring cock. the use of the word means rooster, not penis.
@shes_lump@xanga - My thoughts
exactly.@sarahsmurfette@xanga - are they afraid of the words "dog fight" too? it's basically the same concept. I think people are mature enough to handle the other definition of "cock" especially since that is the true definition. the other is slang. and yes, this was the only thing I came away because I would hate to beat a dead horse (no pun intended) by repeating and agreeing with what's already been said.
@shes_lump@xanga - I choose to write in a way that will be unoffensive and hopefully palatable for all. When I speak and when I write, I pay attention to who my audience is - as all good communicators should. Palatable.
As the writer, I felt I was bringing you a story. If I were talking to you and I told this story, if your response at the end of my dialogue was what your comment was, I would take that as a dismissal of content. It isn't about censorship, it isn't about what everyone else says. I was curious what you, my reader, thought about this event and subject.
I was told that "toughening kids up" is common in ghetto-type cultures.
What is a ghetto-type culture? How do you define the word ghetto? Do you attribute it to a certain level of income? That comes off as extremely ignorant. The use of the word "ghetto" is tricky... I find this offensive, personally. You should think about your word choice.
I'm also surprised that you're the assistant editor when some of the grammar in this piece is less than desirable.
@sarahsmurfette@xanga - Maybe they didn't feel the topic of the story to be interesting enough to warrant a comment. Or they felt that your censoring of a harmless word was more interesting. -shrug- The main topic of every post isn't always what everyone finds interesting.