Teacher In Maplewood Schools Suspended Over Treatment Of Child With Autism: Reports

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A pre-K teacher in the South Orange-Maplewood schools was suspended in late March for allegedly holding a 4-year-old student with autism upside down and shaking him, the child's family told NJ.com last week.

According to the story, Superintendent Ronald Taylor said the district is “cooperating with the appropriate authorities" but wouldn't confirm the suspension or give other information.

The school staff returned from break this week and spokespersons did not respond to questions Monday from Maplewood Patch.

The NJ.com story quoted the child's mother and grandmother as saying the boy had bruises and had been shaking in his sleep.

The child's grandmother told them that around 2:30 p.m. dismissal on March 27, a teacher at the Montrose Early Childhood Center held the child by his ankles. According to the grandmother, one of the other five teachers present intervened, said, “I have it from here,” and reported the incident to her supervisor around the start of school the next day.

The child's mother received a call from the principal two days later to say the teacher was suspended, the family said. The family took the boy to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and called his pediatrician, t hey said. They will also move him to another school, and want the district to cover expenses, they said.

Read more on NJ.com here.