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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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Mom Calls Montessori Teacher a Bully

CHICAGO (CN) - A Montessori teacher slapped a 5-year-old student, threw his artwork in the trash, called him names and refused to let him use the bathroom, the boy's mother claims in court.

Jane Doe sued Beechtree Inc. dba All Day Montessori, its director Jill Lynn Stanbury and teacher Ula Davitt in Cook County Court, on behalf of her son, John Doe.

All Day Montessori, which offers preschool through kindergarten, claims on its website to be "More than just a school."

After 5-year-old John enrolled in 2011 and 2012, Davitt "Slapped John Doe;

"Physically grabbed him and violently shook him,

"Chased him until she did grab him in a violent matter, and

"Put her hands upon and dragged him with physical force across a room," according to the lawsuit.

John Doe's mother claims that Davitt breached her responsibility as a teacher when she "Did grab artwork that John Doe had made in the class form his hands and throw it into the garbage in his presence;

"Did repeat the act of grabbing said artwork from John Doe's hands after he retrieved it from the garbage into which Davitt had thrown it;

"Did use foul language when speaking to him;

"Did call him names in his presence, and in the presences of others, where said names implied that he was stupid, dumb.

"Did raise her voice and yell insults at him;

"Did raise her hand and bring it near his body while raising her voice and/or yelling insults at him, and

"Did deny access to a toilet to him when he made known to Davitt his need to use one."

The mother claims that when all this was happening her son was "no older than 6 years old, no taller than approximately 48 inches, and weighed no more than approximately 50 pounds."

A school employee reported Davitt for bullying the but, but "Sandbury made a conscious decision to let Davitt continue to teach Henry and the other children in the class in which John Doe was enrolled after an employee gave Sandbury written information who claimed to have witnesses one or more of said acts by Davitt against John Doe," according to the 23-page lawsuit.

Finally, the mom claims the school never informed her of the employee's bullying allegations.

Doe seeks damages for bullying, assault and battery, negligent supervision, emotional distress, and breach of fiduciary duty.

She is represented by Lawrence Hyman.

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