Hello, ladies.

DS who is 4 started preschool last Wednesday. He goes 3 days a week (MWF) from 9-12. The office staff has stressed that parents need to drop children off at the playground with a teacher. Parents cannot just send their kids to the playground, and we cannot just drop them off in the playground.

Ok, so for the previous 3 days of school, things were ok. This morning, I took D to school, signed him in, took him to his classroom and his teacher was in there. We had a short conversation with her, gave her an envelope, and proceeded to the playground, following the rules. About 7 minutes later, it was time to line up. I'll skip what I observed and just sum up with saying that both his teachers forgot him on the playground! They didn't notice he wasn't in line. Hmmm. Then I noticed the other teachers trying to figure out where he belonged and they would ask D if he was in a certain colored room. He said,"No." And he continued to play. There was 10 minutes of this. The teachers on the playground just shrugged it off. They did not know that I was still observing. After 10 minutes of this, I went to D's classroom and "looked" for him in circle time. His teacher knew I was his mom, she looked around for him and she said, "Oh, he's not here." I gave her a puzzled look and said, "Oh, he's not?" That's when they realized they had left him on the playground and the assistant went out to get him.

It makes me wonder how many times this has happened. It also makes me wonder if I should be concerned. D's teacher knew he was in school, we both talked to her before going to the playyard for goodness sakes. Even if she hadn't seen him in line, surely by the time they are in the class, she would have realized, wait a minute...where's D?

Am I making too big a deal of this? Should I be concerned or should I just chalk it up to being the first month of school and the adjustment period?

By Karen~admin on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 01:29 pm:

I would DEFINITELY be concerned about it, and would be wondering the exact same things you are!!!!! Makes no difference if it's the first day or first week or first month of school - we are talking about a preschooler here. They should know where each child is at all times, IMO.

By Kaye on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 01:31 pm:

Okay well you asked...LOL

Do you have another option for preschool? If so I would take it. Yes I would be concerned. I would move him if I could, and when you do, make sure you explain to the director you had to make this choice for the safety of your child.

I would probably even call the director to day and tell her the story and tell her how concerned you are and that it was NOT okay and ask what are the policies in place for moving kids from one room to the next.

But ultimatly this is why I would move my child. I have found once I start questioning I never really see things the same, it makes for a long bad year and I always second guess my choices. If something were to happen, could you live with that, or would you beat yourself up over not making a more proactive choice.

but bottomline, yes I would go talk to the director, they have rules and they failed to follow them and that just isn't okay.

By Kate on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 01:47 pm:

Yes you should be concerned!!! How did they react to you when they realized they'd forgotten all about him for over ten minutes??? How did you react toward them? Is this a new preschool for you? I'd pull him out pronto.

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 01:52 pm:

Absolutely be concerned!! Would you feel comfortable if a babysitter "forgot" him like that? He's not old enough to be unattended, and the fact that they don't have a procedure for accounting for all the children before proceeding to another activity is frightening!! I shudder to think what could happen!

By Kate on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 02:07 pm:

Also, not only did HIS teachers screw up, but so did the other teachers who discovered him on the playground....why didn't THEY take him to the director? Instead they shrugged it off. That is too many teachers making grave errors. I wouldn't trust the school at all.

By Enchens on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 02:09 pm:

Well, to clarify a bit, there were other children and other teachers out on the playyard still.

And as far as the teacher's reaction, they were kinda like "Oh, D's not here. We usually call them to come line up."

I did not say anything, but the teacher got my look. There were two other parents in the room when I went in so I'm sure they noticed what happened.

When the aide came back with D, she just said,"Oh, he was with Miss V."

It is a new preschool for us.

I think that I will ask the director for their list of procedures and whatnot. It's weird, I've observed quite a bit of this school prior to enrolling him and we thought it would be a good match. I would go on different days at different times and things seemed ok. I don't want to interfere too much with D's social development (unless absolutely necessary) but I also want to make sure he's safe.

Any more opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 02:26 pm:

Wow. When we bring kindergarteners in, at the school where I work, we are always counting heads, to make sure we have the right number! I can't believe they didn't notice they had one missing! I like to count them in the lunchroom too, so I know how many I should get, when we come in, because I don't know them well enough yet, to know if someone is missing. I think I figured out which kid pays attention during attendance, though, so she can tell me if someone is absent.

By Tink on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 03:47 pm:

As a preschool teacher, I can tell you that it's NOT ok for a child to be left on the playground! I walk the playground to make sure every child in my class is in line and then do a head count to double check. We've also had children from other classes wander in and get absorbed into our activities and as soon as one is discovered, they are walked back to their own class immediately.

By Jtsmom on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 04:00 pm:

I would certainly let the director know what happened. When my oldest was about 3 yrs old, I dropped him off at daycare before I headed to work. I kissed him good bye, talked to his teacher for just a moment to let her know that we had arrived and got in my car to leave. As I was waiting to pull out of the parking lot (onto a busy road), I look in my mirror (thank God) and saw my son running through the parking lot toward my car!! I freaked out! Anyway, let the director know because leaving a child behind anywhere is unacceptable!

By Jtsmom on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 04:01 pm:

I would certainly let the director know what happened. When my oldest was about 3 yrs old, I dropped him off at daycare before I headed to work. I kissed him good bye, talked to his teacher for just a moment to let her know that we had arrived and got in my car to leave. As I was waiting to pull out of the parking lot (onto a busy road), I look in my mirror (thank God) and saw my son running through the parking lot toward my car!! I freaked out! When I brought him back into the daycare noone had a clue that he had run outside. Anyway, let the director know because leaving a child behind anywhere is unacceptable!

By Nicki on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 04:06 pm:

Ditto Tink. When I worked in various preschools, the children were counted whenever we returned from outside play. It was so routine that it came naturally for all of us. It was the policy whenever we transitioned from one place to another.

Personally, as a parent this would concern me. Yes, it's the first few days of school and everyone is adjusting, but all the more reason for teachers to be especially observant and alert. Preschoolers get distracted so easily, and until the schedule is more familiar, I would think the teachers would be very watchful and anticipate children wandering off or not lining up when it's time to come in from outside. The fact that your son's teacher didn't remember he was in school that day would concern me greatly, as well. Do you feel the child-teacher ratio is good? Is it a large class? It just doesn't sound right to me.

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 05:17 pm:

Had he been left totally alone, without supervision, I would have picked him up and observed what their course of action would be. I like to make 'em sweat, but that's just me.

Since he was left out there with other adult supervision, I would still be upset though. Nicki's right, they should always always always do a head count. Especially since it's the beginning of the school year.

By Enchens on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 06:05 pm:

I'm with you, Heidi. The only reason why I did not completely start in on someone was because he was not unsupervised. And I would not have gone in to tell the teacher he was not in class and left him out there if no one else was around.

I spoke to the teacher when I picked D up this afternoon. I asked how many times this had happened and she assured me it was the first time. She also said that she had seen him line up. (He was not lined up. He was still on his scooter and was waiting for people to move out of his path, which just happened to be near where his class lines up.) She also assured me that if this happens to children, then the other teachers bring them to the correct class.
Then she said she had noticed him missing from circle time and was wondering what had happened. (So why did it take stinking 10 minutes and my presence for her to do something? She has an aide for goodness sakes!)

Anyway, I'm just keeping my eye out for stuff. If this school turns out to not be a match for him then we'll have to take him out and find an alternative. And I am documenting everything. Anytime I speak to his teacher or anyone else regarding D I'm writing it down, be it positive or negative.

I do hope things get better.

And thank you, ladies.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 07:30 pm:

I haven't read all of the responses, but as a former K teacher and daycare worker (back in the day!) I would be VERY CONCERNED. I would be looking for a new preschool asap if it were me. As an early childhood teacher of any kind, your main concern throughout the day is making sure eVERYONE IS WITH YOU, wherever you are. I don't think it matters there are other adults on the playground. They think he's in the preschool class where he SHOULD be. They're not watching out for him. I think it sounds like the teacher(s) are irresponsible in how they handle head counts and making sure everyone is where they should be. As the teacher that is the first priority IMO - FIRST above everything. Safety is first with all children, especially the little ones. If Natalie were left without her teacher she would be devastated by it and would not even want to go to the playground anymore. I'm glad that he wasn't, but she would have been and many other kids might have been that way as well. I probably would have gone off the handle and let her know what I think of her responsibility, but that's me. It probably would have been her last day there, but again, that's me and many people think I'm over the top about those kinds of things. That's fine, but it's still me!

I hope things work out for the best for your son and his school situation and you do what makes YOU feel most comfortable.

By Truestori on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 08:39 pm:

Not acceptable at all! If I remeber correctly you live in Chino Hills? If so there are a few preschools that come recommeded if you need to have an alternative.

By Amecmom on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 11:28 pm:

I can tell you a funny story which might give you some perspective on just how disturbing it is.
I pulled into the parking lot to drop my daughter off for her first day in the 3 year old class. I had just come from dropping off my son whose school is 20 minutes away on a narrow, windy road. Well, just as I pulled into the lot, she got carsick.
I pulled out and waved to the teacher on duty in the lot.
She asked the three year old class's teacher if everyone came and the teacher said that Helen had not come. The teacher who was on duty in the lot panicked, because she knew she had seen me. They immediately set to searching for my girl, who by this time was home with me getting cleaned up.
When I took her back, the assistant director of the school said that she was just about to call me and told me the story. I told her what had happened and we had a good laugh.
That's EXACTLY the level of concern and supervision I want for my child. I was so pleased and a little sorry for just not telling them that we were going home and would be right back.
I hope it was just a one time thing with your son. Perhaps if you can bring it up with the director in a non confrontational manner, it may help the situation to improve.
Hugs,
Ame

By Debbie on Thursday, September 13, 2007 - 10:01 am:

Big red flag for me. I would definitely be concerned. I know mistakes happen, especially in the beginning of school. But, what really sends a red flag for me, is that it took her so long after they were in the classroom for her to realize they had left him. I can see them thinking he had lined up, but then they should have realized as soon as they were in the classroom that he wasn't there. When ds was in preschool there were only 6 kids in the class, which makes it hard to miss someone. What is the child/teacher ratio? Also, what would have happened if the other teachers on the playground had gone inside, and being too caught up with their own students, didn't realize he was being left on the playground? It also doesn't seem like his teacher was to upset by what happened.

I, personally, would look for another school. I would just be worried all the time when he was at school.

By Enchens on Thursday, September 13, 2007 - 04:19 pm:

Truestori-

I would like that list of recommendations, if you don't mind. Here's my email
e n c h e n s @ y a h o o . c o m

Thanks.

By Truestori on Thursday, September 13, 2007 - 11:05 pm:

I emailed ya!