Las Vegas (TCD) — A 33-year-old daycare teacher was accused of putting a student on a cot during nap time, hitting and abusing him.
The Las Vegas Police Department received a report April 1 that a student had been abused at a learning institution identified by KVVU-TV as Shenker Academy. According to KLAS-TV, one mother said Eryka Westover “slammed her body” into her daughter.
Classroom assistants reportedly shared a video with the mother starting February 5 that showed Westover angrily pushing the child onto the bed. Westover is reportedly heard on video saying, “Yeah, I just hit myself. It's okay. Go to bed.”
It is said that Westover held the baby so hard that he could not move because it was difficult for him to fall asleep. According to a report obtained by KLAS, Shenker Academy does not allow swaddling because it uses a “love and logic” approach when children misbehave.
Classroom assistants received complaints from children and found Westover hitting and pinching students.
In one incident, children were playing with water outside and one student did not want to be sprayed. Westover reportedly used a hose on the child, knocking him to the ground. When a child fell or got hurt, Westover would throw a ball at the child, kick it and say, “That's it” or “He deserved it.”
One child with a speech delay reportedly went home saying things like “don't touch me,” “don't hit me,” and “leave me alone,” according to KVVU. The child also said someone at school had picked on him for being “disobedient.”
According to KVVU, concerned parents wrote notes to the school about Westover's allegations and said they “repeatedly begged” their children not to go to school.
In the letter, the parents said their three- and four-year-old children were forced to run laps after they exhibited “completely age-appropriate behavior”. The letter claimed the children suffered bruises, welts and cuts.
When children misbehaved, Westover allegedly yelled at them or pulled them to the ground when they were told to sit down, according to a report reviewed by KLAS.
The video also reportedly shows a child saying “ouch, ouch” and yelling at his mother while Westover “aggressively” petted her.
Westover said authorities have never had a problem with students before, but students born during COVID-19 have been difficult.
According to KLAS, officials confronted Westover about pushing the baby into the crib, and Westover admitted he was upset and his tone was “not the best.” Westover also told investigators he did not remember saying, “Yeah, I hit you.”
On May 17, detectives took Westover into custody and booked her into the Clark County Detention Center on suspicion of Felony Child Abuse or Neglect.
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