Op-ed by Jessica Symonds of Mason City –
As a parent, it is crucial for me to ensure that the childcare used by our family is safe, trustworthy and responsible in its operations.
In recent months I have raised concerns with management about an employee at West Town Charlie Brown, where my four year-old attends early childhood education. This person is also a parent, and living next door to them I have witnessed and recorded instances of abuse that have occurred in their home.
Someone who abuses their own child should not be employed in a childcare and education service, but following my reports of this situation, leaders at West Town have failed to take action. I have continued to observe clearly abusive behavior by this employee in their residence, and on New Years Day heard a string of physical threats toward the child. Following a prolonged period of screams, it was obvious to me that the child was in a state of distress. I approached their apartment, and the parent came into the hallway of our apartment complex. I was viciously attacked, pushed down a flight of more than twenty stairs and left with contusions, abrasions and two broken bones. This violent conduct confirms that the employee in question does not have the interpersonal, anger management or judgment skills necessary to care for children for a living, and I again contacted Charlie Brown management.
My concerns, however, were met with poor regard. I was told that if I am dissatisfied with their employees, I should move my child to another school. I have done so – but many families have not, and young children are still at the hands of an employee who has committed acts of abuse against her own child as well as assault against a fellow adult. I am offended at the treatment of myself and my family, and shocked by the failure of management of West Town Charlie Brown to take action.
-Jessica Symonds
22 thoughts on “Op-ed: Parent dis-satisifed with child care provider”
Jessica what’d is the status of this abuser today? Is she continuing to be abusive? How can I help?
I applaud Jessica for bringing this to everyone’s attention. If everyone would speak their minds on issues that concern them and could affect other people the world would be a better place.
Just my thought but has this person been charged with any crimes, let alone convicted? Has the DHS found this person to be guilty of abuse? If not how can anyone go around making these statements of who they thinks they are. If I was the person being drug through this media circus I would consult an attorney and look at slander and reputaion damage by these claims. If these claims are true the police and DHS will prosecute this person, but it seems you are not happy with what they have found as it sounds like it doesn’t support your claims Jessica the rest of the story, if you look it up looks like you are no stranger to assult issues in your personal life and I also would ask is this child your bilogical child? I was told a long time ago that people in glass house should be careful throwing stones. Every story has two sides and it sounds we are only hearing one side.
Yes, she has pending charges.
Again, I repeat, no slander or false accusations in this editorial. I’m sure NIT wouldn’t post nor condone slander. This is a serious situation that has occurred and the public needs to be aware.
You have already proven yourself as an non credible source. First you said it is the employees child and then you said it was the roomates child. That tells me that there are probably a lot of other things about this “story” that aren’t credible.
Shouldn’t matter whose child, abuse is illegal. I don’t have to be “credible” to tell the truth or write an op-ed. You seem to condone abuse and try every way possible to pick apart my editorial. No slander was used and no false accusations. Sorry to disappoint you .
I would have never taken my child to any Charlie Brown facility. My daughter is a teenager now, but when she was small, there’s no was on this earth that I would have entrusted them with her. It’s sad that parents need a safe place to take their children while working and paying the bills and I’m sure the care they are receiving at Charlie Brown is lacking.
And she had her child going there. She was worried about the care her young daughter was getting and took a marker and wrote an X on the back of the diaper. Seven hours later, she still had the same diaper and pooppy all up her back.
Unless you file a police and/or a DHS report, how can WTCB take you seriously?
There is nothing to back up your allegations against this caregiver.
They are not going to terminate this employee unless they have good cause to do so. How does WTCB know that you are providing valid information and not just a nut-job or somebody with a personal vendetta?
Police, dhs, cps and wtcb were all notified of these ongoing issues. The to say I didn’t contact anyone is beyond ignorant. I have police reports of my calls I’ve made and dhs reports of calls I made. You’re comments are untrue and extremely negative. I even contacted the board supervisor of wtcb about my concerns after calling the police to have a welfare check done on him and then having to call dhs days later after the abuse didn’t stop. Get a damn clue and quit being a troll.
And no, no personal vendetta. I don’t even know the girl. But when I can hear her beating her roommates kid in their apartment next to mine and him begging for help I did all of could to help this boy. Nobody cared enough to take it seriously so as a citizen of Mason city I have the right to express my opinion without being rudely attacked. I made these calls to officials over a months time and he still continously gets abused. I have her on recording, and him crying and begging to not get in the shower because it was too hot. Her reply was “get in before I f***ing choke you.” you’re one classy ‘citizen’ outaanonymous.
It would have been helpful had you put in your op-ed that you had already contacted all these agencies so people didn’t have to ask you if you had or why you hadn’t. The readers had no way of knowing that you did, so don’t jump down their throats. My question now is if you filed assault charges against whoever pushed you down the steps.
In no way am I required to state who I contacted. I was being courteous to the trolls and answering their questions. I of course charges have been filed Katie.
I agree with Anonymous…
CALL THE COPS! CALL DHS! CALL CPS! CALL GHOSTBUSTERS!
Holy Hell- any response from WTCB coming on this one? Excellent letter, Ms. Symonds.
@Anonymous-Is that all you do is put down people. You are one of those who questions everything and has no answers. The lady is expressing a concern about child care and you come back with a personal attack on her and the way she lives. Do you have something to hide? Is that why you pull this crap? Grow up and get a life.
Touché
i understand your concern for your child and all children at wcb but, is all you do is find things in your life to whine about? you have to park to far away, this, what next–food stamp amount not high enough? and why, if you’ve seen this with your own eyes, didn’t you call the police who can get dhs involved (or call dhs directly) and have the child removed, the “caregivers” licsence revoked, and wcb investigated for employing them? why stop at management, the littlest person on the totem pole?
“but, is all you do is find things in your life to whine about?”
If the shoe fits…
Guess you missed this part of Anonymous’s post: “and why, if you’ve seen this with your own eyes, didn’t you call the police who can get dhs involved (or call dhs directly) and have the child removed, the “caregivers” licsence revoked, and wcb investigated for employing them? why stop at management, the littlest person on the totem pole?”
Why in the hell would go to a person place of emplyment to report child abuse (well nless of course they worked at the PD or DHS)?
I had contacted the police, dhs, and child protective services and her employer when I heard the abuse. I’ve been extremely busy and have already planned on writing these two editorials but just now found the time. I feel bad for you anonymous, you are whining on an op-ed about an abuser to children.