Teachers forced child to eat his own vomit with a spoon
Two teachers reportedly stood on either side of the student as he obeyed their instructions.
WARNING - DISTRESSING CONTENT: A primary school student was forced to eat his own vomit with a spoon in a shocking case of alleged neglect by staff members at his school.
The seven-year-old boy, a special education student at Brown Elementary School in Brownsburg, in the US state of Indiana, reportedly stood up during lunchtime and appeared to gag.
He was allegedly told by 27-year-old teacher Sara Seymour that if he vomited, we would need to eat whatever he threw up, police said.
The child then vomited on a tray, while instructional aide Debra Kanipe, 63, allegedly gave him a spoon.
Seymour and Kanipe allegedly stood on either side of the boy as he ate some of the vomit, police said. The child then used paper towels to clean up what mess remained.
The incident occurred back in February, though authorities only became aware of it on April 12. The disturbing scenes were reportedly captured on video, local news outlet Fox59 said.
Five members of the school have now been charged by the Hendricks County Prosecutor’s Office.
Seymour and Kanipe have been charged with neglect, while a second teacher, a behavioural technician and another aide have been charged with failure to report the incident.
The staffers have been removed from contact with students and placed on administrative leave. The school said the termination process has begun for the first teacher and the instructional aide.
In a statement, Brownsburg Community School Corporation Superintendent Jim Snapp said the school was cooperating with police.
“We are deeply saddened by the actions of these staff members and will work in conjunction with our local law enforcement as they move forward with possible criminal charges,” he said.
The school also released a message to parents, saying: “This horrendous action is not in line with the character of staff and teachers at Brownsburg Schools. The shocking actions of a few does not define the care and concern that Brownsburg teachers and staff show every day.”
with Associated Press
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