A family is furious with a local elementary school after they say their 5-year-old son was assaulted and humiliated in front of his class.
It was during Abdul Dannaoui’s lunch hour during preschool, that he says two teachers left him hungry, and barely breathing.
“She put the scotch tape on my mouth” says Abdul.
The straight “A” student says back on March 26th at Highview Elementary School, not one, but two teachers were having a laugh at his expense and then trying to cover it up.
“They said don’t tell your mom or dad, or no one” says Abdul. But, he told his mother how allegedly as many as 10 times he was prevented from eating in the same way, during snack time and lunch.
His food was also allegedly thrown out.
“I’m emotionally heartbroken. Disappointed. That’s his second home. That’s how they treat a child with asthma?” asks his mother Hoda.
Attorney Nabih Ayad says the family filed a police report and is pursuing legal action against the school district, that failed to address the situation with adequate discipline and transparency.
“It’s outrageous. It’s absurd. You think you send your kid to a place or school, where he would be safe” says Ayad.
Ayad also says the district still employs one of the teachers involved, placing other students at risk for similar attacks.“One of the teachers was discharged. But, they kept the other teacher who said don’t tell your mom or dad, and even gave him a bracelet to entice him not to tell anyone” adds Ayad.
Abdul’s parents are relocating him to another school.
The school responded saying that the incident occurred at Great Start Readiness at Cherry Hill Baptist Church in March, and that it was a substitute teacher assistant who placed a piece of tape on the 5-year-old's mouth. That substitute teacher has since been released, according to school officials.
Read the full statement below:
