After seeing his child in hysterics every day after school, Tomas Valero understood that something strange was happening with his daughter. After he finally understood what it was he was completely shocked. However, to find out the truth he had to be extra careful in his planning. What could it have possibly been that this father discovered?
Starting School
Starting school can be challenging for young children. It is a huge transition and parents need to stand by their children as much as possible. It doesn’t matter if they have the nicest teacher in the wold or the best classmates. going to school as a child is a hard change.
Starting School
A Tough Adjustment
To make things even worse would be to have a rude teacher, and that is what happened in this case. Tomas realized his young daughter was having trouble in school and he understood he had to get to the bottom of it.
A Tough Adjustment
She Was Scared
Every parent hopes for the best for their children its normal that it is hard to see their young children in a tough situation. Tomas is a great dad and it makes sense that he was overly worried when his daughter was acting strange.
She Was Scared
She Became More Emotional
After starting a new school he noticed his daughter becoming more emotional. At first, he assumed it was just nerves. Soon he understood that something more serious was going on and he was determined to find out what.
She Became More Emotional
The Same Routine
His young girl would cry every single day and ask to stay home from school. Every day Tomas was prepared for the exact same morning ritual where his baby girl would cry and ask to stay home from school.
The Same Routine
The Situation Worsened
In the beginning, it was just requested here and there. However, it soon became more regular and his daughter lost all excitement when it came to school. Her tantrums were increasing and she was refusing to go to school.
The Situation Worsened
Reluctant
Tomas wanted to get to the real issue by talking to his child but she wasn’t interested in disclosing the truth. However, he was aware that something had to be changed because after all she was his little girl and he couldn’t watch her be upset.
Reluctant
Her New School
She entered kindergarten at Pine Grove Elementary School that year and before this, everything was normal about their daughter. She was healthy and made friends easily. She was a social girl and very creative.
Her New School
She Began To Change
Soon after she started studying at this kindergarten, she started to change. She was more emotional and Tomas understood that there was a connection to the school. He wasn’t quite sure what but he was certain that was what it was.
She Began To Change
Did Well In School
Before this, his daughter was excelling in school and was overall happy to go. She never had bad grades and she was very positive. Suddenly, after switching schools he noticed a change in her grades and attitude.
Did Well In School
Feeling So Powerless
She was constantly crying before or after school and Tomas and his wife didn’t understand why. He was fed up and hated feeling helpless. Eventually, he decided it was time to figure things out and that’s when he made a plan.
Feeling So Powerless
The Concerned Father
All parents are concerned for their children’s well being and it makes sense that he had a hard time watching his daughter in this state. With the days, he was becoming more and more concerned and the situation was getting worse. Eventually, he understood what to do.
The Concerned Father
A Stable, Happy Life
His mind went to all areas until he stumbled upon the idea that she was being bullied. He was sure this was the source and knew there was no chance the sadness came from within their family since they had an overall happy and pleasant life.
A Stable, Happy Life
Patience Is A Virtue
It is very important to be patient. We daresay that it is one of the most important virtues we can all learn, even if it can be difficult to practice. When it comes to teaching little kids, this becomes even more valuable. If you have ever had to deal with kids, you know that they can be hard to handle. As an educator, it is part of your role to be patient as your students try to learn.
Patience Is A Virtue
Her Formative Years
His daughter was still so young. She was in such a crucial and important time of her life, in her formative years. Whatever happens in these years will help her become the adult she’ll be in the future.
Her Formative Years
Preparation For The Future
Tomas and his wife raised their two daughters and son with a positive mindset, always encouraging them to be their best selves. They realize how important it is to develop a strong sense of self in the kids to prepare them for the future.
Preparation For The Future
More Harm Than Good
It only makes sense that a mean and harsh teacher can do more harm than good. Tomas and his wife didn’t want that for their little daughter. And so, they started to suspect this was the root of their ongoing problem.
More Harm Than Good
Creating A Plan
Being the resourceful person he is, Tomas decided he needed to somehow find out what was going on with his daughter. He was having a difficult time seeing as she was too young and shy to tell him about what was going on.
Creating A Plan
Time To Take Action
Tomas couldn’t just let him poor daughter become more and more sad with every day that went by. He had enough and decided he will do something on the matter. The only question was how. He thought about it for a long time before he came up with a plan.
Time To Take Action
How Would He Do It?
How would Tomas be able to listen to what was happening at the school without being there? He knew that if he would ask to sit in on the class one day that the teacher would act differently with him there. He had to be more creative than this to make sure he was catching what was really going on.
How Would He Do It?
Hidden Hearing Device
He decided he would ‘listen in’ – literally. He created a tiny hearing device and placed it in his daughter’s hair. This would allow him to listen to what was happening at school. He hoped it would give him the opportunity to understand what she was going through.
Hidden Hearing Device
Drastic Measures
Tomas was well-aware that this was a drastic measure. However, it was important for him to know what was going on and to have proof as well. He didn’t tell his daughter what he put in her hair. He didn’t want to distract her throughout the school day.
Drastic Measures
Anticipation
Tomas couldn’t wait to see what would happen over the course of the school day. He waited for his daughter at the door and smiled when she ran up the driveway towards him. He was excited to finally get that smile he knew and loved back on her face.
Anticipation
Astounding Results
Tomas started listening to the recording after his daughter came home, and he was absolutely shocked by what he heard. By the time he had finished listening to the recording, he was livid. However, he was glad he finally knew what was going on.
Astounding Results
The Source Of The Problems
It sounded like the teacher was being mean to her class. Tomas kept on listening to the recording and soon realized that must be the source of his daughter’s problems. He knew there was no time to waste. It was time for him to do something about it.
The Source Of The Problems
Teacher Troubles
Tomas could see the teacher had been taking full advantage of her position. It hurt him to hear that the person they paid to care for their child was behaving in the way she was. He genuinely couldn’t believe it.
Teacher Troubles
What To Do?
As he kept listening, he found out that aside from saying offensive things, the teacher also used a very mean tone with the students. The recording allowed him to hear exactly how much she yelled at the little kids over the smallest things. What could he do about it?
What To Do?
Sick To His Stomach
It truly made Tomas sick to see that the teacher would behave in such a way. So, he decided it was time to raise the issue with the public school district. When things of this nature happen to your child, it’s usually easier to take it up with a person who can do something about it.
Sick To His Stomach
Filing A Complaint
He didn’t call the teacher directly. Instead, Tomas decided there was a better chance of things changing if he went straight to the state school board instead. So he did just that. He set a date and told his daughter’s story.
Filing A Complaint
Their Poor Response
Even though Tomas had a real and valid complaint along with the proof to back it up, the school district failed to do anything to help him. He felt so disappointed by the response he had gotten. To him, it was sickening that she was tearing down little children on a daily basis.
Their Poor Response
No Action Taken
Can you even imagine how upsetting it must be to hear they weren’t willing to do anything about this? The did say that they disciplined the teacher for what she did, but Tomas wanted more from them.
No Action Taken
Making His Point
He wasn’t happy about the response he got from the authorities. The teacher was still teaching the class his daughter was in. Tomas couldn’t help but feel like it was time for retribution. Soon enough, he took it upon himself to do something about Duncan, the kindergarten teacher.
Making His Point
A Parent’s Duty
The school offered to move his daughter to a different class, but this was about more than his daughter now. He was also worried about the safety and wellbeing of the other children who were in her class. Being a parent, he knew he needed to stand up for all the children in addition to his own child.
A Parent’s Duty
For The Kids
He was upset that the school wasn’t offering much in terms of support or change. It was a serious problem was would go on to affect all the lives of these little kids. As long as Duncan was teaching, there were children who would be badly affected by her anger. Even though Tomas protested along with other parents, the school didn’t budge. But he and the other parents refused to give up.
For The Kids
Signing A Petition
It didn’t take long for word to get out about what was happening in the school. Everyone heard about the way Duncan treated the little kids in her class. Tomas got a lot of support after his initial attempts to get justice. However, things really started turning around when he made a petition on Change.org. Soon enough, the public arrived to rally around his house. It took no time to have over 2,000 signatures for the dismissal of Duncan.
Signing A Petition
The Media Spotlight
An even bigger surprise came around when Tomas found himself in the middle of the media spotlight. Local news outlets heard about what was going on at Pine Grave. They admired him for his determination to get justice for what was happening.
The Media Spotlight
The Entire Country
The story soon swept across the nation. This meant that people all over the country would hear about what this teacher did, even if Tomas wouldn’t be able to have her fired. This gave him some hope that things would change.
The Entire Country
Preventing Childhood Traumas
The worst part about what she did was that it would have a lasting effect on the child. Habits and fears that kids pick up when they’re so young tend to stick around for a very long time, if not forever.
Preventing Childhood Traumas
What Could Have Been
If Tomas hadn’t noticed his daughter’s behavior and work hard to get to the bottom of the situation, she might have been traumatized for the rest of her life. This was a serious matter that affected the other kids as well.
What Could Have Been
Being A Mentor
Any parent knows how challenging it can be to be a good mentor. A lot of the time, one will have to scrutinize and criticize their own actions and behaviors. This is not an easy task, but it’s vital if you want to be a good role model for your kid.
Being A Mentor
The Best Parent Possible
Tomas would soon learn that there were times when things were out of his control, no matter how hard he tried to be the best possible parent. Still, he would go through hell to make sure his daughter was safe. He also hoped this would never happen to any other kids.
The Best Parent Possible
A Teacher’s Responsibility
It’s the teacher’s responsibility to impart lessons that go further than the set curriculum. They should be helping improve the imaginations and minds of the children. These are the things that will leave a big impact on the lives of those children as they grow up. A teacher needs to make sure they inspire the kids.
A Teacher’s Responsibility
Her Father’s Efforts
It’s never a good idea for teachers to display abusive behaviors and assert dominance by spreading fear in a class. This will only halt the progress of a child and cause them to become more anxious. Did any of Tomas’ efforts to fix the issue work?
Her Father’s Efforts
Holding Onto Hope
Duncan is still continuing to teach at the school, so we hope that she at least realized how harsh she was being to the kids in her class. Tomas still very much hopes that the necessary changes will happen since he knows his point is valid.
Holding Onto Hope
Lives At Stake
It felt as if the school was putting the lives of the kids at stake thanks to the short temper of just one teacher. Tomas learned that it would be practically impossible to change things if he didn’t take a stand. He hopes his actions changed the school system even slightly to ensure other kids don’t get treated in the same way.
Lives At Stake
Making Them Stronger
The whole ordeal was tough for him and his daughter, but eventually, Tomas admitted that it made their family stronger. He never would have found out that something like this was going on if he didn’t go the extra mile.
Making Them Stronger
A Better Dad
By this point, his daughter is now attending a class taught by a different teacher. If anything, Tomas clearly learned just how important it is to pay attention to his daughter. It made him a better father thanks to what happened.
A Better Dad
Always There
No matter what, Tomas will always be there for his three kids. He and his wife will stand up for them whenever and wherever at any time. Without such great parents who recognize a problem, their daughter would have continued to struggle and get bullied by her own teacher.
Always There
Good Parents
Since the day their daughter came home from the hospital, they always had her best interest in mind. This is exactly what makes a good parent. Tomas and Laici always make sure their three kids have all their needs met.
Good Parents
Support System
In order for kids to grow up and mature in functioning members of society, having parents with a good head on their shoulders is always a helpful thing. A stable life at home prepares the kids for other things later in life. Aliya is so lucky to have such a great support system!
Support System