HOBOKEN — A video shared more than 10,000 times on Facebook this week showed what appeared to be a disturbing incident between a teacher and small child (see photos). More than 4,950 Facebook users shared the video on Wednesday alone and more than 150,000 people saw it, according to Facebook. A person posting it said that it was taken at a Hoboken private school for young children and that she was very concerned. The Reporter had not confirmed at the time of the Wednesday afternoon posting that it was taken at the school. The poster said she was told the teacher was suspended for 30 days.
A representative of the school said at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday that they were aware of the tape and directed the Reporter to a corporate number.
Later Wednesday evening, someone posted two more videos at the same location.
On Thursday, the school, Apple Montressori in Hoboken, issued this statement:
STATEMENT ISSUED ON BEHALF OF APPLE MONTESSORI SCHOOL HOBOKEN
June 11, 2015
The safety and well-being of our students are our top priorities. We are deeply troubled by the behavior of the former staffer toward a student at our Hoboken location.
On Wednesday, June 10, 2015, ownership of the Apple Montessori School in Hoboken first saw the video in question and immediately terminated the aide.
Additionally, the Director and Assistant Director of the location, who had possession of the video on June 4, 2015, have been terminated for their [alleged] mishandling of this incredibly serious situation. A teacher and a second teacher’s aide that were present for the incident have also been terminated.
We are outraged by the lack of care and concern this former employee showed. We do not condone this type of behavior in any way, shape or form. Additionally, we are instituting new safety measures to ensure that this type of incident doesn’t happen again.
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