Authorities are investigating a Texas day care center after two children were reportedly bound to their sleeping mats with duct tape because they wouldn't sleep during scheduled nap time.
ABC News reports that photos of a child taped to a sleeping mat emerged on Tuesday and began circulating among parents whose children also attended Heart2Heart Montessori Academy in Parker County, Texas. The pictures were reportedly taken by another teacher who resigned shortly after.
On Wednesday, Lorrie Almquist received a call from the school's owner, Pam Decker, who informed her that her 3-year-old son had also been taped down and took full responsibility:
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An "irate" Almquist contacted the Willow Park Police Department and Child Protective Services, as did another parent. School director Ashlea Pena issued an email to parents calling Decker's decision "thoughtless" and "foolish," yet still defended the school, insisting that the allegations had been "extremely exaggerated."
Almquist remarked that Pena, who has an infant daughter, would feel the same way if her child experienced this. She's since taken her son out of Heat2Heart Montessori Academy, and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services’ Child Licensing Division has launched an investigation.
[via ABC News]
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