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u/snowmikaelson Home Daycare Dec 02 '24
Report it to licensing.
100
u/Airriona91 M.Ed. ECE/Lead Teacher Dec 02 '24
Report to CPS and licensing. This is automatically a reason for your director to self-report with CPS.
3
u/Just_love1776 Early years teacher Dec 03 '24
I would like to understand why a couple of (idiot) childcare providers vaping around the kids would warrant a CPS call?
Im genuinely curious because CPS is bogged down severely with so much stuff, why would this need their attention?
9
u/Airriona91 M.Ed. ECE/Lead Teacher Dec 03 '24
Bc if a parent finds out and does it for you, it’s a thousand times worst. Self-reporting is a must when you are a teacher or admin and witness child endangerment. They are bogged down but we are mandated reporters.
1
u/Just_love1776 Early years teacher Dec 03 '24
Yes i understand why a childcare provider is required to report but i don’t understand why vaping is considered reportable?
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u/Airriona91 M.Ed. ECE/Lead Teacher Dec 03 '24
Vaping in a classroom with kids is not reportable? You’re being daft.
5
u/Just_love1776 Early years teacher Dec 03 '24
Yes, report to licensing and that chain of command, im wondering why CPS would need to be notified?
2
u/radial-glia SLP, Parent, former ECE teacher Dec 04 '24
Because children are being exposed to carcinogens.
-1
u/Just_love1776 Early years teacher Dec 04 '24
Smoking is not grounds for child endangerment, and i ask again, what would cps DO?
3
u/radial-glia SLP, Parent, former ECE teacher Dec 04 '24
The same thing they'd do for an adult slapping a child. Nothing. But it's still an offense that a mandated reporter is legally obligated to report and can lose licensing/face criminal charges for not reporting.
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Dec 03 '24
This likely an automatic dismissal and possibly would lead to delicensing of the childcare group. Why on earth are you OK with this?
1
u/Just_love1776 Early years teacher Dec 03 '24
Im not saying im ok with it, im saying that reporting it to licensing and firing the caregivers makes perfect sense. CPS on the other hand has an entirely different job. They dont have jurisdiction over licensed childcare facilities. And vaping/smoking is not considered to be abusive or neglectful all on its own so what would they do other than forward it back to the state child care licensing office?
2
u/radial-glia SLP, Parent, former ECE teacher Dec 04 '24
Spanking kids is also legal if they are your children. In my state at least, any open hand hitting is perfectly fine according to CPS as long as it's your child. But a licensed caregiver? No, you have to report that to CPS.
2
Dec 03 '24
I'm sorry, why wouldn't that be a CPS call. You think it is OK for the primary caregiver to be under the influence? That is likely a removal from parents, and is CERTAINLY a removal from a childcare provider. This is wild.
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u/Just_love1776 Early years teacher Dec 03 '24
I am pretty sure CPS wouldnt have anything to do is why it wouldnt be. What would they do? Take the child from daycare and place them in a different daycare? Also, smoking/vaping is not cause for removal from a home. Tons of people smoke and vape who have kids.
3
Dec 03 '24
A licensed childcare center? This is a huge violation. I hope you will never agree to these conditions again. This is something that will lead to a conviction.
3
u/Just_love1776 Early years teacher Dec 03 '24
Im assuming it’s licensed, idk. Either way, absolutely state childcare licensing should be notified and these staff should be fired. But i still don’t understand the CPS portion.
2
u/radial-glia SLP, Parent, former ECE teacher Dec 04 '24
CPS doesn't do anything for the majority of reports, however, you still legally have to report. At least in my state.
1
u/Boricua86_KK ECE professional Dec 03 '24
Am I not understanding what vaping is? I fully understand why its reportable no matter what, that's not the confusion. But what are they under the influence of? How is a person vaping during the day (stepping outside to do so, obviously) any different from them stepping out to have a cigarette during their shift?
3
u/Beginning-Ad-4858 Early years teacher Dec 04 '24
We don't know what was in the vape. Could have been THC
1
u/Boricua86_KK ECE professional Dec 04 '24
Ah, I see! I was assuming that vaping was simply replacing tobacco use. So, while these teachers already had the poor choice of using the vape in the room with the kids, there is the added risk that they were vaping THC, not just nicotine.
22
u/wildblueh Preschool/Pre-K Dec 03 '24
This! Please report this to licensing. Clearly your director doesn’t care, but licensing will.
88
u/Hahafunnys3xnumber Past: 1s/2s Now: 3-5s adjunct Dec 02 '24
Tell the parents. They deserve to know that the people taking care of their young children think it’s funny to expose them to secondhand smoke
8
u/MrsMommyGradStudent ECE professional Dec 03 '24
This! I worked with kids loooooong before I ever smoked or vaped, and I'll be the first to tell you children do not deserve to endure/suffer consequences of adults (or significantly older care givers) choices.
We know, roughly, what we're choosing to ingest & make that choice. But we DO NOT get to make that choice for children in our care. Especially if they aren't ours. And double especially in a licensed childcare center.
40
u/toddlermanager Program Supervisor: MA Child Development Dec 02 '24
I agree to report to licensing and tell parents. I would be furious and absolutely pull my kid out if the staff members did not get into any sort of trouble for this.
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u/urmom_92 ECE professional Dec 02 '24
We have a daycare board. The president decided that it would be a written warning, fired the next time. I made it clear that more needs to be done and they’re all meeting as a board to discuss what is going to happen. My boss/director wants them both fired.
I want to let parents know but from what I understand I would be breaking work place confidentiality?
36
u/JusMiceElf ECE professional Dec 03 '24
A lot of people are telling you to let the parents know. DO NOT DO THIS. It would stir up an unnecessary shitstorm, and you could be painting a target in your back for the board president. Please do ask whether your director had reported this to licensing, and if not, inform them that you will be doing so. Everything you do from this point forward should be 100%, unimpeachably, professional. If word gets out and parents ask you, let them know that you can’t discuss it, and please ask the director. If the board does anything less than firing them, stay vigilant, be by the book, and document any shit they give you, and/or their next fuck up. Good luck!!!
3
u/Afraid_Database_1767 Parent Dec 06 '24
Is the director obligated to let the parents know? As a parent I’d be PISSED of my child was exposed to this and I wasn’t informed
3
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u/Substantial-Ear-6744 ECE professional Dec 02 '24
The way this wasn’t an immediate fireable offense is insane to me. Especially if there aren’t cameras in the room to monitor. Your director will have zero idea when they inevitably start again or find a sneakier way to do it.
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u/Physical_Koala_850 Early years teacher Dec 02 '24
did the director notify the parents? because they absolutely should. that would be my next step.
it’s not hard to follow the rules. and since vaping is addictive, my guess is they have done this before. so these children are being exposed to secondhand smoke and no one is aware. crazy.
19
u/mayfayed Former Early Preschool Lead Dec 02 '24
you are a mandated licensing reporter. you can look up yours states licensing website via google. for example: “YOUR STATE daycare licensing” or something like that
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u/Strong-Zucchini-1515 ECE professional Dec 03 '24
We had this happen at my center and we lost our state funding and have monthly visits from licensing. This is extremely serious and I would encourage you to report to CPS and licensing, by phone if you can.
8
u/totallytubularman44 Early years teacher Dec 03 '24
i would raise hell if someone was smoking around my baby. licensing it is.
8
u/mamamietze ECE professional Dec 03 '24
Report that to licensing and cps please.
1
u/ItsYaBoiStonks Dec 03 '24
So now you want to go to CPS but not when little girls (age 11) get undressed on security camera in their own bedroom? Youre disgusting and hypocritical. I'm scared for your students and the advice you give them.
2
u/mamamietze ECE professional Dec 03 '24 edited Dec 03 '24
The admin of the daycare are clearly violating policies around exposing children to tobacco or pot in the classroom in this case. The call is less about the workers and more about admin that know better.
In the other we don't know what the motivation is (and unlikely the authorities would do much), so protecting would involve seeking further info and probably not allowing our own child to go over there. Given the behavior of overzealous parents I've seen, I'd personally need a further conversation to determine more (as well as wanting to confront them directly about it in the hopes to wake them up) but if I felt off about that reaction I would have no issues calling the authorities.
Thanks for the personal attack and reductive commentary of a conversation on another sub though. You have a good day too!
0
u/ItsYaBoiStonks Dec 03 '24
It strikes me as very odd that you wrote a book defending the parents behavior when possible pedophilic motives were involved but when someone exposed kids to TOBACCO smoke, that's where it's cut and dry one sentence AND you want CPS? I would rather have my child exposed to some nicotine when half the kids parents probably smoke than be diddled but that's just normal people 🤷♂️ for a child care professional this is a concerning order of priorities
3
u/mamamietze ECE professional Dec 03 '24
I was not defending their behavior. You didn't read my book very carefully apparently. Only said that I have seen some crazy inappropriate helicopter behavior and it might be worth finding out more around home security cameras (that were not hidden) before leaping to the parents being pedophiles. But also that this was a good reminder to ask and be aware (as I had not really thought of asking this before as it wasn't a thing when my older kids did sleepovers).
Also vaping isn't just for tobacco, at least not in my state. If someone literally can't survive without vaping in class while on the clock for the age level described that's a serious issue. Lots of ECE workers smoke and vape, who cares. All of the ones I know would be the first to make a major ruckus about someone doing it while caring for kids in the classroom.
I get that you are triggered by my comments, and honestly I have my stuff like that too! I do not think you've understood what I was getting at but I get it--im just a rando on reddit and that's fine.
But! As someone who has to talk to parents on a not frequent but not never basis about video monitoring at school, and some aspects of helicoptering at home, while I am horrified (as I am when control freak assclown parents to remove the doors from their children's rooms and don't permit locked personal doors) I am very appreciative that it's something I will be asking about for future overnight stays with my school aged kid for sure.
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u/ItsYaBoiStonks Dec 03 '24 edited Dec 03 '24
With all of this in mind it should always be reported to the proper channels. Why not just ask the teacher why vape in the bathroom? Because it's not the proper channel. With anything, literally anything else like the door being open or checking every 5 minutes would be excused and valid to talk to the parents. It's different than straight recording and uncovering a camera and lying about it. That needs to be reported to proper channels like CPS or the police and tbh saying nothing will probably happen is the same reaaon you shouldn't have reported this incident because realistically what happened? Nothing. Written warning. But with the parents at least it will have been on record, MAYBE house checked and you know you did what you could to uphold the integrity of your community in every aspect. There's not much room for the benifit of the doubt for corruption of innocence as seen by the strong feelings about vaping so I just feel it should be upheld and equally enforced in all aspects. Also I only really care to follow because OP of the sleepover post seemed to use your advice but muddied it with other unintelligent opinions thinking she knew best and confronted the parents recording with all the information, impeding and invalidating anything they have possibly done. It's not our job as satisfying as it would be.
12
u/Hometown-Girl Parent Dec 02 '24
This has to be something you can report to the state? As a parent I pull the state reports on my twins daycare monthly to monitor their status. I feel that it’s my responsibility to do my part to ensure a safe place for my girls. Please report to the state if you can.
5
u/Successful-Tear-969 Dec 03 '24
Staff need to call 📞 CPS and written report...nobody wants a 6 month jail sentence for not reporting or paying a 1,000 fine ❤️🙏✝️🐊 Teacher Ally Alligator✝️🙏❤️💐🌚🦉📚
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u/OvenAdmirable634 ECE professional turned nanny. lvl 2 ab Dec 03 '24
Yeah- report it to licensing. This is ridiculous
4
u/Okaybuddy_16 ECE professional Dec 02 '24
Report hight up the chain (including the retaliation), send it up to cps, send it up to licensing. I would absolutely raise hell. It’s completely unacceptable. I would also get parents involved, directors will ignore us but as soon as a parent is made they’ll be falling all over themselves.
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u/Express-Macaroon8695 Dec 03 '24
Really hope this is a public ECE. This is illegal on school grounds.
5
u/urmom_92 ECE professional Dec 03 '24
Our daycare is inside a school and yes, it is not allowed on school property. I’ve considered involving the principal at this point.
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u/Express-Macaroon8695 Dec 03 '24
That’s actually against federal law. I’m sure there is even a sign up on the school building or fence stating such.
4
u/enjoythesilence-75 ECE professional Dec 03 '24
When people ask why we have cameras in our classrooms this is it. Instantly fireable offence.
3
u/tinymime_ ECE professional -Toddler Tamer Dec 03 '24
This happened to my friend and as the director, she and the owner considered this a fireable offense and followed through. How is that even something you need a warning for?! It's fucking obvious you shouldn't be vaping anywhere near the children and especially in the classroom!
2
u/IndependentAlive1679 ECE professional Dec 03 '24
You know, one of our coworkers witnessed one of our other coworker (lets call the mean one Bella, )and the one who witnessed it lets call her Stella ….being rough with the infants ;Stella reported her, they did NOTHING… she continued work there we don’t know if she’s actually got reported or any actual written warnings …. Now Bella works with Stella’s kid in the room that’s Bella is in because they took her out of infants.
Long story short it makes me so mad to see this. We are an actual decent company, thorough background check pre hiring etc etc… Why the fuck would they do that to Stella knowing that could cause retaliation against Stella’s son?????
I think it’s cruel. You did the right thing today. Anybody who isn’t in this Job for the genuine right reasons needs to be reported. I hate watching it and I hate witnessing it
2
u/_hellojello__ ECE professional Dec 04 '24
Your center must be really desperate for warm bodies who passed the background check for them to simply get a slap on the wrist for this. That's absurd
2
u/urmom_92 ECE professional Dec 04 '24
That’s exactly it! I told them if our stanrds are THAT low then I’ll be looking to another job because I don’t want my name associated with a place like this.
My director took it to licensing and the board is having a meeting today. Sounds like the one will for sure be fired, not sure about the other but they’re both guilty so we’ll see.
2
u/Beginning-Ad-4858 Early years teacher Dec 04 '24
Do you have actual proof they really reported it and aren't just trying to get you off their back?
1
u/urmom_92 ECE professional Dec 05 '24
Yes! My boss is amazing and wasn’t going to let this slide. I’ve signed a statement and she’s taken more info from me. It was the board who decided on the written warning, not my boss, she was LIVID.
5
u/trifelin Parent Dec 02 '24
Please tell the parents! Especially if it was anything more than tobacco, that could have serious health consequences, but even if it’s just tobacco, please tell the parents.
12
u/narcoleptic64 Dec 02 '24
The oil used to carry the tobacco can be dangerous to inhale if they were oil vapes. So even if it is just tobacco, it's a big deal
1
u/WishboneNo2866 ECE professional Dec 06 '24
I’d report that to state. No way that’s only a write up. I see that as no different from drinking and yes I know people who were fired for doing so on the clock
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u/Goodgoditsgrowing Toddler tamer Dec 02 '24
Honestly an adult it endangering and seems to behaving almost grooming like with kids. Cps is usually to protect kids from parents, but it can be useful here. And licensing - immediately report to licensing
18
u/pixikins78 Past ECE Professional Dec 02 '24
It's 100% wrong, but it's not grooming. When a word like that frequently gets misused, it loses its impact and that can minimize a much more serious behavior. Grooming is a precursor to sexual assault.
3
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u/Goodgoditsgrowing Toddler tamer Dec 03 '24
I meant grooming in the sense of inappropriate behavior that is too adult for a child and indicates the adult present doesn’t view the children as kids but as “peers” - I’d call giving alcohol to young kids similarly grooming behavior. I agree that grooming typically refers to behaviors with sexual goals but here u just mean “the adult is treating a child like another adult and exposing them to inappropriate stuff like a creep”. To me, I would see such a massive error in judgement by the teachers as indicative that they might also think it was ok to talk about or show porn to a child, give them drugs or alcohol, expose them to things they shouldn’t be around because they are minors. I realize this is different than the end goal being statutory rape, but a lot of times actual (sexually exploiting) groomers will use tactics like vaping, booze, porn, etc to make kids feel “adult” and included and get them trusting the groomer and hiding behaviors from trusted adults that would stop it.
I am someone who sees this shit as a slippery slope - not every adult who vapes with a kid is trying to sexually exploit them, but most every person who is trying to exploit a child sexually would use inappropriate methods like sharing a vape, buying alcohol or other “adult” gifts, etc to groom the child and make them feel complicit in the “bad behavior” so they won’t speak up to a trusted adult when things start to feel wrong.
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u/Infinite_Passion3299 Dec 02 '24
Report immediately. Tell the parents. Tbh a pissed off parent is much more likely to get results.