Disclosure

[teacher12]

Our favorite teacher at my daughter's daycare center up and quit her job abruptly.
When I saw her a few days later, I asked her why she left.
She became teary-eyed and said she would love to tell me but that the daycare director said she'd be committing a crime and would be prosecuted if she talked to anyone about the center.
She did say, "I think it's safe to say I disagree with their methods 100%. I hope you move your daughter before it affects her emotionally. I'm afraid to say anything more."
Can they sue her for telling me why she quit? I value her opinion very much as she is a veteran teacher known for compassion and integrity.
How do I find out more? The daycare admitted that she quit her job, but would say nothing more.
Thanks.

[littletots]

I don't know the legal aspects and if they would pursue it. It is not uncommon to be ask not disclose. A specialist at my child school emailed parents a goodbye letter and softly touched on reasons school was no longer a match for her teaching style. Two days later the headmasters follow up email basically apologized for the 1st email. Totally got the feeling attorneys got involved. Ouch. If you have concerns I would set appt to discuss this the director. I'm sure you not the only one.

[Blackcat31]

Our favorite teacher at my daughter's daycare center up and quit her job abruptly.
When I saw her a few days later, I asked her why she left.
She became teary-eyed and said she would love to tell me but that the daycare director said she'd be committing a crime and would be prosecuted if she talked to anyone about the center.
She did say, "I think it's safe to say I disagree with their methods 100%. I hope you move your daughter before it affects her emotionally. I'm afraid to say anything more."
Can they sue her for telling me why she quit? I value her opinion very much as she is a veteran teacher known for compassion and integrity.
How do I find out more? The daycare admitted that she quit her job, but would say nothing more.
Thanks.

If part of her employee contract says she can't talk about the center, even after employment she could potentially have opened up a can of worms by telling you as much as she did.

Whether you liked her or not, I would base my feelings about the center on YOUR personal experiences. As for your wish to find out why she left, I doubt you have any right to more details.

Just because she didn't agree with their methods doesn't mean the center is guilty of anything wrong.

She may have not liked that they line the kids up according to height verses age. Who knows but IF it were based on anything potentially dangerous to the kids, she more than likely reported them. As an employee in a child care center I would think mandated reporting laws adhere to her too.

[teacher12]

No, there's no contract preventing her from speaking. It was a verbal threat from her boss. I just want to know if there's a legal reason she can't tell parents her concerns. It is very troubling.

And yes, an investigation did happen, not involving her.

Our teacher was heads and shoulders above the rest of the women there. She already has a new public school teaching job lined up for the fall. She was the only one who really seemed to love the kids. For the rest it's just a paycheck.

I will follow my gut and move my daughter on Monday.

It's just a shame the teacher isn't allowed to tell her side.

[Blackcat31]

No, there's no contract preventing her from speaking. It was a verbal threat from her boss. I just want to know if there's a legal reason she can't tell parents her concerns. It is very troubling.

And yes, an investigation did happen, not involving her.

Our teacher was heads and shoulders above the rest of the women there. She already has a new public school teaching job lined up for the fall. She was the only one who really seemed to love the kids. For the rest it's just a paycheck.

I will follow my gut and move my daughter on Monday.

It's just a shame the teacher isn't allowed to tell her side.

I understand that she received verbal threat from her boss but you don't know what her contract said upon employment when she was first hired. She may have signed a non-disclosure statement and the boss's threat was a reminder of that contract.

In most states when there is an investigation, it becomes part of the centers file and is most times something parents have a right to access. If the center wasn't found negligent of anything then they might not have to tell anyone anything. If it were something negligent, they should have been cited for it and those things should be public record or at least available to the parents or potential clients.

What state are you in? Perhaps we can refer to your state's laws and find out what you have a right to know and not know.

[teacher12]

I am privy to what the contract says and there is no agreement to stay silent.

I have checked the center's violations and there is nothing listed in the last few months. The past ones that are listed are vague.

It would take too long to investigate. The director would not cooperate or welcome questions. I realize now that the teacher was the only reason we liked it there.

Better safe than sorry.

Thanks for such quick replies!

[MarinaVanessa]

Here in my state you can call the licensing office in your area and ask about the details of the specifics. You can even request copies of any visits (Notice of Site Visits). These notices are posted in plain view for 30 days at the facility that they visited. Can you call and ask licensing how their department works and how to check out copies of these reports, inspections and investigations?

If the facility is required to post the site visit reports and if the investigation happened under 30 days ago (or however amount of time your state my require) it should still be up and you can ask to see it. You should also be able to ask to see the report if it's been longer than the posted time limit, they might refuse but it might be worth a try.

And yes, unfortunately reports are usually very vague. SOmething that says "personal rights violation" can be anything from a child walking out of the facility unattended to the smoke alarm battery being dead since they both have something to do with safety. You should be able to call licensing to get the details however.