Salem, N.J. – A New Jersey kindergarten aide is under investigation after allegedly slamming a 5-year-old girl’s head into a metal cabinet and forcefully shoving her into a chair, leaving the young child bruised and terrified, according to officials and family members.
The disturbing incident occurred Thursday at John Fenwick Academy in Salem, a small public elementary school serving the local community. The girl’s mother, identified only as Mariah, said she was stunned to learn that a classroom aide allegedly assaulted her daughter during school hours.
Mother Says Daughter Came Home Bruised and Terrified
“As a parent, you do whatever you can to protect your kids, but I never expected this to happen inside a kindergarten class,” Mariah told CBS Philadelphia, demanding accountability from school leaders and police.
Mariah said she was first contacted around noon on Thursday by the school principal, who reported that her daughter had been “misbehaving.” Less than two hours later, she received another urgent call requesting that she come to the school immediately.
When she arrived, administrators told her that the paraprofessional aide had allegedly grabbed her daughter, forced her into a chair, and caused her to hit the back of her head on a metal cabinet.
“I asked where the paraprofessional was,” Mariah recalled. “They said they sent her home. Then I asked where the police were — and they said they do not contact the police, that they were doing an internal investigation.”
Mariah said she was in shock. “I think I was numb. I just kind of stared at her,” she said of her injured child.
Witness Report Sparked Police Involvement
According to a staff member who witnessed the assault, the classroom aide became enraged and grabbed the 5-year-old before “forcefully placing her in a chair,” causing the child’s head to strike the cabinet. That witness reportedly filed a police report, prompting outside authorities to get involved.
Since the incident, Mariah said bruises have appeared on her daughter’s legs, arms, and neck. The child has been reluctant to return to school, saying she’s afraid to see the same adults again.
“I just want justice for my daughter,” Mariah said. “She’s 5 years old. She’s supposed to feel safe at school.”
District Responds, Promises “Full Review”
In a statement, the Salem City School District said it is taking the matter seriously.
“Salem City School District’s top priorities are the safety, well-being and academic success of every student,” officials said. “We are deeply committed to maintaining a secure and supportive learning environment for everyone in our community.”
The district added that it handles all concerns “internally with the utmost care, thoroughness, and fairness, ensuring full compliance with established procedures and the law.”
However, the school has not confirmed whether the accused aide has been suspended, fired, or allowed to return to work pending investigation.
Multiple Agencies Investigating
The Salem County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) have both launched investigations into the alleged assault.
As of Monday, no formal criminal charges had been filed, though officials say the case remains open. The child’s family continues to call for transparency and accountability from both the school district and law enforcement.
Advocates for children’s safety have urged the district to review hiring and training practices for paraprofessionals, who often work closely with very young or special needs students.
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Parents Call for Accountability and Policy Change
Parents in the Salem community expressed outrage online after the report surfaced, demanding that the school district implement stronger safeguards to protect students from physical harm.
“This could have been any of our kids,” one parent wrote on social media. “If a teacher or aide loses control like that, they shouldn’t be working around children.”
For now, Mariah said her daughter remains at home, recovering from the physical and emotional trauma of the attack. She hopes her story will spark change in how schools handle allegations of abuse and misconduct.
While the child is recovering, her mother and local parents are demanding stronger accountability from schools and a clearer response from law enforcement.
What do you think schools should do to better protect children from classroom abuse? Share your thoughts in the comments at latestsports.online.
