Teacher Recorded Berating 1st Graders Over Math Mistake

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In a troubling incident from 2014, a teacher named Lisa Monroe at Brookside Academy, a charter school in New York, was caught on video reprimanding a first grader for making an error on a math problem. The footage, which recently surfaced thanks to a former teaching assistant, has sparked widespread outrage.

In the clip, students are seated in a circle, and Monroe addresses one child in a clearly irritated tone, instructing her to “count again, but make sure you’re counting correctly.” As the student begins to count, she hesitates and looks up for guidance. In that moment, Monroe snatches the girl’s paper, rips it in half, and scolds her loudly, demanding she go to a “calm down chair.” “Nothing frustrates me more than when you don’t follow what’s on your paper!” she shouts.

This behavior is alarming, especially directed at young children. Brookside Academy has faced scrutiny in the past for its harsh disciplinary tactics and strict culture. The assistant who filmed the incident recognized the inappropriate nature of Monroe’s actions and shared the video with the media after leaving the school.

An official from the school stated that teachers should maintain a respectful tone and avoid shaming students. However, many former educators have reported a culture where belittling students, particularly as they approach standardized testing, is not uncommon.

Some parents defended Monroe, insisting that this isolated incident does not reflect the overall environment at Brookside Academy, describing it as “an unfortunate moment in an otherwise positive experience.” Yet, the fact that a staff member felt compelled to record such behavior raises serious questions about the school’s practices.

It’s worth noting that while excellence in education is important, the methods used to achieve it should never come at the cost of a child’s emotional well-being. For more on navigating education and parenting, you can check out this post about home insemination techniques.

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In summary, the incident involving Lisa Monroe at Brookside Academy highlights serious concerns regarding teacher-student interactions in educational settings. While some parents support her methods, the backlash from the community suggests a growing demand for more compassionate teaching practices.