Nursery School Teacher Fired After Allegedly Slapping Child

MANCHESTER, NJ — A nursery school teacher has been fired after she allegedly slapped a child at the Manchester school, officials with the school have confirmed.

A description of the incident at Hilltop Nursery School on Route 37 west made the rounds on social media on Thursday. In a Facebook post, Amanda Goldfarb of Toms River said she witnessed the teacher kneeling and yelling at a child and then slapping the child. The incident took place in the room for 2-year-olds, Goldfarb said, and happened as she was bringing her son to drop him off for the first time.

Goldfarb said she notified the director and withdrew her son immediately.

Robert Allen, the attorney for Hilltop Nursery School, confirmed an incident happened and that the teacher involved had been fired.

"The teacher has been let go," Allen said in a brief telephone conversation.

"The incident was investigated immediately," he said in an emailed statement. "We have also requested an independent investigation. The child was not harmed but the conduct of the teacher was not acceptable and consequently the teacher was dismissed. The parent of the child involved was notified."

"We regret that the incident took place and want to assure all of our families that our students’ safety and well-being remains our utmost concern," the statement said. "We value the confidentiality of all of our children and unfortunately cannot discuss this further but we assure everyone the matter is being fully and appropriately addressed."

Allen said that while the teacher's actions were unacceptable, "the incident has been exaggerated." He said he could not elaborate, but said the school has been in operation for 30 years.

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