Is Success Academy Abusing Young Students?

I am a NYC public high school teacher whose school shares a “campus” with three other public high schools and one charter elementary school — Success Academy Upper West. Each school has its own floor in the building, but we share spaces like the entrance lobby, auditorium, and cafeteria. Our teachers are used to seeing the charter school students treated like military cadets. We routinely see their teachers barking orders when in the halls; students must walk with hands in pockets, eyes facing completely forward, and no smiling. Often I have heard a teacher excoriating a child because he or she had to use the bathroom. Several times a week I witness a Success teacher and crying student in the hallway that has made me more than a little uncomfortable — like had I passed by just a moment earlier I would have seen something that would qualify as abuse.

On the afternoon of February 1st, this feeling I had been having manifested itself. I was using the elevator to move some furniture, and while walking through Success Academy’s space, I witnessed a student being forced to walk on his knees through the halls while the teacher and rest of the class followed behind. The teacher loudly told the rest of the class not to pay any attention to the student on his knees, that he was “punished” and they should act like he was “invisible”. The punished student was clearly upset, embarrassed, and struggling to hold back his emotions. Most of his classmates also looked confused as to what was happening.

I immediately reported it to my administration and guidance counselor. They were extremely supportive of my desire to report the incident, however they were unsure which agency had jurisdiction over incidents in charter schools. After a few phone calls, we were informed that the usual channels to report child abuse would not be available for this incident because of the unique contract Success Academy has. I was advised that the best I could do was report this to the Public Advocate’s office and to Advocates for Children. I did report the incident to both of these organizations, and ultimately I decided to also report to Child Protective Services. While they confirmed that they did not have jurisdiction over charter schools, the phone call I received just minutes later allayed my fears a bit. A detective from NYPD SVU called me to begin an investigation.

My hopes are that justice is met in this case, but unfortunately, I’m left with the lingering feeling that criminals are getting away with crimes against children, the reports I have filed will not lead to the proper outcome because neither the Public Advocate, nor Advocates for Children possess the necessary authority to prosecute the criminal(s) masquerading as teachers and administration in Success Charter Academy. Let’s not sugarcoat this — what I witnessed in the halls of Success Charter Academy on February 1, 2016 is emotional abuse of a child and it is illegal and immoral in our country. We have a responsibility to call it out when we see it and prosecute those who perpetrate it. We have a responsibility because the most vulnerable amongst us cannot defend themselves.

I regret that I chose to rely on an official reporting system that may ultimately leave thousands of children unprotected. I should have followed my instincts and stepped in immediately. Perhaps making this public is the only solution.

Chris Sedita
NYC Public School Teacher

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