Parents are suing a Fort Worth, Texas, daycare, alleging that a teacher created a "child fight club" environment in a classroom by encouraging one student to attack another and then physically assaulting a 4-year-old boy.
The lawsuit, filed on September 4 in Tarrant County district court, claims that on April 27, teacher Chynia Johnson allegedly grabbed, shook, and dragged the 4-year-old, identified in court documents as UH, before causing him to fall onto the hardwood floor. The parents, Heather and Richard Harris, allege that Johnson, whose son had been fighting with UH, repeatedly manhandled the younger boy and attempted to force the children back into a confrontation while another teacher, Jacqueline De Luna, allegedly stood by and failed to intervene.
"This place looked like a child fight club. It felt like one," family attorney Russell Button told WFAA-TV. "This kid was thrown around like a human rag doll by somebody that was supposed to protect him."
CCTV footage cited in the lawsuit purportedly shows Johnson grabbing and shaking UH, shoving him, and dragging him toward her son while the boy struggled to get away. The suit alleges Johnson then struck UH's leg while holding his wrist, causing him to lose his footing and hit the floor. UH reportedly suffered bruises and scratches on his arms, headaches, and pain in his backside. His parents claim he has since experienced anxiety, clinginess, and emotional outbursts, leading him to stop attending the daycare.
According to the lawsuit, the confrontation began after Johnson's son hit UH. After the initial scuffle ended, Johnson entered the classroom to relieve De Luna for a break. Johnson's son then allegedly pushed UH, and when UH raised his hands, Johnson lunged at him. The lawsuit states that De Luna later told state investigators that Johnson had instructed her son to kick UH and tried to make him hit the other child.
The lawsuit also claims Johnson had a history of aggressive behavior toward children. Employee statements cited in the complaint indicate that Arka administrator Joyner Calvin had heard Johnson yelling at children and had addressed the issue with her multiple times. Another employee, Emma Rogers, reportedly told investigators that Johnson would grab children by their upper arms, roughly place them in chairs, and sometimes "snap and start yelling at the children and handling them in an aggressive manner."
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission later cited Arka Montessori Academy of Risinger for improper discipline, prohibited punishment, and failures in employee judgment and intervention related to the April incident, according to the suit.
An employee at the daycare offered a "no comment" when contacted by WFAA-TV and directed inquiries to the daycare's director. The Post has sought comment from Johnson and the daycare center.