New Haven teacher on leave for several complaints

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- A New Haven mom says her son's experience in a third grade classroom has been traumatizing.

The child's teacher has been placed on administrative leave and the department of children and families is now investigating but the mother says there's much more to the story.

This mother is so upset to the point where she feels the teacher deserves jail time for the way her son was treated. She says it wasn't until a few weeks ago that her son told her he was afraid of the teacher. When she called the school, she realized other kids are afraid.

"You know, I don't send my son to school to get abused," said Glenda Harding.

She's talking about her 8-year-old son Keaton's experience in Mr. Jonathan Weiner's third grade class at Roberto Clemente School. For months, she's been worried.

"He's been off, totally. Not wanting to go to school, um I though he was being bullied by another kid," said Harding.

Then, finally Keaton started taking.

"Before the snowstorm he came home with his folder ripped up and he said mom, look at what my teacher did," said Harding.

So Glenda questioned him a number of times about what went on in the classroom.

"He said yes mom, I'm positive I got an answer wrong, I didn't know what answer and he ripped my folder up," said Harding.

She says the story kept getting worse.

"He said, 'Mom, he gets so angry he throws books' and that really just did a number on me," said Harding.

Harding says Mr. Weiner also insulted her son in front of the class.

"I don't want him to be a kid that's struggling throughout his life in school because a teacher told him, 'wow, you don't know nothing,'" said Harding.

She says on February 20 she called the school to make them aware, but learned they already knew and had taken action because other complaints had come in based on this letter dated  February 11. It's telling parents Mr. Weiner was on leave, but that letter didn't go out until about a week later when kids returned from the snow storm.

The School Department wouldn't confirm or deny other complaints, but they did tell News 8 Weiner has been on leave since February 8. They also said they take these allegations seriously and the district followed proper procedure by notifying DCF.

"Once you start throwing stuff, that's physical. He should go to jail," said Harding.