A mom in Texas says she fears sending her young son back to school after an alleged incident with a teacher. The educator, whose name has not been released, reportedly gave kindergarten students melatonin gummies seemingly to calm them down. One 5-year-old's mother has spoken out but doesn't want anyone to know her name.
In an interview with CBS affiliate KENS 5, the mom said her son, Wylder, is a student at Pine Forest Elementary School in Humble. The school's principal reportedly called her to say the teacher gave her son and other children melatonin gummies. The teacher in question has resigned, but the mom is still nervous about sending Wylder back to school.
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The alleged incident took place in a special education class.
The mom said Wylder is nonverbal and unable to tell her what is happening at school, so when the teacher allegedly slipped him a gummy, she had no idea. But she said the teacher had communicated with her in the past. In retrospect, there may have been signs of a problem in the classroom.
"She had called me a few times asking what you do at home? What do you suggest at home to get him to calm down? He's very active and we sometimes have a hard time getting him to focus back on the task at hand," she explained.
The teacher reportedly probed her about what Wylder liked.
She claimed the teacher asked her what the kindergartner was taking at home, but neither the mom nor the teacher said anything about melatonin.
"The only thing now that I think about it is she had asked, besides favorite snacks, does he like gummies, does he take gummy vitamins," Wylder's mom said.
The teacher has reportedly resigned, but the mom is still concerned.
Even though the teacher is no longer with the Humble Independent School District, according to a statement provided to KENS 5, she has not been charged with a crime. And although she won't be teaching at Pine Forest, the mom fears she will find a teaching job elsewhere.
"It's a breach of trust," the mom explained. "We don't want this happening to somebody else. It was melatonin this time, but what if it was something else?"
The incident is under investigation.
The district conducted an internal investigation into the teacher's alleged actions, Fox 26 reported. It found the teacher had given gummies to children in her classroom without their parents' permission or consulting a school nurse.
A district representative said officials were "appalled" by the situation. District officials reported the incident to the State Board of Educator Certification. It is unclear if the teacher will face charges.
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Melatonin can be dangerous.
Although it is rare, a child can overdose on melatonin. Signs of overdose include headache, changes in blood pressure, drowsiness, vomiting, and worsening alopecia areata, the Sleep Foundation reports.
"It is important to discuss melatonin supplementation with your doctor, as they can help you determine the proper dosage. Starting with the lowest possible dose is typically recommended. This can help prevent unwanted side effects,” the organization asserts on its website.
