Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School

For the longest time, I was made to believe it was my fault for the way the faculty handled these situations. And I somewhat believed it was my child that was to blame, as well. After the 2nd or 3rd month here, my child started hurting himself anytime he made a small mistake. However, instead of coming up with an APPROPRIATE action plan, they asked me what I thought they should do. The principal implied my child had autism and/or ADHD, his teacher began isolating him, putting him down, not addressing the bullying from other, mostly older children, etc.. I stayed up for weeks researching & changing our entire routine & lifestyle. While his behavior improved at home, it never seemed to improve at school. The school decided to then involve the school Districts Family Services. Our home life was absolutely nothing but normal. My child was not being abused - mentally or physically, he was not left alone to care for himself, starved, ignored, living in filth, etc.. The way the district & this particular officer handled this was inappropriate, as well. I took him out of Kids Safari & school started to improve for a short period of time. I started my child in therapy & they determined the issues were brought on by stress. My child was FIVE at the time. No child, especially someone who’s only been on this earth for five years, should be under this amount of stress and it should NEVER be caused by the adults at the school. Kids Safari staff were glorified babysitters, neither experienced or qualified staff. The school counselors were in no way helpful & took little to no interest in determining, or assisting, what the cause of the issue(s) were. The only Counselor that did take an interest in my child’s mental well being worked at a different school. Once he was in daycare full time over the Summer, NONE of the issues that were happening at the school occurred. In the end, we moved & my child is THRIVING at his new school. We had some repeat issues the first 2 months of school, since his experience at Blackburn gave him PTSD, but because of the absolutely wonderful staff at his new school, he’s had an amazing 1st grade year.

In this school, there is a lot of discrimination against different races. If you are not white, then teachers are unkind and cruel.

Judgemental a little racist to say the least. All they seem to care about is attendance as if they get a bonus which is true... Black History month is a joke. How can a person of a different race teach my child about her. What a joke. Most of what they teach you are lies, except English and math. My child has learned nothing about her history, Nicola Tesla etc. So much more I can say .. But I will end it there you get the jest.....

I am a former student now in middle school, and I adore this school. My older brother also attended. The educators and peers were all wonderful, and the principal made me feel secure and was always happy to chat with students and staff. The music, art, and instruction were all excellent. If I don't relocate when I'm older, I'll absolutely send my children here. I can't wait to see my old educators again; they were all wonderful and helped me develop into the person I am today.- Ava Ardon