Two former staff members of a New Jersey children’s day care center have been accused of encouraging young children to engage in physical brawls with each other. The incidents, which happened under the supervision of 22-year-old Erica Kenny and 28-year-old Chanese White at Lightbridge Academy, were also posted on Snapchat. I’m pretty sure the first rule of fight club is to not involve kids and film it on social media. Both women been charged with fourth degree child abuse.
Kenny filmed several videos of the children shoving and striking each other, reports USA Today. In the clips, she can be heard referencing the movie Fight Club. Kenny will also face an additional charge of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Approximately a dozen boys and girls between the ages of 4 to 6 were seen in the videos. None are believed to have suffered serious injuries.
Lightbridge Academy released a statement about the incident:
“While no children were physically harmed during this incident, we have a zero tolerance policy for anyone who acts in conflict with the core value of Lightbridge Academy — the safety and well-being of children. We terminated the employment of these staff members and have maintained open communication with our parents throughout this process.
We sincerely thank our parents and dedicated staff for their support and patience. The actions of these two individuals do not reflect the culture of Lightbridge Academy and what we have stood for more than 18 years. While we will continue to fully support and assist the Prosecutor’s Office, we remain focused on the education and well-being of all children in our care.”
Kenny and White will appear in court on Friday.
Contact the author at [email protected].
Image via Shutterstock.
GET JEZEBEL RIGHT IN YOUR INBOX
Still here. Still without airbrushing. Still with teeth.
