DD has just started Maternelle, at the local private school. She has two teachers, both of whom are new to the school this year, one for Monday / Tuesday, and one for Thursday / Friday. Throughout the whole week she has a teaching assistant who has been at the school for a long time.
On day 1 I heard the assistant shout quite harshly at a child who was crying. On day 2 I heard her do the same thing. I was concerned enough to ask mothers with older children who have been in her class about her, and was assured that she is perfectly nice.
Today I saw something about which I am deeply uncomfortable. The teaching assistant had some children (possibly from Moyenne Section) arranged in front of her on the floor. One girl was crying. The assistant absolutely yelled at her to stop crying, in a continuous stream of words rather than a one-off 'Arrete!'. She then marched over to the girl, grabbed her by one bicep, yanked her literally off her feet, dragged her for 2 metres and forcibly plonked her down in front of where she had been sitting, all the while still yelling. I don't think it's exaggerating to call the assistant's behaviour to the child violent. I was with another mother who saw the end of this and who was equally shocked. The girl in question was cowed into silence.
I cannot believe that this kind of manhandling of toddlers is acceptable - it would certainly not be in the UK. Are things that different in France? Nobody in authority came to find out what was happening despite the volume at which she was shouting. If it turns out to be within the bounds of normal teaching behaviour then I may have made a mistake about the school.
Practically speaking, I need some clarification about what the school considers to be acceptable disciplinary behaviour. I would also like some assurance that this will not happen again, though I don't believe that is realistic. I am not confident enough in my French to raise this in conversation - I will certainly offend the assistant with my lack of nuance. I want to write a letter explaining what I saw and asking for a copy of the school's discipline policy - but i am also reluctant togo on record in week 1 as a difficult parent. Unfortunately the other mother is away all next week so will not be around to back me up.
I'd be grateful for advice from anyone with children in the French school system as to whether this is normal behaviour, and the best way to proceed. Thanks in advance.