Am I responsible or not ?

Question

Hi,

I have a question, hope someone can answer it.

My son who is 3,5 years old attends a private pre-k. Today the teacher told me my son broke the teacher's expensive camera ($400). Am I financially responsible for it? Do I have to buy a new camera for the teacher? I do not understand how the teacher can leave her valuable camera in the place where a 4-year-old can touch it? Or maybe the child was not supervised while the accident happened? What do you think about it?

Answer 1

Well i feel as a parent that no i would not of paid for it.You are right it's is there responsability to watch the children and if the camera was broke where was the caregiver. I would not allow my son to go back there.whats next you never no these days.

Answer 2

You do not need to pay for the camera. (S)he obviously was not supervising your child so you should  tell her/him that.

Answer 3

i think that you shouldnt have to pay for the dammage she/he left it and oviously wasnt supervising your child

Answer 4

I wouldn't know what to do either it's a private school there should be a reimbursement for her is she asking for money that's a lot with pre school kids around they don't just sit at a desk to begin with let me know what happens

Answer 5

No way! The teacher is responsible for supplying developmentally-appropriate materials and providing a safe classroom setting. Not only should she not have given your son the camera, she should not have lain guilt on you by telling you about it.

Answer 6

The daycare center my kids were in made me sign a form stating that I would not let my kids begin toys from home in.  Their reasoning for this was because they couldn't be held responsible for the items if they were to get broke or damage.  So if they're not responsible for my kids toys getting broke, then you shouldn't be responsible for the teacher's items getting broke.  She should know the rules also.   And like you said, the camera should not be out and in reach for the kids to get.  

I'm not going to say the kids were not being supervised because my kids have broke things with me sitting right beside them.  Your kid might have just walked past were the camera was sitting and knocked it off, doesn't mean he was unsupervised.

Answer 7

Yes, you are financially responsible for it. Your child broke it therefore you need to pay it. If someone's child broke your things you would expect them to pay, wouldn't you?

Answer 8

I believe you are not responsible for the camera, the teacher should have been watching your son, if she had been keeping an eye on your son he would have not broken it.Besides you were not there when your son broke the camera so it has nothing to do with you.If you were there when it happened and said it was okay for him to touch the camera you probably would have been a little responsible.When your son broke the camera it seems like the teacher gave your son permission to gave the camera so she was responsible for it.

Answer 9

Okay it is sooo the teachers responsibility. She should know not to leave stuff where the kids can get it. Do you know how many blankets, binkies, sippy cups and designer clothes that have just disappeared at school and they say -- not their responsibility for lost or stolen or broken items, there ya go. I would actually be very ticked that she put my son on the spot in front of me and I would totally make it a point to let the director know what happened. And I would also let her know that you might be a little concerned that she will treat your son differently because of this and you would like the director to talk to her about it. The facility may have insurance that can cover the repair. But really now -- leaving a $400 camera out is asking for trouble. My two yr old is constantly after ours no matter how well I think I've hidden it.

Answer 10

Plain and simple...she should not have left it down within his reach and/or within the throwing distance of toys.  Leave it at home or in a drawer, somewhere other than where childen can get it.

You should not be responsible for her camera.  You should apologize for what happened and leave it at that.  She cannot hold you responsible...she was the one that was careless.  Also, the fact that she cannot show the camera to you (it happened same day....why the h**l not?) is even more suspicious.  A child is a child...and accidents will happen.  She has to accept that as well...after all...she is looking after a room full of them.

Answer 11

dont pay she should have just somewere safe so its not ur fault its hers refuse to pay cause she left it on the table were the kids can reach it dont pay at all her fault her payment

Answer 12

I would say just that.  You can not hold a young child responsible for her negligance.  Apologize for the incident, and tell her there is nothing you can do, him breaking it obviously means it was somewhere he had access to it or he wasn't being supervised, which in that case and that is most likely the case, that should be addressed as well.  If she doesn't like it, too d**n bad.

Answer 13

That's a bit difficult to answer, as you didn't tell us the kind of circumstances that surrounded the breaking. Did your son sneak into the teacher's things on purpose? If it was your son's fault, you should apologize to the teacher and offer her reimbursement. If it was just a matter of negligence (i.e. did the teacher carelessly leave the camera someplace where the children could touch it?), the teacher has only herself to blame, and you shouldn't have to pay for the camera. You should probably apologize either way, and have your son apologize too. Even if was an accident, that's a pretty expensive item.