The case came to light when Lisa Luviano, mother of Layne, a 5-year-old girl, reported that her daughter had received a “sleeping sticker” at school.
TEXAS.- Parents in Texas reported that a preschool teacher placed some type of adhesive patch with melatonin on her children and for this reason four teachers at Northgate Crossing Elementary School, located in Spring, Texas, were suspended.
According to Telemundo, the Spring Independent School District issued a statement calling the incident “deeply disturbing” and assured that an investigation is being carried out in collaboration with the Department of Police they Spring.
The case came to light when Lisa Luviano, mother of Layne, a 5-year-old girl, reported that her daughter had received a “sleeping sticker” at school.
According to Luviano, her daughter told her in September that teachers would place the adhesive on her body before nap time. After the complaint, Other parents began asking their children similar questions.
Melissa Gilford, mother of 4-year-old Ava, discovered that her daughter had also received these patches.
“I asked Ava if they got those stickers at school, and she said yes, it was the ‘sleep sticker,’” said Gilford, who compared the sticker to a melatonin patch. an over-the-counter sleeping pill that affects sleep cycles.
The school district described what happened as unacceptable
Immediately after the complaints, the school district suspended the teachers involved. “We will not tolerate this behavior that endangers the safety of our students,” Superintendent Lupita Hinojosa said in a statement.
Hinojosa emphasized that it is unacceptable for any member of the personnel administer medication, including a sleeping pill, without the authorization of the parents. “This action violates district policy, and we are taking every step necessary to ensure something like this does not happen again,” the superintendent said.
Luviano reported that her daughter Layne showed notable changes in her behavior since she began attending Northgate Elementary in August, appearing moody and having difficulty sleeping.
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After discovering what was happening, he contacted the local police department and the school authoritiesbut was frustrated by the lack of satisfactory response, which led her to alert other parents.
Gilford, upon learning of Layne’s case, rushed to speak to his own daughter. Both mothers agree that the situation is extremely worrying and demand that take more drastic measures against those responsible.
According to Dr. Joel Gator Warsh, pediatra y autor de “Parenting at Your Child’s Pace”, Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that regulates the sleep cycle.
Although its use in children is generally considered safe, it can have side effects such as headaches, nightmares and mood swings.
“Without a child’s complete medical history, administering melatonin, even in small doses, can have significant consequences,” Warsh warned.
