New York Post, June 17, 20000Head-bashing teacher's aid charged
By Ikimulisa Stockwell-MasonNews A Queens teacher's aide bashed a News 7-year-old special-ed student's head against a desk twice yesterday, telling Post Opinion cops he had to discipline the boy because Reviewshe was acting up, officials said.
Abraham Sylcott, 30, was charged with assault and endangering the welfare of a child for slamming young Edwin Ticas' head against a desk in a classroom at PS 196 in Forest Hills around 9:40 a.m., police said.
"It is outrageous and it makes me so mad," the boy's father, also named Edwin Ticas, told The Post.
Sylcott, who's been working as a full-time teacher's aide in the district for just one year, told cops he slammed the boy's head against the desk because he was misbehaving.
The second-grader, who loves math and playing basketball, was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and released.
Board of Education spokeswoman Margie Feinberg said officials "are moving to fire" Sylcott.
"We cannot tolerate this kind of behavior." Feinberg said.
The school's principal, Sylvia Hammer, said the boy "is fine and safe."
The assault was witnessed by another teacher, who immediately alerted a school safety officer.
Robin Augello, a mother of two daughters at the school, said she was outraged after learning of the assault, but called it an isolated incident.
"This school is absolutely wonderful," Augello said.