Flicking a child's ear to get their attention?

We are looking at moving my son into a much more structured daycare. I have found one that I really like that I would put him in to in a heart beat....however, his current daycare's director (she's leaving, that's why we're moving him) has told us that the daycare we like flick's a child's ear to get their attention (like when they misbehave and the teacher is trying to discipline). I know that daycare facilities aren't allowed to discipline past timeout, but I just don't know about flicking someone's ear. Anyone heard of anything like this?