Bitten by Kindergarten Student, Teacher Gets Tetanus Shot... Parent Files "Child Abuse" Complaint

Teacher Not Separated from Child Despite Recognition of Teaching Rights Violation
Calls for Measures to Protect Teachers Amid Repeated Child Abuse Complaints

A public kindergarten teacher in Sejong City has been accused of child abuse again, despite having been recognized as a victim of an infringement on her teaching rights, and has not been separated from a child eligible for special education. The teacher and an educators' union are calling for effective protective measures in response to the infringement.

Teacher Faces Another Child Abuse Complaint Despite Recognition of Teaching Rights Violation

Arm of Kindergarten Teacher A. Sejong Branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union

According to the Sejong Branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union and others, the parent of a child eligible for special education at the kindergarten filed a child abuse complaint against the child's teacher, identified as A, last week.

The parent reportedly claimed that A had choked the child after red marks were found on the child's body. A, however, said, "I understand that the child scratched themself because they were itchy." In connection with the case, the Sejong Police Agency visited the kindergarten on October 30 and launched an investigation, including by securing footage from the closed-circuit television (CCTV) system.

The parent had previously filed a child abuse complaint on grounds of neglect in July against four people: two teachers, including A, as well as the kindergarten director and vice director. The police investigation into that case is also still underway. After the child's aggressive behavior continued, the child was handed over to the family under an agreement reached through the education office's dispute mediation process. The parent claimed that this constituted neglect.

After the child repeatedly injured teachers by biting them and damaged classroom furniture and teaching materials, the teachers reported the child and the parent for infringing on their teaching rights. In August, the Sejong City Office of Education's Teaching Rights Protection Committee ordered the parent to submit a written apology and the child to receive psychological treatment.

Even after that, the child continued attending the same kindergarten and was not separated from A. The Sejong Branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union said that the kindergarten operates two classes as one, making it ineffective to split the classes, and that the parent's request to transfer the child to a nearby kindergarten was rejected by the education office's Special Education Operations Committee.

A said the child had repeatedly bitten her arms and hands, requiring her to receive a tetanus shot, and that she was diagnosed with a concussion in July. She was reportedly bitten on the lip recently as well.

"We Will Continue Providing the Support Needed to Protect Teachers"

Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union Sejong Branch

Meanwhile, the Sejong City Office of Education said it would establish a dedicated legal support team for A and develop measures to effectively separate the teacher and the child. In a statement issued today, the education office said, "We take seriously the difficulties kindergarten teachers are facing in the course of their educational activities," and added, "We will continue providing the support needed to protect teachers and ensure that young children can participate in educational activities in a stable environment." The office also said it would form a dedicated legal support team to systematically respond to matters involving the kindergarten, including the child abuse complaint against the teacher.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.