Kindergarten instructor in Kamchatka physically assaults pupil, resulting in termination.
In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a kindergarten teacher has been found guilty of physically abusing a 4-year-old boy with special health needs. The incident, reported by ChP Kamchatka, has sparked a legal battle and raised concerns about child protection in the region.
According to the report, the mother of the child filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office after learning about the incident. Video footage confirmed the unlawful actions of the kindergarten teacher, who admitted to striking the child but attributed it to an emotional outburst due to the child's aggressive behavior and disobedience.
Under Russian law, physical abuse of children in educational institutions like kindergartens is illegal and subject to criminal prosecution. The Constitution forbids "torture, violence or any other harsh or humiliating treatment or punishment"[1], and the Federal Law on the Protection of Children from Information Harmful to their Health and Development, along with the Family Code of the Russian Federation, establish protections for children’s rights and safety.
The teacher was fined and the kindergarten was ordered to pay compensation for the moral harm caused to the child. The city court ruled to collect 100,000 rubles from the kindergarten, and the teacher was fired as a result of the incident.
Notably, while independent reports document ongoing challenges in enforcement and protection related to abuse in Russia more broadly[1], no regional-specific child protection laws or penalties unique to Kamchatka Krai’s kindergartens were found in the current available sources, suggesting applicability of existing federal laws and penalties.
The regional court's decision took into account the boy's psychological distress, young age, and health condition. In her arguments, the teacher claimed that the child had not suffered psychological harm and did not require specialist help. However, the court upheld the original decision, considering the amount collected fair.
The prosecutor filed a lawsuit against the kindergarten, seeking compensation for the moral harm caused to the child, but the kindergarten administration did not appeal the decision.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the constitutional guarantees against torture and violence, and the need for vigilance in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children in all educational institutions.
[1] Independent reports referenced in this article can be found online. The exact dates of these reports may vary.
[Photo credit: dzen.ru]
The incident raises questions about the state of mental health support in educational institutions, particularly in kindergartens, given the teacher's attribution of her actions to an emotional outburst due to the child's behavior. Additionally, the need for comprehensive education-and-self-development programs in kindergartens becomes evident, to foster a healthy and supportive learning environment, promoting both physical and mental health-and-wellness of children with special needs.
