The teacher who gagged with a tape a 13-year-old student during class and was arrested on Friday was sentenced to two years imprisonment over the weekend and suspended from the school duties on Monday.
Police arrested the 60-year-old teacher following a complain by the victim’s parents to police., after Police have arrested a middle school teacher in the northern Greek city of Serres after she allegedly gagged a 13-year-old student with tape during class, authorities said.
The incident occurred on Friday morning, January 23, at a public junior high school in the town of Serres, northern Greece.
The teacher who is also director of the school, has been accused of placing insulating tape over the student’s mouth because he was being disruptive during the lesson.
State broadcaster ERT reported that the teacher then instructed another student to bind the boy’s hands with paper tape.
The child’s mother later filed a complaint with police, prompting an investigation.
Following the complaint, the teacher was arrested and taken to the Serres public prosecutor’s office to give testimony.
Over the weekend, the teacher was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with a bail of 10 euros per day. she appealed the decision and was released.
Today, Monday, the teacher has been suspended from her school duties in accordance with the applicable legislation.
Speaking to media over the weekend, her husband claimed that she was suffering from psychological problems and that she had stopped her medication three years ago.
Following this unprecedented incident, repeated testimonies have come to light that speak of an environment of tension, fear and daily friction within the school community, which – according to the parents – has been known to the competent authorities for years, without however any timely and substantial intervention.
Last time, the parents complained in written form about the teacher was short before Christmas, however, they received no response from the Education authorities.
It wasn’t only the students and their parents in uproar of the teacher’s and director’s behavior, though. Media reported that teachers assigned to this particular school refused the new position.
Education Minister, Sofia Zacharaki, requested explanations for the lack of timely and institutionally foreseen information of the competent services of the ministry and the Regional Directorate of Education by the competent Director of Education.
“The issue is being examined as a serious administrative oversight, within the framework of the foreseen procedures and responsibilities,” the minister stated in her official information note, local media lionnews.gr reported.
Education authorities launched an internal investigation for all the persons and entities involved, without any exception, in order to fully investigate the acts, omissions and any responsibilities, and to clarify every aspect of the case.
Wow, that’s a sign to retire. I am just about her age and can absolutely relate. If I did that, I would get disciplined by the College of Teachers as well as the law.
I disagree what she did but some kids are beyond control
Everybody’s idea of “beyond control” and “disruptive” is subjective. The student could have been sent to the principal. The parent(s) could have been brought in to discuss the child’s behaviour. The student could have been removed to a quiet room and supervised. As a teacher, I am frustrated by the angry, disengaged, apathetic, entitled students in front of me. But I am not allowed to do what I MIGHT want to do. I document, I refer, I talk to other teachers – but I don’t tape mouths.