Illinois Preschool Students Forced To Stand Naked As Punishment
There are shocking allegations against two head start teachers involving forcing children to stand naked in a closet as a form of punishment.
NBC Chicago and NBC News have been all over this story involving a 26-year-old Head Start teacher in southern Illinois, along with her 41-year-old classroom aide. According to NBC Chicago, the alleged form of punishment has been in place for three years.
A 26-year-old Head Start teacher is said to have introduced the punishment in February at the program where she has worked for the last three years, according to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Police Department.
NBC News reports the teacher and her aide are responsible for twenty 4- and 5-year-old children. The program is less than 50 miles from St. Louis, at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Additionally, NBC reports a 6-year-old boy told his parents about the punishment.
Students were allegedly asked to take off their clothes then stand in a closet naked as a way to discipline them.
KMOV News released more details in the alleged punishment practices.
Children would misbehave in class and the teacher would have them disrobe and stand them, make them stand inside a closet for five or 10 minutes as their discipline. Then they would redress and join the class, said SIUE Police Chief Kevin Schmoll.
The teacher and her aide are both on administrative leave. Parents have been notified via letter and local police are following up on the investigation with phones calls to determine if there are additional victims. Prosecutors are also reviewing the case in regards to child abuse charges.
Read the program's letter parents here.
[H/T NBC Chicago, NBC News]
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