Parents of Elementary Student Who Assaulted Teacher File Child Abuse Complaint Against the Teacher

The parents of an elementary school student who assaulted a teacher have filed a child abuse complaint against that very teacher, sparking growing controversy.

According to education authorities on the 18th, a homeroom teacher was assaulted by a student at an elementary school in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, earlier this month, and on the 3rd the parents filed a police complaint against the teacher, the vice principal, and a fellow teacher. The complaint reportedly claims that the teacher shouted while refusing a request to change a test paper, and that the vice principal made remarks constituting emotional abuse toward the student during the assault.

Teacher B, a part-time teacher in her late 60s and a retired educator, reported to work for the first time on the 1st for a six-month term. During the diagnostic assessment on her first day, student A hurled profanity at her, saying the test paper was dirty. The school calmed A down after her violent outburst and called her guardian to have her sent home early.

However, the next day, at around 8:40 a.m. on the 2nd, when B informed A that she needed to retake the diagnostic assessment, A punched B in the face and head and kicked her. The vice principal and other teachers who tried to restrain the attack were also reportedly assaulted. Video footage of A grabbing B by the hair and beating her was released through media reports.

The provincial office of education, which was notified of the incident as a child abuse report by police and administrative authorities, provided legal support to the teachers named in the complaint. The office has also requested a conflict mediation service with the parents.

A has been suspended from school over the incident. The victimized teacher B is reportedly currently on leave.