Society

Kindergarten teacher detained for hurting 7 kids in E China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-19 09:46

Cheng Sixia, mother of one of the victims, Cui, shows her son's scar. [Photo/Yangtse Evening Post]

NANJING - A kindergarten teacher who reportedly burned seven children using a hot iron on Tuesday has been detained for 10 days by police and fired from her teaching position in East China's Jiangsu province, said local authorities on Saturday.

The 30-years-old teacher, surnamed Yi, of Banqiao Kindergarten of Xinghua city, said that "she did not know the iron was still hot when she used it to discipline the children," according to information released at a press conference held by the city government.

Related readings: 7 kids burned in face for chatting in class

The seven children were slightly burned on the face. The burns are expected to fade without treatment within two weeks and probably will not leave scars, according to doctors at Xinghua City People's Hospital.

As of Saturday, two children had returned to class, one dropped out of this kindergarten, two remained at home resting and two are seeking treatment in East China's Shanghai municipality, according to information released at the press conference.

Further, the municipal police detained Yi for 10 days and fined her 500 yuan ($75).

The kindergarten owner apologized at the press conference and fired Yi.

As for Yi's using an iron because she did not think the iron was still hot, many people did not believe this and posted threads online, such as "How could you still think the iron is not hot since you burned seven kids."

But the police believe Yi did not foresee such consequences.

Dai Yongjian with the city public security bureau, said the iron had been unplugged from the socket for over ten minutes before burning the children, according to Yi's co-workers.

"Yi had treated children well before the incident, according to our talks with the kindergarten owners, teachers and children's parents," said Dai.

The students' faces did not show any injuries until that afternoon, said Dai.

Yang Qiuhong, mother of one injured child, named Wang Junhua, said , "I was angry at first, but now I forgive Yi and the kindergarten since Yi used to treat my child well and after this incident, the head of the kindergarten came to my home right away and took my child to the hospital."

The police believed that Yi lacked necessary medical knowledge and did not seek treatment for the children immediately after their faces began to show signs of being burned.

Yi was said to "regret her actions very much", according to Wu Gang, deputy chief of the municipal Education Bureau.

Yi does not have a preschool teacher certificate, which is quite common in Xinghua city, since only 40 percent of the 1,600 kindergarten teachers have such certificates, said Wu.

According to the regulation issued by the Jiangsu Provincial Government, such a certificate is required for some kindergarten posts, such as the head of the kindergarten and medical personnel. Others have to acquire such certificate within three years after working at a kindergarten.

Banqiao Kindergarten is a private school established in 2000.

Also, Banqiao Kindergarten is a popular kindergarten and many parents line up to have their children enrolled there, said Wu.