Teacher accused of tying up tot

Investigations are under way after a mother said a supply teacher tied her three-year-old son to his chair

A TEACHER in Narbonne is accused of tying a three-year-old to his chair as a punishment.

Both police and the education authorities are investigating after a mother said her boy was tied up because he had “done something silly and because he was a bit restless”, said Le Parisien.

The mother reportedly said the teacher did it “even though he was asking her, crying, not to do it”, adding: “It only lasted a minute or two, but that’s a very long time for a child”.

The mother, who went to the police, heard what is alleged to have happened via parents of another child in the same class who had spoken of the incident to them.

The teacher, a supply teacher with 20-years’ experience, has said she just “threatened to punish” the boy but did not do it.

Investigations are under way to clarify the incident, but the Narbonne public prosecutor’s office says it is taking it extremely seriously. The mayor of the city has also been informed.

The local education authority head told Le Midi Libre it was important to be cautious at this stage as the accusations had not been proved. “Another teacher has come forward to back up her colleague’s version,” he said.

The teacher has been withdrawn from the school in question as a precautionary measure.