Teacher 'pulls off' boy's ear
Bid to stop disruption in school canteen ends in blood and tears after boy's new stitches burst open
A TEACHER is facing prosecution after pulling a pupil's ear to stop disruption in the canteen - and part of it came away from the boy's head.
The six-year-old had just had an operation to pin his ears back and the teacher's tug burst the stitches causing lots of pain and blood.
Now the boy will have to undergo a second operation under general anaesthetic to redo the work.
The incident happened in a primary school in Abos, (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) and the boy's parents have lodged a complaint. Prosecutors at Pau say they "intend to prosecute" but added that if the teacher acknowledged his mistake then it would be dealt with by a fine and the matter would end there.
However, parents group Fédération des Conseils de Parents d'Elèves have attacked this saying it is "shocking and very light". President Dominique Rousset said: "Disciplinary rules are getting harder on pupils but when a teacher crosses the line it's quickly swept under the carpet. It's shocking."
He added: "I don't think the teacher intended to pull off the ear but that's assault. It is not normal. There's other ways to deal with disturbances."
An official from the schools inspectorate in Pyrénées-Atlantiques said that "all physical restraint is forbidden" in school.
