Kindergarten Violence Prompts Teacher Union to Delay School Openings

The Teachers Union has decided to delay the opening of kindergartens in the Krayot region by two hours following two separate incidents of violence and threats against kindergarten staff within a week. Both confrontations, which occurred in Kiryat Haim and Kiryat Motzkin, involved family members of children clashing with educators over the process of releasing children at the end of the school day.

The most recent incident took place at the "Gvirtzman" kindergarten in Kiryat Motzkin. According to the Teachers Union, a child's grandfather arrived before the official dismissal time, repeatedly rang the doorbell, and shook the gate forcefully. When the kindergarten teacher asked him to wait for the orderly release of the children, he allegedly began shouting, cursing, and verbally abusing her. The union claims he then advanced threateningly towards the teacher with raised hands as the gate opened, requiring parents present to intervene as a buffer. The union stated that children were frightened and cried during the event, and the teacher has filed a police complaint.

In response, the Teachers Union announced that classes at the kindergarten would begin at 10:00 AM, with a union representative scheduled to meet with the staff. This follows a similar serious incident last Friday at the "Tidhar" kindergarten in Kiryat Haim. The union reported that a child's father entered the kindergarten grounds during dismissal, pushed parents, and shoved an assistant who asked him to wait. He then allegedly confronted the kindergarten teacher, shouting threats to kill her. This incident reportedly lasted about 20 minutes, during which the father continued his verbal abuse and threats. Police and municipal supervision were called to the scene.

As a result, classes at the Kiryat Haim kindergarten also began at 10:00 AM instead of the usual time. The union emphasized that violence and threats against educational staff cannot become routine. Anat Dadon, head of the early childhood department at the Teachers Union, stated that teachers enforcing orderly dismissal are fulfilling their duty to ensure child safety and that family members demanding immediate release through intimidation is unacceptable violence and a violation of the teacher's authority.

Separately, the Shoham local council issued a statement condemning recent hazing incidents at the local high school. Students involved in these incidents on the first day of school have been suspended, and their participation in extracurricular activities will require parental accompaniment. The council stressed that bullying and offensive language have no place in Shoham and that efforts were made before the school year to prevent such behavior.