Parents Allege Abuse at Special Education Kindergarten in Southern Israel, Police Investigate
Parents of children attending a special education kindergarten in Arad, southern Israel, have raised serious allegations of abuse against a teacher, prompting a police investigation. The accusations include forcibly feeding a 3.5-year-old toddler and violently dragging a 6-year-old girl down stairs. The incidents reportedly occurred over the past two weeks, leading some children to refuse attending the kindergarten.
Moran Reuven, a mother of children at the kindergarten and chair of the parents' committee, witnessed one of the incidents firsthand. She described seeing the teacher angrily grabbing the 6-year-old's arms and dragging her down the stairs to the school bus while the child cried. Reuven reported the event to the girl's mother, who confirmed previous complaints about the teacher's conduct. Following this, about 60 hours later, parents gathered to discuss the situation and share their children's accounts, which included the girl hiding in the bathroom to avoid the teacher and verbal confrontations.
During the meeting, parents also revealed that the youngest child was forcibly fed a snack by the same teacher. Several parents expressed distress, with some breaking down in tears. The toddler's mother told Walla News she felt heartbroken and questioned her decision to send her child there, emphasizing that violence and impatience have no place in caregiving.
The following day, a year-end party at the kindergarten further exposed the teacher's problematic behavior. The teacher reportedly refused to be photographed with children she did not communicate well with, while posing with others, an act witnessed by parents and seen as crossing a red line. Despite these concerns, the Ministry of Education's supervisor reprimanded the teacher but allowed her to continue working, warning that further misconduct would lead to a formal hearing. Parents strongly opposed this decision and filed a police complaint.
The Ministry of Education in the Southern District confirmed it is investigating the complaint and coordinating with parents. The police stated the case is under active investigation. Moran Reuven stressed the parents' determination to protect their children and prevent any recurrence of such abuse, stating, "Our children's lives and safety are not neglected. We will not allow any continuation of behavior that puts them at risk."
