A pre-school teacher in Haninge municipality was reported to the police for sexual abuse of several children at the pre-school. But the municipality chose not to tell the parents of the children’s group.
The information came instead from the mother of one of the suspected crime victims.
Educator registered with the police
In a chat group that the parents created earlier, for fundraising for gifts for educators, she wrote that they reported a teacher to the police for violations.
– Violations is a broad concept that can include both saying ugly words to a child and raping a child. I panicked when I read the text message and when it became clear that it was of a sensitive nature, says the mother.
She went to the preschool and demanded answers:
– I felt that I had been deprived of the right to act as a mother should act. Deprived of the right to talk to my child, see signals, says the mother, and continues:
– So I pound my fist on the table several times and I demand answers. Tell me. Has my child been sexually abused?
Police are called
But instead the preschool calls the police.
The mother, who works as a teacher in the same municipality, is then called to a meeting with the employer. She believes it is about the suspected abuse.
– But then I learn that I am suspended from my job. For the safety and security of all children. It felt incredibly offensive and unfair, to suspend me because I have become upset about a terrible situation at my daughter’s preschool.
Don’t want to comment
Sven Gustafsson, chairman of the municipal board (M), believes that the atmosphere between parents and municipal representatives has been threatening since the suspicions became known.
– Which is the reason why I am sitting here today and not the school management. A very threatening atmosphere has arisen, which no one feels good about, he says.
But he does not want to comment on the decision to suspend the mother from her teaching position.
– I don’t get involved in such personnel decisions. That is for the municipality and the HR department to decide.
The mother has been allowed to return to her job and there are currently no suspicions that her daughter has been exposed. The suspected educator denies the accusations.