Teacher Paul Carlbark was attacked by a student at the school he worked at.
After the incident, he was suspended and later fired.
– Instead of supporting an employee who has been exposed to threats and violence at their workplace, they choose to fire the crime victim, says Paul Carlbark.
Now Sweden’s teachers will take his former employer, Höör municipality, to the labor court.
It was this spring that Paul Carlbark tried to intervene when a 16-year-old student harassed another student with disabilities. A commotion broke out and Paul Carlbark finally managed to hold the 16-year-old against a cupboard.
After the incident, the then-principal deemed it out of character after Paul and the student apologized to each other. But then Paul Carlbark was reported to the police, that report was quickly dropped when police and prosecutors saw surveillance and mobile footage from the incident.
After that he was suspended and during the summer holidays he was fired. The Swedish Teachers’ Union has reacted strongly and now intends to take the municipality of Höör to the labor court.
– We operate this based on the fact that the dismissal is not okay. It must be withdrawn and we also have a claim for damages for the member. Unfortunately, these situations are not unusual in Swedish schools, it is clear that it creates a great deal of uncertainty, says Åsa Fahlén, president of Sweden’s teachers.
She continues:
– It is a very important case for Sweden’s teachers to push so that we get clarity.
Got it right by the court
The 16-year-old student was later convicted of threatening an official in the case of Paul Carlbark. The district court then also gave him the right to how he acted in the situation.
TV4 Nyheterna has searched Höör municipality but without success.
Paul Carlbark now wants compensation.
– If there is now a verdict in the labor court that is in my favor and that of Sweden’s teachers, it can be a benefit for all teachers in Sweden, I think.