Preschool teacher accused of inciting children to stay naked as punishment

March 20, 2019, 00:09 GMT

By Doha Madani

Two staff members from an Illinois kindergarten were put on administrative leave after being accused of instigating children to get naked as punishment, announced Tuesday. University responsible for this program.

A 26-year-old Head Start teacher reportedly introduced the punishment in February to the program where she had been working for three years, according to the Edwardsville Police Department of Southern Illinois University.

The university rents classrooms from a community center located in East St. Louis, about 30 minutes south of its main campus.

According to the head of the police of the EUS, Kevin Schmoll, the teacher and his assistant, who, according to the police, were aware of the sanctions, led a classroom of about 20 children of 4 and 5 years.

The students were invited to undress and then go naked in a closet to discipline them. University police began investigating charges on Thursday after a young boy spoke to his parents about the alleged sentence, Schmoll said.

"This little boy is very brave about being out there and telling us what's going on in his classroom," Schmoll said.

The teacher and the 41-year-old teacher's help were put on administrative leave while authorities investigate.

A letter has been sent to the parents of the other children in the class and the police will follow with phone calls to determine if there are other victims, Schmoll said. Interviews with children will begin in the first week of April.

Police are working with child protection services and prosecutors to determine if teachers will be charged with abuse.