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School sued over vacuum cleaner attack

The Local Sweden
The Local Sweden - [email protected]
School sued over vacuum cleaner attack

A school in Uppsala is facing a 25,000 kronor compensation demand after a teacher attacked a child's face with a vacuum cleaner.

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The Child and Pupil Ombudsman (BEO) is handling the case against the Grundsten school after the matter was reported in June.

According to the report the pupil, who is in the intermediate level, was fooling around with a vacuum cleaner with which he was meant to be clearing up sawdust. The teacher saw red, slammed the pupil down on a table and began sucking his face and mouth with the vacuum cleaner.

After the incident the pupil had difficulty sleeping and was afraid to go to woodwork class. The pupil's father was told by the school head that there was nothing she could do about the situation and that he was entitled to take it further if he wished.

Uppsala municipality has confirmed that the teacher lost control. He was said to be devastated by the matter and tried to apologise to the child. He also offered an apology to the boy's father.

The teacher was off on sick leave for the rest of the school year and is no longer employed at the school.

According to BEO the treatment of the child was abuse.

In April this year a new law against discrimination and other abusive behaviour in schools was introduced in Sweden. Under this law, it is highly likely that the child will be awarded compensation.

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