Accusations of mistreatment at a private school located in Rīga
In a concerning turn of events, parents of a 10-year-old boy have reported several episodes of possible emotional abuse to the police. The boy, who attended the private school Laisma, has been suspected of being targeted by a specific teacher at the school for spreading rumours and causing emotional distress.
The boy's condition, trichotillomania, is a form of self-harm that led to patches of hair missing from his head, a development that his mother noticed in early February. Additionally, the boy has adjustment disorders, an anxious-depressive reaction, and a history of negative life events due to bullying at school.
Other parents have shared similar stories of their children being publicly humiliated or insulted by the same teacher. Despite these reports, investigations conducted by the headmistress within the school have not yielded results. This has led to further concerns among the parents, who feel that their concerns about the teacher's behaviour have not been adequately addressed by the school's leadership.
The headmistress of the private school Laisma did not respond to the boy's mother's concerns, prompting the parents to contact LTV for help. In response, the headmistress asked the parents to write a complaint to understand the situation within the school.
The Ombudsman's Office is now investigating the case, with Valērija Leščinska, senior lawyer at the Children's Rights Division, explaining that cruel treatment is all forms of violence - physical, emotional, and sexual. Criminal proceedings have been initiated under the second part of Article 174 of the Criminal Law regarding cruelty and violence against minors.
When approached, the teacher in question referred to her lawyer who stated that she denies allegations of violating children's rights in her work. Despite the ongoing investigation, the teacher continues to work at the school, indicating that the criminal proceedings are at an early stage and no one has been charged at this point.
In a positive development, the boy's parents decided that he should change schools, which has improved his well-being. The boy, who usually went to school with enthusiasm, frequently fell ill in the mornings during the last school year.
While the search results do not contain any information regarding a criminal investigation into a teacher accused of emotional abuse at the private school "Laisma" in Latvia, it is recommended that those seeking up-to-date information consult Latvian news outlets, official police sources, or the private school "Laisma" directly for authoritative updates.
The ongoing investigation by the Ombudsman's Office into the case of emotional abuse at the private school Laisma falls under the second part of Article 174 of the Criminal Law, dealing with cruelty and violence against minors. The science and education communities, particularly in the areas of health-and-wellness, mental-health, and education-and-self-development, could benefit from increased awareness about the impact of emotional abuse on children, offering resources and support to victims. Given the general-news surrounding the case, it is essential for parents to advocate for their children's rights, reaching out to authorities when concerns about a child's safety and well-being are not addressed by the school's leadership.
