Teacher slaps kindergartener 31 times for refusing lunch

The mother of the child, 33-year-old Nguyen Thi Thao, discovered multiple bruises on her son’s cheeks and forehead after picking from Tuoi Ngoc kindergarten in the province’s capital city Bien Hoa on May 17.

There were even clear finger marks on his skin, she said.

Thao reported her findings to the school board. Through surveillance camera footage, the school found out that kindergarten teacher Nguyen Thi Bich Huong, 23, had repeatedly beat Thao’s son during lunch at around 10:10 a.m. the same day.

Huong admitted having slapped the boy 31 times when he refused to eat. She also admitted to beating other kids.

The school suspended Huong for two months on Wednesday as it considers further punishments.

Vu Thi Ngoc Yen, headmistress of the school, said Huong was usually “responsible and loving”, and she did not understand why Huong did what she did that day.

Both Yen and Huong apologized to Thao’s family and offered support regarding the boy’s treatment at the hospital.

Tuoi Ngoc kindergarten is a private institution. It currently takes care of around 500 kids of at least 12 months old.