The Gödöllő District Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against a preschool teacher working in a settlement near Gödöllő, accusing the educator of endangering a minor and committing other criminal offenses. According to the Pest County Chief Prosecutor’s Office, the charges stem from an incident in April 2024 where the teacher allegedly used adhesive tape to silence a child.
The investigation into the April 2024 incident revealed that the child sustained minor injuries—categorized as healing within eight days—after the educator allegedly applied and then removed a piece of wide adhesive tape from the child’s mouth.
How the incident unfolded
The incident began when an five-year-old girl and a boy engaged in a physical altercation, leading their original teacher to separate the children and order the girl to sit on a small chair as punishment. According to the indictment, the girl began crying loudly after her peers started mocking her while she sat in isolation. A second teacher, who had been in the office, responded to the sound of the girl crying and shouting.
Upon arriving at the scene, the second teacher was briefed by her colleague on the situation. The teacher then took the crying child by the hand and led her into the office. The indictment states that the teacher used a wide cellotape roll to seal the girl’s mouth shut, removing it only after approximately one minute. Following this, the child stopped crying and was returned to the outdoor play area.
The legal focus on the “endangerment of a minor” highlights the high threshold for emotional and physical safety in institutional childcare settings. When disciplinary measures cross into physical intervention, the primary issue becomes whether the educator’s actions caused lasting harm to the child’s development—an area where prosecutors typically look for evidence of both the immediate physical injury and the long-term psychological impact on the victim.
What comes next for the accused
As the case proceeds to the Gödöllő District Court, the teacher faces potential legal consequences regarding the charge of endangering a minor’s physical, emotional, and moral development. While the legal process will determine the specific penalties, this case joins a series of similar reports regarding the use of tape in nurseries and kindergartens. A possible next step in the judicial process will involve reviewing testimonies from the school staff and assessing the medical documentation regarding the child’s injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What charges has the prosecutor filed?
The Gödöllő District Prosecutor’s Office has charged the educator with endangering a minor and other criminal offenses.
How long did the incident last?
According to the indictment, the teacher kept the tape on the child’s mouth for approximately one minute.
Was the child physically injured?
Yes, the indictment notes that the child sustained minor injuries that were expected to heal within eight days.
How should educational institutions balance the need for classroom discipline with the absolute requirement to protect a child’s emotional and physical well-being?
