The northern Israel community of Harish is abuzz, just before school breaks up for summer vacation after an elementary school teacher reportedly told his fifth-grade class last Thursday, "I'll kill you all, then commit suicide."
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The teacher involved in the scandal was brought in as a substitute after one of the school's teachers went on maternity leave. According to a report by Channel 12 News, the teacher was speaking in response to one student leaving the classroom in a huff, telling him, "Everyone hates you, I hope you die."
After the incident was discussed in a Whatsapp group for school parents on Saturday night, based on accounts by a few students in the class, a member of the parent-teacher association contacted the principal and informed her about what had taken place. On Monday morning, a group of parents arrived at the school, demanding that the teacher be removed from his post and the premises immediately, and even filed a police complaint.
The principal and vice-principal were subsequently questioned.
Later on Monday, the principal began looking into the incident and took the teacher aside for a conversation, in which the school counselor participated. At first, the teacher denied the allegations, but then said, "I don't remember if I said it as a joke, and if so – I take responsibility. I have nothing to say in my defense."
According to Channel 12 News, the teacher is a retired member of the security forces who carries a licensed weapon, which was confiscated following the police complaint filed by the parents.
He was questioned by the פolice, following which the police reached out the Hadera Magistrates, Court to ask that he be remanded, but Judge Ehud Kaplan ruled that he should be released immediately since he had not contacted any of the students in his class in the last seven days.
"At the time he said what he did, they could definitely be seen as a threat, if indeed they were said at all, and that is a big question. None of the people present saw any criminal incident that justifies police interference. I have not found any grounds to remand him on grounds that he presents a danger. This is probably a case of things that were said during an argument or in a moment of anger – if they were said at all," Kaplan wrote.
The Education Ministry issued a statement saying, "These are extremely serious utterances that have no place in any society at all, and certainly not from an educator entrusted with inculcating values of tolerance, giving, and mutual responsibility. Given the seriousness of the comments, the issue has been transferred for disciplinary action and police investigation. At the same time, the teacher has been removed from the classroom."
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