East Japan teacher disciplined for attaching dog leash to student's bag during field trip

A teacher at a public junior high school in Kanagawa Prefecture has been suspended for six months after attaching a dog leash to a first-year male student's backpack during a field trip to prevent him from getting lost, the prefectural education board announced March 13.
The Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education deemed the actions of the 26-year-old teacher at a school in the central part of the prefecture inappropriate, saying he lacked respect for the student's human rights.
According to the education board, the teacher permitted the use of a dog leash on the male student during a field trip in June 2024, following a suggestion from one or more students. A 1-meter-long leash for small dogs was attached to the student's backpack and was held alternately by other students in the group during the excursion. The student had previously gotten lost. After the field trip, the student reportedly said he had been unhappy with the treatment.
The teacher also instructed that a photo of the student with the leash be displayed in the classroom and showed it on a projector during class, referring to it as one of his favorites. The issue came to light in July after the student's parents complained to the school principal. The teacher was also reported to have engaged in other inappropriate behavior, such as shining a laser pointer at multiple students during class.
Source : https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250314/p2a/00m/0na/004000c |