A disturbing case of alleged child abuse and negligence at the Salesian School in Salta has sparked outrage among the parents of four-year-old students. This incident came to light when one child reported that the teacher had placed a “baby belt” on him to prevent him from getting out of his chair. In reality, the object turned out to be a white elastic band found within the school. Following these revelations, the teacher was dismissed, with parents considering taking legal action against the school.
The situation escalated on June 21, when a mother requested a meeting with the director of the preschool to discuss her child’s claim involving the “baby belt.” According to Cristóbal Juan Canaves, the school’s legal advisor, the mother shared an audio recording in which her child described how a belt was used on those who misbehaved or acted like babies. The child compared the belt to one his father used when securing him in the car.
Initially, it seemed as though the incident was isolated. However, by the end of the day, two more mothers came forward with similar accounts regarding their children’s experiences. Canaves later shared with local media that these complaints led to a summons for the teacher, who had been in her position for 18 years. She was notified that she would be suspended with pay while the investigation was ongoing.
The teacher submitted a written statement the following Wednesday, denying the allegations and claiming the children were “fabricating stories.” However, another mother relayed to school officials that the teacher had partially acknowledged the events, suggesting that what occurred was a game played in the classroom.
Eventually, school authorities confirmed the students’ accounts, discovering the so-called “baby belts.” Canaves described them as white elastics approximately three to four centimeters wide, tied at one end to form a circle of about one meter in circumference. He indicated that this material was used by the physical education teacher in her classes.
Prior to this incident, on June 18, the dismissed teacher had already been involved in a scandal for neglecting a student during a school field trip to Plaza Belgrano, held to commemorate an important local holiday.
Parents were understandably concerned when they learned that one child had been left behind and fell asleep in the last seat of the bus. Canaves remarked that the child was largely unaware of the chaos, which was troubling. He criticized the teacher for failing to ensure that all students were accounted for before the bus departed.
Upon resolving the doubts surrounding the incident, the school directors reported the situation to the Department of Early Childhood, Childhood, and Family in Salta, the network supervisor, and the general director of private education. They decided to proceed with the teacher’s dismissal, noting that while no criminal charges could be pursued, the actions could be seen as a restriction on the child’s right to freedom.
Despite this explanation, the legal advisor reported that two families among the twelve in the teacher’s class had indicated their intent to take legal action due to the events. While he acknowledged their right to do so, he emphasized the importance of understanding the situation’s timeline, particularly as it occurred during a school break, which affected the ability to inform parents promptly.
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