The second school of Hong Chi Pine Hill in Tai Po, a school for severely mentally handicapped children, was exposed by Hong Kong 01 two years ago after the incidents of children being pinched off their fingers, restrained for a long time, and the death of the throat and brain stem.
The reporter obtained a whistleblower letter with videos and photos, and interviewed a number of parents and staff, revealing that some students had been "headed" and violated the guidelines and had been restrained by hand for a long time.
The school received the complaint early in the morning, but did not investigate it and face it squarely. After the parents called the police, the teacher involved has not been suspended so far.
The Hong Chi Association, a school sponsoring group, countered that the media reported false reports, and that the police had already been involved in the investigation and would not comment at this stage.
Police received reports from two parents and are investigating at least five schoolchildren suspected of being abused.
Reporter: Li Yinglin
Photography: Ma Chufeng, Wang Haitu, Zhou Zhijian, Yu Junliang, Ou Jiale
Editing: Xiao Kunxiang
Special Schools Involved in Child Abuse・Special Page｜What happened to parents and staff after receiving the whistleblower letter
Child abuse in special schools・1｜Whistleblower letters and CCTV exposed parents and staff scolding school officials for being negative about child abuse in special schools・2｜Education Bureau investigated the accident two years ago: no evidence Staff: no improvement
▼Hong Chi Songling No. 2 School has students wearing "caps"▼
Parents, reporters receive informative letter
The cause of this child abuse scandal is that in August this year, several parents of students from Hong Chi Pine Hill No. 2 School received multiple whistleblower letters with pictures, texts and videos, accusing several current teachers of being involved from 2014 to the present. child abuse.
"Hong Kong 01" reporters also received some documents and videos.
▼Students from Hong Chi Songling No. 2 School were covered with saliva towels ▼
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Video shows students being beaten for 10 minutes crying horribly
According to the whistleblower letter and video, in 2014, a teacher and a teaching assistant were accused of covering a student's head with their jackets. When the student struggled, the two grabbed the student's hands to stop it, and the process lasted for ten minutes.
In 2018, a student became emotional because he wanted to leave his seat in class. One teacher held the student's head with his hand and shouted, while the other threw a saliva towel over the student's face to cover the student's face, and the student cried bitterly.
In August this year, Ms. P (pseudonym) and several parents received multiple whistleblower letters with pictures, texts and videos. She pointed out that the principal refused to follow up on the incident.
(Photo by Li Yinglin)
Parent: The principal doesn't seem to have any plans to deal with it
"When I received the second letter, I thought the teacher was terrified, so I started to question." Ms. P (pseudonym) was one of the parents who received the letter. She and other parents demanded the school to conduct a thorough investigation.
She quoted the principal as saying that the school also received a whistleblower letter. "The principal said that this happened when the previous principal was in office, and it is impossible to ask her (the current principal) to deal with it." "The principal does not seem to intend to pay attention to this issue."
A (pseudonym), who used to work at Songling No. 2 School, has seen the photos and videos, and confirmed that all the teachers and students in the videos are the school's teachers and students.
(Photo by O Jiale)
Staff: The teacher in the film is still working
Not only the parents, but A (pseudonym), who used to work at Songling No. 2 School, also pointed out that the principal once said that he did not need to deal with the whistleblower letter. The photos in the whistleblower letter were blurry and could not be used to accuse the school of child abuse, so there was no investigation.
However, after viewing the photos and videos, A confirmed that all the teachers and students in the videos were teachers and students of the school, and the teachers involved were still employed: "You can also see what the teachers are doing, whether the students are struggling, and there are even clips showing that there are students. I cried a lot." He believed that it was inappropriate to use clothes and saliva to cover the students' heads, pointing out that "the heads are usually only done to prisoners", which would only make the students feel more scared.
"There can't be more than one child abuse incident, let alone students with severe intellectual disabilities who can't speak. These children should be protected the most."
Former staff B (pseudonym) of Songling No. 2 School said that there were many incidents in the school, and some people taught him to deal with students who were out of control in this way.
(Photo by Yu Junliang)
"When a dog is dealing with a child, covering his head can calm him down"
There may be more than the two cases mentioned in the whistleblower letter.
"It often appears in different classrooms and on different students." Another former staff member B (pseudonym) of Songling No. 2 School said that when students lose control of their emotions and the class cannot continue, some teachers will use the "fastest method". method" - don't to deal with the students.
"I have a teacher who taught me that dealing with these children is like raising a dog. If they are disobedient, do something to make him obey, and then show me what to do, such as holding his head to make him obey. Calm down." B said that a colleague once showed him how to don the head.
Parents call police after student's hands are tied
The whistleblower letter alleges that some students were tied with restraint tools and saliva towels in the dormitory. The hands and body were bound for a long time, and they were not released even when sleeping.
In June of this year, a parent found that his son's hands were tied and swollen, so they called the police.
Police confirmed they received a report in June.
The school held a meeting on this issue, and the original meeting minutes stated that the dormitory was understaffed at night, so the student had to use a hand tie all night while he was asleep; however, the record was later changed to "use a hand tie before falling asleep and after waking up".
Parents who report to the police turn the page to the school's platform
By October of this year, the school issued a statement in response to the child abuse allegations, but the parent who called the police became the school platform, claiming that it was the doctor's approval and restraint.
"I found it funny when I read the school's statement. I found a parent who had called the police to support the school without child abuse." A believes that the doctor's approval can only be restrained when necessary, and there is a time limit, but the school has no instructions and uses it indiscriminately. The students' hands were bruised and swollen.
A believes that the school did not follow the doctor's instructions, and the students' hands were bruised and swollen due to indiscriminate hand punctures.
(Photo by O Jiale)
Communication group condemns public trial "grey" parents worried about their children's victims
Some parents, who did not want to be named, showed the content of the communication group to reporters. Someone once said that if the incident became bigger, the school would not receive donations, and would have no resources and manpower. In the end, it would be the children who would suffer.
However, the school is an aided school, and its operation has nothing to do with donations, but some parents who want to investigate the incident have been under pressure.
A also revealed that after the child abuse incident broke out, some parents of the victimized students complained to the school, but when the school held a meeting to discuss the issue, they decided to take "passive treatment" on the student's behavior in the future, and only made verbal appeals. No actual restraint is made, only records are made. If other students are harassed, the teacher will only pull them away. A's criticism has no teaching element at all.
New Territories North Regional Crime Unit investigation
By the end of August this year, the police received another report from a 44-year-old woman who suspected that someone in Songling No. 2 School had treated her son and three other students inappropriately between 2014 and June this year.
The police pointed out that, together with the report received in June, the case about the school is now being investigated by the New Territories North Regional Crime Squad. catch.
On October 3, Education Bureau Director Cai Ruolin said that eight anonymous or parental complaints had been received about Songling No. 2 School, including suspected child abuse cases.
(File photo/Photo by Liao Yanxiong)
Education Bureau receives eight complaints about child abuse
Education Bureau Director Cai Ruolian said on October 3 that eight anonymous or parental complaints about Songling No. 2 School were received earlier, involving school personnel management, epidemic prevention measures, and suspected child abuse cases.
The bureau has followed up immediately and instructed the school sponsoring body to investigate and submit a report to the Education Bureau.
Hong Chi Association Pine Ridge No. 2 is located in Tai Po. It is a school for severely mentally handicapped children with dormitories.
(Photo by Zhou Zhijian)
Hong Chi Association: Incorporated Management Committee sets up investigation team
The Hong Chi Association issued a statement on October 2 and 3, stating that the anonymous complaint about possible misconduct towards students and photos of the school involved were handed over to the police for investigation. The team conducts an in-depth investigation.
However, none of the teachers involved have been suspended so far.
"Hong Kong 01" asked the Hong Chi Association about the allegations made by the parents and former staff.
The Education Bureau pointed out that since the police are investigating suspected child abuse cases at the school, the Education Bureau is inconvenient to comment.
Apart from continuing to closely follow up on complaints, the Education Bureau will also take all necessary actions in a timely manner to ensure the smooth operation of schools and the well-being of students.
▼Review the 2020 Songling Second School "Silent Scream" investigation report▼
Silent Scream・Special Page｜Revealing the shady stories of multiple incidents involving students in the dormitory of special schools with severe intellectual disabilities
Child Abuse in Special Schools・2｜Education Bureau investigated the accident two years ago: no evidence Staff: no improvement