A woman has been charged with assault after RCMP said a student was physically assaulted with a belt at a private religious school in the La Crete area.
RCMP in Fort Vermillion say that a concerned parent reached out to them on May 20 to make a complaint about their child being physically disciplined in class. Police say that the child had bruising and red marks across his thigh.
In mid-June, officers searched the school and found a machine belt, similar to a timing belt on a motor, rather than a pants-belt. Police also found related documents.
The investigation revealed that physically disclipining students with the “strap” happened at three private religious schools in the La Crete area: the Blumenort Mennonite School, Wilson Prairie Mennonite School and Tompkins Mennonite School.
The practice was per their collective constitution – which has been given to, and signed by parents of the students at the private school.
RCMP also discovered that the educators of these Mennonite schools are not accredited teachers, and are legally considered adults supervising children.
As a result of this investigaton, Eva Bueckert of Cleardale has been charged with assault with a weapon. She is scheduled to appear in court in Fort Vermilion on August 11.
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