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Polish teacher reinstated after religious offence allegations

30.01.2026 12:00
A Polish teacher who teaches English at a rural primary school in the northern village of Kielno is expected to return to work on Monday, following a suspension over an incident in mid-December involving a cross-like object in her classroom.
The incident occurred in mid-December during an English lesson at an elementary school in Kielno, a village of about 2,000 in northern Poland.
The incident occurred in mid-December during an English lesson at an elementary school in Kielno, a village of about 2,000 in northern Poland.Photo: PAP/Andrzej Jackowski

The teacher was temporarily removed from her duties after local prosecutors opened an investigation into an alleged religious offence.

The suspension was later overturned by a disciplinary committee under the regional governor, citing formal grounds.

According to the teacher’s lawyer, Marcin J. Szyling, who spoke to public broadcaster Polish Radio, no criminal or disciplinary proceedings are pending against his client, meaning there were no legal grounds to keep her suspended.

The teacher and her legal team maintain that, contrary to some media reports, no religious symbol - such as a cross - was present in the classroom at the time.

The object in question was reportedly part of a Halloween costume that students had placed above a hamster cage. When the students refused to remove it, the teacher took it down herself.

Following the incident, some local residents of Kielno, a village of about 2,000 people, staged protests outside the school, including members of right-wing groups.

The village mayor subsequently reported the matter to prosecutors.

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Source: IAR/Polish Radio