From - ABS-CBNNEWS

A second grader died after allegedly being made to swallow pencil shavings by her teacher, The World Tonight reported Thursday.

The principal of the girl's school assured the matter will be investigated.

Diana Redota thought an ordinary infection caused her daughter Madel's week-long fever so she was shocked when the child died Wednesday.

The cause of the child's illness was not immediately known.

But Madel's throat was swollen and she had difficulty speaking.

If Madel's classmate had not told them that the child was made to swallow pencil shavings she would not have known what happened to her daughter.

Madel was a grade two pupil at the Silangan Elementary School. According to her classmates their teacher thought Madel was the one who had scattered pencil shaving and was punished for it.

Although there was no autopsy, acute tonsillitis and asphyxiation pneumonia due to the extreme swelling of throat were stated as the official cause of death.

Madel's parents complained to principal Thursday but the concerned teacher was absent and could not be reached.

The principal promised to conduct an investigation on the issue.

The education department said if the teacher did cause Madel's death then she could be held criminally and administratively liable.

For Madel's parents their daughter's death was too big a penalty for any offense she may have committed.


Is that the quality of teachers that we have nowadays? It might not be well publicized but graphite is poisonous. What a waste of a life. The teacher's reaction is the same as that of an uneducated truck driver - evading responsibility.