Prosecutors in Wejherowo are investigating a Kielno school teacher for allegedly disposing of a cross, with authorities now seeking an expert opinion to determine if the object held religious significance.
The Incident in Kielno
Earlier this year, reports emerged regarding a teacher in Kielno, Pomerania, who allegedly removed a cross from a classroom wall and placed it in a bin mid-December. The incident sparked public outrage among right-wing and Catholic circles, leading to a demonstration outside the school in January.
The teacher explained to “Dziennik Bałtycki” that she discarded a plastic cosplay prop that children had been playing with, noting it had been placed over a hamster cage where a clock previously hung. She maintained that she respects religious symbols, identifying as religiously neutral and tolerant.
She emphasized that the classroom was used for English lessons, not religious instruction, and that the only official item meant to be displayed was the national emblem. She asserted that the cross was not present in the room that morning.
Disciplinary and Legal Proceedings
The teacher was initially suspended by the school administration pending an investigation. Shortly thereafter, the disciplinary commission for teachers under the Pomeranian Voivode upheld the teacher’s appeal, overturning the suspension and allowing her to return to work.
The press office of the Pomeranian Voivodeship Office confirmed to the Polish Press Agency that the Disciplinary Ombudsman for teachers has officially dismissed the investigation. While the Voivode approved the dismissal, the decision is not yet legally final.
Prosecution Seeks Expert Testimony
The Mayor of Szemud filed a complaint with the District Prosecutor’s Office in Wejherowo several months ago, initiating proceedings under Article 196 of the Penal Code regarding the offense of insulting religious feelings. Investigators have since questioned students and school staff.
Prosecutor Wioleta Noch of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Gdańsk stated this week that procedural actions are ongoing to conclude the case, including the processing of evidentiary motions and the search for an expert to provide an opinion on religious studies.
In January, the teacher’s attorney, Dr. Jacek Potulski, dismissed the controversy, arguing that no desecration of a religious object occurred because the item in question was merely a plastic costume accessory.
