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“After several unsuccessful attempts to convince the
directors, the father came to me, “Yakimenko said. “I saw that
there were some aspects we could work on.”
Yakimenko said that the law prohibits schools from replacing
scheduled classes with other activities.
In interviews with the local press, Yury Kasyanyk said that
notes were frequently sent home with his son requesting that he
bring cleaning tools to school.
“Whenever there was a music class, there was always an
order to bring a broom,” he told the local press.
The law also prohibits schools from engaging children in
activities unrelated to study after classes.
Yakimenko said that children often find used syringes and
needles with dried blood when cleaning the school’s territory.
The Kasyanyk family is Jewish, and they are also
complaining that the school is infringing on their cultural
traditions.
“According to their belief, a child is pure and should be
treated accordingly,” Yakimenko said. “The father is angry that
their child has to clean the school and come dirty afterwards.”
Yakimenko pointed out that Ukraine has joined the European
Convention on Education, which says that when educating
children, schools should respect their parents’ beliefs and religion.
According to Yakimenko, the lawsuit was filed against the
school on Dec. 16. The case is the first of its kind in Ukraine, he
says.
The Kasyanyks are demanding Hr 6,200 in punitive
damages. The parents also want the court to forbid the school from
forcing their child to perform cleaning duties without their
permission.Yakimenko expects the first hearing to be held within a
month.
By EVGENIA MUSSURI

(from Kyiv Post)

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