Police quiz teacher over hitting 21 kids

A kindergarten teacher is being questioned by Beijing police after confessing to beating and terrorizing 21 children in her care.

On Monday, furious parents gathered at the Qingyuan Road kindergarten brandishing hospital reports of bruises their children had suffered.

The 27-year-old teacher, surnamed Liu, has admitted hitting, kicking and screaming at children over the past year, said Chaoyang District education officials.

On Monday, furious parents gathered at the Qingyuan Road kindergarten brandishing hospital reports of bruises their children had suffered.

Liu, who has worked at the kindergarten for two years, denied the accusations at first, saying she had just lightly pushed the children.

But when confronted with security camera footage of her mistreating her charges, Liu is reported to have said, "I can't believe that I have done all of that."

Liu's abuse was uncovered on Friday when a father, surnamed Ma, bathing his 4-year-old son quizzed the boy about bruises on his legs.

"From last October, my kid began having bruises on his body from time to time," Ma said.

The child said his teacher had kicked him, and Ma told other parents.

All Liu's students said they were beaten by their teacher and threatened by her not to tell anyone, the Beijing News reported.

Parents took their children to hospital for examinations and eight were found to have soft tissue injuries.

Some of the children have become timid and suffer nightmares, said parents.

"My son sometimes wakes up at midnight, screaming not to hurt him. My heart bleeds to see him frightened and unhappy," Ma said.

The kindergarten agreed to display the video footage captured by surveillance cameras.

It showed Liu ordering 4-year-olds to the toilets, which are not covered by cameras, followed by the sound of children crying.

The kindergarten principal and Liu will be fired, the newspaper said.

An official investigation into the case is ongoing, said officials.