(Image source from: New York Post)

A preschool teacher in Illinois has been accused of using the frightful method for punishing the preschoolers and an instructor too has been accused of allegedly witnessing the severe punishment and failing to report it.

The 26-year-old teacher of Head Start preschool program located at the Southern Illinois University in East St. Louis, Illinois, allegedly punished their preschool students by making them stand naked in a closet for 10 minutes.

Police told the Daily Mail that four out of 20 students in the class were given that punishment and that the University police were notified about the allegations just last week.

The teacher and 41-year-old instructor have reportedly been placed on paid administrative leave.

According to reports, police say the misbehaving four and five-year-old students in the preschool class were told to "take off their clothes and stand naked in a closet for up to 10 humiliating minutes." The police were aware of the incident as one of the child’s parent complained about it.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Police Chief Kevin Schmoll, said to KMOV4, "Children would misbehave in class, and the teacher would have them disrobe and stand them, make them stand inside a closet for five or 10 minutes as their discipline. Then they would redress and join the class."

The children who were subject to the punishment or saw it happening will reportedly be interviewed at the Children's Advocacy Center in Belleville with the St. Clair County State's Attorney's office.

By Sowmya Sangam