In May 2023, the suicide of Lindsay, aged 13 and victim of school bullying, shocked the French. On September 5, 2023, the day after the start of the school year, Nicolas ended his life in Poissy, in Yvelines. The 15-year-old had reported alarming behavior from his classmates over the previous year. This scourge has become a priority for the government, as Élisabeth Borne announced on Wednesday September 27, 2023. On the air of BFMTV, the Prime Minister presented her interministerial plan to combat school bullying. Accompanied by the Minister of National Education, Élisabeth Borne spoke of the arrival, from November 9, 2023, of a “questionnaire submitted to all students from CE2 to Terminale”. The aim of this is to be “capable of detecting harassment situations” which usually escapes the vigilance of the teaching staff, said Gabriel Attal. There is also of the “empathy course” who will be enrolled in the school curriculum. An initiative from the Nordic countries since it has already been tested in Denmark. “School bullying has collapsed in this country thanks to this strategy”said the minister.
School bullying: numerous measures put in place
THE victims of school bullying can also contact 3018which was already used for cyberstalking targets. “We are going to make 3018 the single reporting number accompanied by an application. Easy reporting everywhere, that’s what 3018 will allow”, said the Prime Minister. Among the new measures are the exclusion of the harassing student. Until now, it was the one who was harassed who usually changed establishments. In addition, in the event of serious harassment, the academic intervention teams will be contacted. Victims will also be able to have easier access to sessions with a psychologist. This is the “My Psy Support” system and these sessions will be covered by Health Insurance. Aurélien Rousseau, the Minister of Health, detailed the importance of this tool. “It thus makes it easier for children to consult a psychologist without requiring a doctor’s prescription,” did he declare. In the event of a report of school harassment, “in particular thanks to a dedicated platform between National Education and Justice”Élisabeth Borne affirmed the seizure “systematic” of the public prosecutor for complaints.
Social networks, platforms that incite harassment
School bullying is not only in schools but also online. Many students use social media where they may receive derogatory messages. For the government, these platforms must be monitored. “We will allowexclude harassing students from social networks“indicates Élisabeth Borne who then adds: “We want rapid sanctions in class and on social networks. A temporary ban, of a “duration of 6 months and even a year in the event of a repeat offense”. For his part, Jean-Noël Barrot, the Minister Delegate in charge of the Digital Transition, declared that a reporting button would be launched “on all social networks which links to the 3018 platform”. The goal is to allow the person being harassed to report it as quickly as possible. The final measure is to confiscate the cell phone of the harassing student. “If it was of course used for the acts of harassment, final confiscation will be decided by the juvenile court“said Éric Dupond-Moretti, the Minister of Justice.