At the beginning of September, a teenager killed himself in Yvelines. He admitted to being the victim of school harassment. His parents denounced the facts, before receiving a threatening letter from the rectorate.
His name was Nicholas. On September 5, a 15-year-old boy was found in cardiopulmonary arrest at the family home, located in Poissy (Yvelines). It was his mother who made this terrible discovery. The young boy hanged himself from the bars of his loft bed. According to information from Parisian, he revealed to his parents that he was the victim of school bullying. Last spring, they sent a letter to the school, deploring the absence of measures to protect their son. In May, the family received a threatening letter from the rectorate of Versaillesthe content of which was revealed by BFMTV on September 16.
Inside, it is a question of “alleged harassment”while the accusations made by the parents are described as“unacceptable”. Then, the sanctions incurred in the event of slanderous denunciation are recalled and parents are enjoined to“adopt […] a constructive and respectful attitude”. On September 17, in the columns of JDDthe victim’s mother spoke of the shock she felt when reading the letter: “We were outraged. We were now seen as guilty. […] From that moment on, Nicolas was never the same.” Saturday September 23, the former rector of the Versailles academy, Charline Avenel, reacted to the Parisian on this subject, conceding in particular that this letter was “inadmissible”.
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Suicide of Nicolas: “flaws” highlighted
Initially, Charline Avenel said she understood the anger felt by Nicolas’s parents. “I [leur] presents an apology on my behalf and on behalf of the institution that I headed.”, she assured in the columns of the regional daily. The next moment, she admitted thatit was “unacceptable that they received such a letter”before ensuring that you have been “upset to learn of the death of this student”. And to continue: “When I discovered […] in the press the existence of this letter, I was devastated.”
Then, the former rector of the Versailles academy clarified that “this letter has[vait] been written and signed by the human resources department of the rectorate”. During the same interview given to ParisianCharline Avenel considered that, “in the present case [la situation vécue par Nicolas et sa famille, Ndlr] there was no need to send such a letter to parents in distress“. And this, without having first discussed with the departmental harassment representative and the school where the teenager was educated. “This dysfunction highlights flaws”she later admitted.
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During the same interview, Charline Avenel indicated that she and her assistant were on leave when sending this letter to Nicolas’ family. “An investigation is underwayit is she who will explain the path of these letters”she assured the Parisian. Before summarizing his feelings this way: “I regret not having been able to ensure that the distress of the families was taken into account.”
After the announcement of Nicolas’ death, the Minister of Education, Gabriel Attal, spoke at the microphone of BFM TV. The politician notably felt that it was necessary “develop the culture of empathy at school”. For twenty years, in Denmark, children and adolescents have been made aware to this ability which consists of paying attention to those around them to identify with him and better understand what he feels. A Parisian school is currently testing a similar system.
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Students who are victims of school bullying can contact the national hotline number, 3020, free of charge. Young people or their loved ones are also invited to dial 3018 in the event of cyberbullying.
Society journalist
Even if she appreciates being able to deal with extremely diverse subjects, Charline is passionate about travel and is particularly interested in themes linked to society, climate, the environment, psychology, etc.