Lindsay. Lucas. Nicholas. They will have marked the year 2023 with the color of impossible mourning – because unacceptable – for all French people. Harassed by their classmates, these three teenagers killed themselves, no longer able to stand the daily bullying and insults to which they were victims. What is shocking in each of these cases is the inaction of teachers, school leaders, and even the police. What is moving in each of these stories is also the helplessness of the families, who did not know how to see or did not know how to help and protect their children. Every year, in France, between 800,000 and 1 million children are victims of school bullying according to official figures. According to a study by L’Ifop for the association Marion with outstretched handpublished this Tuesday, November 7, 2023, one in five middle or high school students is the victim of repeated physical, verbal or psychological violence. This same study reveals that 86% of teachers consider that the fight against school bullying must be a public health issue, at a time when 65% of them do not feel well equipped to deal with this scourge.
Government measures to combat school bullying
The wave of emotion aroused by these tragic deaths pushed the public authorities to action. On September 27, 2023, the government announced a plan touted as “unprecedented” to combat school bullying. This will combine several actions. Among them, a questionnaire will be submitted to all students from CE2 to Terminale to try to spot signs of harassment, a unique number – 3018 – as well as an application will make it possible to report harassment and cyberharassment and empathy courses will be added to the program. In the event of serious harassment, the harassing student may be changed establishment. The plan also provides for easier access to psychiatry sessions – and extended support for consultations – for students who are victims of harassment. On the occasion of National day against school bullying on November 9which has existed since 2015, the public service has also mobilized to raise awareness among the population of the dramatic consequences of these abominable acts.
Faustine Bollaert “upset” by the testimonies of child victims of harassment
This Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Faustine Bollaert will present a special program on France 2 at 9:10 p.m. titled School bullying: breaking the silence. On this occasion, the journalist went to meet children who were victims of school bullying, who courageously dared to break their silence. Guest on the set of C to you, on November 3, 2023, she confided to Anne-Elisabeth Lemoine that she had been “upset” by the testimonies collected, which also aroused her anger. “We’re talking about 11-year-old children!”, she warns. “It is difficult to understand the gap between these words of incredible violence and the actions of these children.. It’s absolutely unbearable for the mother of course that I am, but especially for the citizen.” She notably mentioned the lack of awareness among these children of the offense of school harassment (punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of 150,000 euros in the most serious cases, editor’s note), the fear and shame that can surround their speaking outyet essential. “I have children who tell me ‘when I speak to my parents nothing happens, when I speak at school nothing happens, when I speak to the police nothing happens’ What do they have left? To attack themselves?“she asks. “They can no longer suffer every day.” An inability of the school system to respond to the distress of these children, which sometimes leads to the most disastrous consequences. “60% of them have already had suicidal thoughts (still according to the study ofIfopeditor’s note)”, evokes the journalist. “We’re talking about children hanging themselves – sorry – with their Harry Potter ties from the skylight of a house. It’s unbearable.”