A 15-year-old boy was discovered hanged on Tuesday in his room in Poissy (Yvelines). According to National Education, the first elements “clearly attest that acts of harassment had been declared during the 2022-2023 school year”. “Each drama is one drama too many which reminds us that we are not up to it”, commented the Minister of National Education Gabriel Attal on Wednesday. What happened ? What will be the legal and administrative consequences? 20 minutes make the point.
What happened on Tuesday in Poissy?
Tuesday, at the beginning of the evening, the emergency services intervened in Poissy to help a 15-year-old teenager, found hanging in his room. After several unsuccessful resuscitation attempts, the teenager was declared dead. “An investigation is open in search of the causes of death”, indicated the parquet floor of Versailles, contacted by 20 minutes. “The first elements that were reported (to the ministry) by (the) services clearly attest that acts of harassment had been declared during the 2022-2023 school year”, for its part, indicated the cabinet. of the new Minister of National Education Gabriel Attal. The latter specified that an “administrative inquiry has been opened”. A psychological listening cell also, at the Adrienne-Bolland vocational high school in Poissy, the former establishment of the victim.
What were the acts of bullying reported by the student and his family?
In reaction to this tragedy, the Minister of Education spoke this Wednesday at the beginning of the evening during a press conference in front of his ministry. Gabriel Attal recalled that the teenager was educated in 3rd trade preparation at the Adrienne-Bolland vocational high school, before specifying that the acts of harassment had been reported in December 2022. It was about “bullying and insults repeated by students who have been identified”, detailed Gabriel Attal, before continuing: “in March 2023, the parents of the victim and the parents of the students in question were received by the management of the establishment. »
Still according to Gabriel Attal, the victim’s family sent a letter to the management of the establishment in April 2023, reproaching him for his inaction in the face of harassment. “For its part, the school indicated that it had set up a follow-up with the student,” recalled the former government spokesperson.
Can we make the link between adolescent suicide and school bullying?
The family spoke of harassment suffered in the former establishment frequented by the young man. The latter had been enrolled since September in a vocational high school in the 14th arrondissement of Paris. ” A permanent [une main courante] was in fact filed in April 2023, the family having made this choice because they had seized the National Education in parallel”, specified to 20 minutes the parquet floor of Versailles.
Justice calls for caution on the causes of the passage to the act. “The environment will be done, for the rest we must remain very careful at this stage”, supported the Versailles prosecutor’s office with AFP. Gabriel Attal, who wants a “relentless” answer on the subject of harassment of school bullying, “discussed with the mother of the victim on the phone and showed her his absolute support”, specified the minister’s office.
What does National Education against bullying provide?
The fight against school bullying, already initiated by the former Minister of Education Pap Ndiaye, intensified this summer, after the death of Lindsay, 13, which brought to light the phenomenon of bullying in schools. but also on social networks. Bullying at school affects one in ten students.
According to a decree published in mid-August, a student responsible for school bullying can now be transferred to another school, avoiding imposing this change on the victim. It is also planned to be able to sanction a perpetrator of cyberbullying against a student from another establishment. From this start of the school year, a referent on harassment “in each establishment” must be created. This could be a nurse, a principal education adviser (CPE) or a teacher. Schools will also have to “systematically” report cases of harassment to prosecutors.
At the same time, a new interministerial fight plan should be unveiled by the end of September. “We must go further than what has been committed, amended Gabriel Attal. A strong initiative in this area will be taken very soon”.