An unprecedented trial is looming. That of a French teacher suspected of having harassed three middle school students, in Herblay, in Val-d’Oise. Including young Evaëlle who committed suicide in June 2019 by hanging herself in her room. She was 11 years old. If in this part of the case, two middle school students are also expelled for harassment, the teacher is suspected of having, if not created, at least maintained, a harmful climate from which the little girl suffered. “This is the first time that the offense of school harassment has been considered in the broad sense,” said the lawyer for Evaëlle’s family, Me Delphine Meillet.
To understand this affair, we must return to its premises. From CM2, Evaëlle’s teacher noticed that the little girl was subject to regular mockery but everything accelerated when she entered 6th grade, in September 2018. In the corridors and in the playground, insults and humiliations were daily occurrences. . At the beginning of February, the violence increased a notch. Evaëlle assures that one of the schoolchildren who will be judged pushed her onto the road when the bus arrived. Several students attest to this. A few days later, she was violently attacked in the courtyard.
“Very significant deterioration of living conditions”
Could the students have been influenced by the behavior of Pascale B., Evaëlle’s French teacher? “It appears from the testimonies that the behavior of the teacher was perceived as a free pass to attack Evaëlle”, considers the investigating judge, in her referral order, consulted by 20 minutes. The parents of the young victim claim that the difficulties began at the beginning of the year because of a problem with a binder. Several students demonstrate demeaning thoughts. She was isolated, at the back of the class, despite having vision problems. This behavior had “the effect of a very significant deterioration in the living conditions of the young girl who isolated herself more and more”, insists the magistrate.
Ten days after the bus story, the teacher organizes a class life session, specifically on the harassment of which Evaëlle is a victim. The remarks are pouring out, the little girl is in tears. She described this day to those close to her as “the worst” of her short life. During the investigation, several students told investigators that they had been uncomfortable. One of them speaks of “relentlessness”. “The teacher asked us what was wrong, what was bothering us with Evaëlle, the teacher made Evaëlle cry (…). She kept crying, then she got angry with Evaëlle because she was crying,” says another.
“She was not stigmatized”
The teacher constantly denied any malice throughout the instruction. “She was not stigmatized during this hour of class life,” she assured during an audition. And to insist: “For me, this hour of class life went well. And on the tears, […] when Evaëlle is frustrated, she cries. » The teacher, who describes herself as “severe but fair”, “very attentive to students”, denies having engaged in behavior towards Evaëlle or any other student that could amount to harassment.
This argument did not convince the investigating judge. In her referral order, she considers that “it seems difficult to imagine, particularly for an experienced teacher, not to realize the social and emotional impact that this may have had on Evaëlle”.
Entering the National Education system in 1987, this teacher is described as “experienced”, “serious”, “dynamic”. His administrative record was exemplary. His former principal, however, admitted to having seen him attack a student and publicly humiliate her. The teacher was also fired for two other cases of student harassment. In one of the cases, revealed by 20 minutes, a schoolboy recounted the inappropriate remarks and daily humiliations. “We have to go back to first grade”, “you’re stupid, you’re useless”, “you’re useless” she exclaims in front of the whole class… “It was a loop, every day”, insists he.
Evaëlle’s parents filed a complaint at the end of February 2018 against the teacher and three students. The schoolgirl changed schools but the harassment did not stop. On June 21, a boy emptied his bag and threw his belongings in the street. A few hours later, Evaëlle hanged herself in her room. Since 2021, the teacher can no longer teach minors and has an obligation to provide psychological care.
The trial date has not been set.