My son was hurt by his teacher

General Discussion
61

Nikki

we went through a similar experience with our son last year in CM1. The teacher pulled him off his chair, he fell on the floor and was then pushed into the corridor to work on the ground. All for not playing with his scissors when he was told to. To be very clear this was "aggresssion physique et morale". I found out because another parent told me. My son felt so guilty he couldn't tell us. We had very unsatisfactory meetings with both the teacher concerned - whose version was VERY diluted (naturally) and the head teacher who tried to blackmail us with the cancellation of the ski trip of 2 classes. We were left with the options - to do nothing. To complain to the gendarmerie, to do a "main courant" (which is where you open a file but don't follow through, but it would be taken into consideration if there was another infraction, or to talk to the inspector.

In the interests of moving on and the best interests of my son we chose to have a meeting with the inspector. We were surprised to find both the teacher and the head teacher at the meeting. Basically the meeting allowed me to vent directly with the teacher - but the ranks were very closed. The blackmail of the ski trip was reduced to just my son, but the head teacher did backtrack and used the fact taht we were british and certainly had misunderstood - which was not the case, about a couple of things that were said. Even the inspector was very quick to play down the children's reactions and that they had misunderstood what they had seen - I had at least 4 children's versions.

Even though ranks were closed, we chose to leave it on an unoffical basis as we dididn'[t want to involve our son more, we do feel that someone will have had a word with the teacher, and as the inspector knows if there ever another incident reported more action may be taken.

I don't think that you should have to move because of the action of one teacher if you are happy where you are - but I don't think that they should get away with hurting children.

Katie

62

We are in the Monts d'Arree in a very isolate village where my 5 y o daughter is at the village school. The nearest alternative is about a 20 minute drive but we have not needed to consider that. I have had a house here 43 years but I will never be local, neither will any French person not from the village. This is well documented in social studies researched in the 80s (and published, but the author had to run away!). A commune is defined by its geography and it's always been isolated and anti outsiders. The locals have travelled very little indeed, are generally not well read, extremely Breton in their musical tastes and to a large extent their lack of knowledge flavours their approach to incomers.Having said that we have many local friends, but there are a few who openly tell you to go back to England (are there not many similar in England thses days?) My daughter was born here and is essentially first language French but she will always be Anglaise (although only 1/8 English, 1/2 Philippino, 1/4 Welsh and 1/8 Prussian/Jewish). Twas ever thus. My sons were at school in the UK with Rothschilds who were always called "Yids" to their faces. I think most of us were in some way teased at school, it was part of the process of learning your way in the world. You have to know how to stand up for yourself; life can be tough and to a large extent you need to be ready for it. I don't condone sadism which certainly existed in schools when I was there, or cruelty. Over the years I have seen many Brits and even French of all ages who have come to the village and after a while decided to move on, some for reasons that they were not "accepted". It's certainly very true that incomers as a rule make friends with other incomers. We have a range of friends in the village and also much further afield in Finistere and nearby. Brian as usual gives good technical advice!

63

Nikki, so sorry to hear about your bad expériences. It's horrible to think that things like this are still happening in this day and age. I have have two kids in primary school and I don't know how we would have coped. Luckily we have had lovely teachers originating from different parts of France. I've always thought it crazy that 'fonctionnaires' have to get 'muté' so often but perhaps it helps reduce small town racism.

We live in Narbonne where you only get employed via personal contacts so it's taken me a very long time to get work and last year I felt just like you that I'd never get a decent job. However, in the space of a few months everything has changed and various job opportunities have come my way. One thing that has helped a number of people I know is the benevolence of an extremely well loved Australian rugby player/manager who has settled here and enjoys facilitatating professional opportunities for expats whenever he can. It's all the luck of the draw.

If you have made up your minds to go back I don't blame you at all but is there an option of a private school where you are? We have one here which is only 40€ per month and provides a very good standard of education. You need to protect your child first and foremost and make everyone aware of the mistreatment to stop the bullying. If you know you are moving away you might even consider contacting the press...

65

My fear is if your son is treated this way and others have had just a touch of it, that also French children are having some pretty hard times, thus this teacher needs to be dealt with. To be driven out of a country by a teacher's action is also a serious breech of your human rights generally. Allowed to get away with it this time opens a big wide door to the same, perhaps even worse without recrimination. There is enough injustice in this world without this kind of disgraceful and violent behaviour from somebody whose profession also sets them the task of being an example to the young people they teach.

If you do go back to Scotland, kiss the earth for me and wish them well for September. Saorsa!

66

I was thinking that the information would be of help to others. Some people just read forums and don't participate for various reasons and I thought your information extremely valuable and that a link to the French law would at least give others a place to start if they have the same sort of problem.

I understand your comment about proxies and that was not what I meant to suggest but more simply by having all the facts she could then sit and form her own opinion as to how she wanted to proceed if at all.

Still it does not seem relevant to her now as it seems she and her husband have made their decision.

I just hate people who discriminate and bully, it upsets me a lot and there is no need for it.

67

Goodness, what shocking treatment! My kids have never experienced anything like that, and neither have any other foreign kids I know. But then we do live near Montpellier. :)

Sounds like you're in a true blue backwater. I've heard similar stories from a friend of mine who moved to somewhere in the Charente-Maritime (I think), in a small village. They moved because they couldn't stand being treated as outcasts, and her husband is French!

68

Good morning (NOT!!!).

Thanks for the replies.

The school is the local primary in Vieux-Boucau. The next village over, Moliets is the same, we have UK friends there with the same problems.

After posting yesterday, I went to pick my son up at school, where the teachers are all standing arms crossed glaring at me and the wee one is still sitting on the steps at recreation continuing his indefinite punishment. In class yesterday his teacher told him he has no right to have any friends as he is so wicked. This was after he told the class on Monday (when my son was still off) that they must not play with him as he did not deserve to have any friends.

My hubby and I discussed this at much length last night, particularly the advice from Veronique about taking the complaint further. We are scared by the lies more than anything....what if the school having said the maitre has no recollection of doing it turns on us and says we did it??? Honestly, I cannot ever remember coming across such an evil bunch of people. They are more interested in getting us out of the school than helping my son. This is his Primary 1, the year when you should adore your first teacher and be bouncing to get to school.

Fortunately, we come from a very quiet part of Scotland and have made the decision to return there. Yes, it is primarily due to the school but it will also end the farce of me trying to get a job.....having removed my nationality and age from my cv I have been offered more interviews but unfortunately I'm still not French.

Thanks Brian for the info we may yet need to use this. I will need to contact the academie today to withdraw him from school, before we get into trouble. We've reached the end of our tether here and frankly this time I have no energy left to fight.

Thanks again for your time.

69

http://www.ohchr.org/FR/Professionalinterest/Pages/CRC.aspx will give the Convention in French. I do not have the French legislation at hand, I simply have used it in the past and know what it is and goes with my work. I would be more helpful with a direct request from Nikki and not an intervention by somebody asking me to give my time who is not directly involved

Al, with due respect, I think the suggestions you are making are fine. However, let Nikki do the asking as she sees fit and not be the proxy asking me to do so. Human rights between proxies has a habit of distorting. 'Shoving' anything under a mayor's nose or waving laws under anybodies' noses is a) aggressive and b) maires particularly are not actually law enforcers so that can backfire very badly. Anyway, my offer was to Nikki and that is how it stands.

70

Brian can you give a link to the French legislation/Decret like the number or whatever, a link to the correct page on Legifrance would be even more helpful. This way Nikki can print it off to wave under peoples noses perhaps with the threat of taking the matter further.

Nikki - Where did your mayor stand in all this, was he on your 'side' or did he not really care and do nothing?

Do you have any photos of bruising etc and can you get a letter from the doctor describing them and what he thought caused them? Best to have them before it slips from the doctors memory. I am not sure what you would do with them at this stage but it is not a bad idea to have the physical evidence on hand should you need it later on.

If Brian can give you the link to print this off you could try shoving it under the mayors nose to start with.

It may also be a good idea to talk further with the parents of the other three UK childrens parents and see if you want to make a collective complaint.

I really have a problem with discrimination for whatever reason. It is clear from what you have said that these people are not even fit to be teachers.

I am very sorry to hear about this and sincerely hope you manage to get it sorted out.

71

I can advise as best possible. My wife and I are international children's rights specialists and have a broad knowledge of physical abuse, punishment and other 'criminal' physical acts. It is not corporal punishment but that is the closest I can get. In France it is lawful in the home and surprisingly it is not explicitly banned in schools, but is unlawful there nonetheless. Yes, I know that is a contradiction but unfortunately that is the present situation and needs to be resolved. However,this was not punishment but a harsh physical treatment which is unlawful. A sprained wrist is an injury, holding a head under water is not only abusive but potentially life threatening.The teacher telling your child he is not welcome and other British children having similar treatment is unlawful. Non-discrimination is strictly off the cards. On both counts the teacher should be in serious trouble.

France signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on 26 January 1990 and ratified on 7 August of that year. It therefore passed into French law and here it looks like the law is consequently being broken.

Non-discrimination is :

Article 2

1. States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child's or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.

2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the basis of the status, activities, expressed opinions, or beliefs of the child's parents, legal guardians, or family members.

Therefore the Convention applies to all children, whatever their race, religion or abilities; whatever they think or say, whatever type of family they come from. It doesn’t matter where children live, what language they speak, what their parents do, whether they are boys or girls, what their culture is, whether they have a disability or whether they are rich or poor, foreign or French. No child should be treated unfairly on any basis.

The Committee on the Rights of the Child looked at this broader question of physical abuse in 2006 and concluded that it is the right of every child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment in the sense of Articles 19 and 28, paragraph 2 and 37, inter alia.

Article 19

1. States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.

2. Such protective measures should, as appropriate, include effective procedures for the establishment of social programmes to provide necessary support for the child and for those who have the care of the child, as well as for other forms of prevention and for identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment and follow-up of instances of child maltreatment described heretofore, and, as appropriate, for judicial involvement.

Article 28

1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular:

2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that school discipline is administered in a manner consistent with the child's human dignity and in conformity with the present Convention.

Article 37

States Parties shall ensure that:

(a) No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

France is bound by these treaty obligations, let alone national laws, local regulations and teaching standards. I believe a maire is not up to the level you require to deal with this, nor a group of lay people. The starting point is the responsible inspector of schools, a dépot de plainte with the police. If the inspector will not act and the gendarmes appear unwilling then a formal complaint to the préfet by LRAR detailing everything, including particularly any lack of action. I would suggest cut and pasting the Convention articles above, looking for them online and then copying in the French version to give the impression you know exactly what you are doing and saying plus that you are deadly serious.

Upping sticks and going elsewhere does not prevent this happening again in the future somewhere else, nor does it save other children there from the same humiliations. It may seem like a bit of an effort but you will be doing possibly many children a favour throughout Landes at least. Best of luck and any further advice I can give you are welcome.

72

Hi, how grim. Looks as if the gene pool is a bit concentrated. I'd get a statement from your Dr, then send a copy of it with a covering letter to the inspector for your area, reiterating that you had a meeting at school and nothing positive came of it, send another to the mairie with a copy of the letter to the inspector (each letter en recommandé avec avis de réception) and also do a dépot de plainte at the gendarmerie armed with all documents. A sprain is not negligeable and in any case this kind of behaviour isn't acceptable.

Montpellier is lovely and probably less full of weirdos than the Landes which seem a bit Forest-of-Dean or Deliverance-ish to me (Warning: I know Montpellier well & have family who live very close, and have only ever driven through the Landes, so I'm biaised).