Lifelong Learning Programme

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Teachers Experiences

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TITLE OF THE EXPERIENCE
Sexual assaults at primary school
NAME AND SURNAME OF THE TEACHER
Psychologist of “Infor-familles”
SUBJECTS TAUGHT
Psychologist of “Infor-familles”
TYPE OF SCHOOL
Family planning in Liège
COUNTRY
Belgium
THEMATIC AREA
School bullying
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPERIENCE
Period and place in which the experience took place
A primary school near Liège. 5th year classroom (10-11 year-old). School year 2009-2010. Probably a few weeks long (duration is difficult to determine).

Main actors involved (special focus on the profile of the student)
• The victims: several pupils of the class (no specific information on the subject)
• The harassers: three boys of the class. Their motives seem varied: play, imitation of things seen on the Internet, superiority. Picking the “weakest” ones.
• The followers: other pupils helped the three harassers, under threat.

Description of the factual events
During a school trip, three pupils inflicted sexual abuses to classmates and forced other pupils to do the same, lest they suffer it to. The facts took place without the adults knowing.
It went on in school locations such as the toilets.
A parent raised the alarm after noticing bruises on their child’s body. Until then, no child had raised the subject.

Actions carried out to identify the causes of the students difficulties
The family planning went to the class and conducted information and prevention activities on emotional, relational and sexual life (puberty, child conception, love relationships, the dangers of the Internet, relations with parents …).

Actions carried out to solve the situation and the problems encountered
• The three harassers were expelled from the school.
• Psychological support was provided to the victims by professionals of child maltreatment at school.
• After the crisis period, the school administration asked the family planning to come to the classroom and carry out activities on emotional, relational and sexual life.
• The management also organised meetings with avec professionals of child maltreatment, the administrative body, the police…
• The management asked the teachers to participate in the meetings.

Results achieved
No information on the subject. The family planning received little information on the harassment acts and on the victims, probably due to professional confidentiality.

Support received by fellow students, colleagues, school management and parents
• The parents pressed charge at the police and attended the various meetings with the teachers and management.
• The teachers were not aware of the situation. They were informed after the parents’ complaint. They were asked by the administrative body and management to participate in meetings with the police and with the parents and management.
• The management, in collaboration with the administrative body, acted at once to deal with the problem.

Strengths and weaknesses of the experience

Strengths:
The school effectively managed the crisis and the follow-up of the victims.

Weaknesses:
• The family planning intervention was one-off and aimed to support the work previously done.
According to the family planning: “Our work could be more relevant if it were more regular and long-lasting. Yet, this was not a school wish. In our opinion the crisis situation was correctly managed, but we consider that this kind of harassment, as traumatic as it can be, needs to be continuously monitored on a long period”
• The school chose to punish the harassers, through expulsion. This does not guarantee a follow-up of the children.
It would have been opportune that the harassers, who are very young, be monitored. It is crucial that they realise the seriousness of their acts, that they can understand how their behaviour was inappropriate. They need help to find alternatives to their needs of self-assertion as “the strongest”.
Punishment is indispensable, but it gives no clue on how to behave appropriately; they thus run the risk of doing it again elsewhere, especially if they have not realised the seriousness of their acts.
• The Internet and some geographical elements (such as the toilets) contributed to the proceedings. This highlights the necessity to work thoroughly on the danger of Internet.
• Another necessity made visible by this experience: creating every day trust links between the educators (in the broad sense) and the pupils, and building systems so that reference adults can listen to pupils, be available and trustworthy (pupils know they will act). This involves an increased awareness of the educational team.

Comments on this Teachers Experience

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Date: 2014.05.30

Posted by Maria Blanco Bermejo (Spain)

Message: This story is a very serious case , so I feel great and proper that the school has had zero tolerance. First I think you have to refer the case to the police and relevant organizations. Second, from the center I think they've done well, as it has in addition to working with students , both those directly involved and non- involved directly worked with the family . It is important that when an act is of relevance in the school have programs for raising awareness , and making them responsible participants . One thing that has struck me is the work of the emotional center of those involved.

It is also equally important to work with offenders , because if we limit the punishment does not teach how we should act , you have to work awareness and responsibility.
However , I do not want to end without making it clear that this case is very difficult , therefore, the school should not get involved where it should not , the school should refer cases to specialized professionals in each area .

Date: 2014.05.30

Posted by Maria Blanco Bermejo (Spain)

Message: This story is a very serious case , so I feel great and proper that the school has had zero tolerance. First I think you have to refer the case to the police and relevant organizations. Second, from the center I think they've done well, as it has in addition to working with students , both those directly involved and non- involved directly worked with the family . It is important that when an act is of relevance in the school have programs for raising awareness , and making them responsible participants . One thing that has struck me is the work of the emotional center of those involved.

It is also equally important to work with offenders , because if we limit the punishment does not teach how we should act , you have to work awareness and responsibility.
However , I do not want to end without making it clear that this case is very difficult , therefore, the school should not get involved where it should not , the school should refer cases to specialized professionals in each area .

Date: 2014.05.05

Posted by Zoitsa Perdikaki (Greece)

Message: Very detailed experienced that may help others to think about the difficulties involved in such a sensitive matter.

20 December 2014

Final Partners’ meeting

The fourth partners’ meeting took place in Florence (IT) on 15 December 2014. The meeting had the objective to check the activities carried out since the third meeting of the project and share and assess the in progress results. A special focus has been dedicated to the presentation of the strategies to solve the case scenarios.