France's education minister, Edouard Geffray, wrote to parents on February 12 urging their involvement in combating school violence and harassment. He referenced recent severe incidents, such as the stabbing of a teacher in Sanary-sur-Mer, and called for a collective effort.
On February 12, Edouard Geffray, France's education minister, sent a letter to all parents to bolster their role in preventing and fighting school violence. 'The school does a lot, but it can't do everything,' he wrote, emphasizing the need for personal parental involvement against the 'scourge of violence and harassment'.
He recalled recent particularly grave events, including the Sanary-sur-Mer case in the Var department, where a teacher was stabbed by a 14-year-old student during a break and remains in critical condition. The minister also noted that, on average, more than one child per class is a victim of harassment, with destructive consequences.
Geffray calls for rejecting the 'normalization of insults', physical violence, and carrying bladed weapons. 'We all know that the violent behaviors of some young people have multiple causes. (…) We all hold a part of the solution to avoid them and protect our children,' he explained. He added: 'A child has no right to be violent, nor do their parents,' referring to the law ensuring respect for education staff.
In conclusion, he urged parents to regularly discuss rules with their children, report any harassment or violence, and lead by example in valuing the school.
