A threatening letter sent by local education authorities to the parents of a boy who committed suicide after complaining of being the victim of bullying is sparking debate in France, with the government calling the message ‘shameful’.
The boy, named Nicolas, 15 years old, committed suicide on September 5, the day after children returned to school after the summer holidays in France.
Nicolas had changed schools to attend an educational institution in Paris, but had complained that he had been the victim of bullying last school year at his previous school in Poissy, in the Yvelines region, south-west of the capital.
But the educational authorities of the Yvelines region, based in Versailles, Instead of sympathizing with the family’s situation, they sent them a letter saying the parents’ statements were “unacceptable” and urging them to take a “constructive” attitude.
The letter even recalled that defamation can be considered a criminal offense in France, punishable by up to five years in prison and a heavy fine of up to 45,000 euros.
“This letter is shameful, shameful,” said Education Minister Gabriel Attalabout the missive sent in May, but the existence of which was first reported last week by the channel BFMTV.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne described the letter as ‘shocking’ and added “There was clearly a failure in the kind of response aimed at parents who were extremely concerned.”
Attal said inspectors had launched an investigation that would present their findings within two weeks, with possible sanctions. The boy first complained about bullying in December 2022.
“I have made the fight against bullying an absolute priority” but “we are still not up to the task”admitted Attal, who met the boy’s family together with First Lady Brigitte Macron.
The 34-year-old Attal, who became Education Minister this summer after a reshuffle, is seen as one of the most ambitious and effective ministers in President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
It has made the fight against bullying a priority after a series of suicides by children in recent years who complained of being bullied at school.
“The revelation of a threatening letter from the presbytery reveals the failure of national education,” the daily said Le Monde.
Versailles prosecutors are trying to investigate whether the suicide is directly linked to the murder bullyingbut they don’t want to draw any conclusions at this point.
Source: DN
