France is taking an interesting new approach to tackling school age bullying by asking pupils from primary through to the lycée to complete an anonymous questionnaire on the reasons why some children become victims of harassment.

An estimated one in 10 French children is bullied or has been bullied at school at some point, according to recent statistics. The reasons run from petty jealousies to differences in lifestyles and even appearances.  

HOW IT WORKS

To mark National Anti-Bullying Day on 9th November, the French government is launching a programme that allows students from CE2 to terminale to take part in a voluntary and anonymous self-assessment geared toward determining which children are more likely to be in the crosshairs of bullies and why.  

The poll, which will be available to schools from 9th to 15th November, will be adapted to the ages of the children taking part, meaning that pupils from each age group will receive age-appropriate sets of questions.  

The hope is that the findings will help inform educators to the various forms of the bullying and what is causing such extensive harassment on school grounds, with the goal of assisting establishments in adapting their own policies to prevent and handle bullies and bullying. 

The pHARe programme, the government’s “comprehensive plan for preventing and dealing with situations of harassment between students” that is already in effect at many schools across the country, will also now become mandatory for all establishments at this time. 

Make sure you’re never left out of the conversation.

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.   

Photo source: Ben Mullins, Unsplash