In special education, where violence is higher than in ordinary schools, we also see an intensification of aggressiveness: punches, bites, spitting, insults… “They are tyrant children who can no longer stand to be upset. An 11 year old girl kicked me in the jaw: after 36 physiotherapy sessions, I may have to have surgery. There is no longer an age for violence”reveals another teacher.
In Wavre, a nursery and primary school “instrumentalizes” children for union purposes: “It’s an extremely serious situation”
Although Christine rarely faces physical confrontations, she suffers much more verbal aggression than before. “Children can no longer manage their emotions. I’ve already had ‘Big p*’s and my 5th grade students have already called me names.”specifies the teacher for 20 years. “In kindergarten, a little kid slapped his kindergarten teacher!”
43,000 teachers insured
These testimonies illustrate uneasiness and helplessness in the face of exponential aggression for which teachers are paying the price. Ethias offers “Teachers-Academic” insurance which protects teachers against violence and attacks to which they may be subject within or outside the school. This year, 43,000 teachers have subscribed to this additional protection which comes after the compulsory Work Accident insurance. “In 2019, we had 41,000 policyholders. It’s increasing slightly each year without being significant.”comments Ethias.
Suspicious, parents slip a microphone into the child’s schoolbag: “When will the spy camera come?”
Few figures illustrate the experiences of teachers. “To send a student out, we must follow steps and complete a lot of administrative documents. In one class alone, I filed five disciplinary reports during my classes. Everything has to be explained in writing so we turn a blind eye to certain things but then management does not have enough reports to take more drastic disciplinary measures.”explains Isabelle.
-Reports of exclusion are highest among 14 year olds last school year (19.41%) and 15 year olds (19.14%), even if the number has decreased slightly compared to 2022-2023. On the other hand, the administration figures show an increase among the youngest: almost 2% more among those aged 13 (14.97%) and a little more than 1% among those aged 12 and under (9.71%). ). At ordinary basic level, 72 children were excluded in 2023-24 compared to 60 two years ago.
Students often have five reasons for exclusion. Of the 2,184 exclusions in 2023-24, 124 students knowingly harmed a member of staff, 279 students compromised security and 404 students exerted unbearable psychological pressure (insults, insults, slander, defamation) against a member of staff. In fundamental terms, these last two patterns are on the rise.
Education
The aura of authority and respect that the teachers inspired shines with time. They struggle to make themselves heard and parents don’t help. “For them, we are all lazy, we strike all the time”deplores Isabelle. “Discipline no longer exists at home and is at its lowest at school. The teachers are too afraid of the parents and no longer dare to make any comments.”adds teacher Michaël.
Blackmail, threats… the teachers can’t take it anymore: “After the child king, we have the parent king!”
Apart from video games and social networks to explain verbal violence, teachers point to resigned parents who do not want to imagine that their child could be violent. As a result, they find themselves in addition to teaching to educate children. “We need to educate parents and remind them of their role.”
