Family benefit cut for unruly pupils

CONFLICT training for teachers, community service for unruly pupils and cutting benefits for truants’ families are measures planned after a school safety summit.

The summit followed rising concern over violence, which has recently included the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old in Paris. Education Minister Luc Chatel rounded the summit off by listing priorities for prompt action, many of which will apply to all French schools.

He said he wanted fewer expulsions – which meant misbehaving pupils were just shunted around establishments. Instead he wants schools to use “community service.” Families of pupils who are often absent or misbehave will be threatened with cuts to family allowances.

Schools should draw up acceptable behaviour charters so pupils know when they have stepped over the line.

The minister said mobile security teams in local education authorities with the most violence should be doubled.

These are made up of people with police or educational experience. They visit schools to do prevention work or to help with crises.

All teacher training will include modules on dealing with violent situations as of next year and existing staff in schools with the most violence will get on-site training.
He added that he planned a national debate on school timetabling.

A follow-up will be held in October to monitor progress.

The idea of video cameras in schools was also discussed but was largely opposed. Science professor Eric Debarbieux, who headed a team of experts who helped prepare the debate, said CCTV “increases violence because it increases the feeling of stigmatisation.”

Teachers unions expressed satisfaction at the timetabling announcement and “positive” expulsion alternatives, but disappointment over the outcome in general. Leading teaching union FSU said the minister’s conclusions focussed too much on purely security measures to the detriment of educational or social ones.