Bullying: Who to Contact

Bullying is still very common in elementary, middle and high schools and universities. This type of harassment means repetitive abuse of a victim by a person or group of people. It can take the form of words or behaviours: verbal abuse (insults, ridicule, rejection, etc.), physical abuse (hitting and injuries) or psychological abuse (threats, encouraging suicide, etc.). Bullying damages the mental, emotional and physical well-being of the victim and can lead to depression or even suicide. Fighting bullying is not optional. It is the responsibility of each of us. École Galilée explains how to take action and who to call if bullying occurs.

Fighting Bullying

Fighting verbal, physical and psychological abuse means:

• Raising awareness: student involvement is essential for ending bullying. They must be informed of the seriousness of this abuse, know how to recognise bullying and be encouraged to involve an adult when they identify it.
• Listening: defeating bullying means listening closely. A victim who opens up must be listened to and taken seriously. The situation must be addressed immediately because every day counts.
• Observing: some victims of bullying do not come forward due to fear of repercussions or lack of understanding of the seriousness of the situation. It is therefore essential to remain vigilant if a student or group of students is behaving strangely towards another.

Taking action: listening and observing are the passive side of fighting bullying. You need to know how to take action quickly as soon as the bullying is identified (aiding the victim, punishing the perpetrator(s), calling anti-bullying numbers, etc.).

Cyberbullying

As technology has developed, including the internet and social media, bullying has followed victims outside of school. Cyberbullying is using electronic means of communication to perpetrate aggressive actions against a victim. This includes all new communication technology: phones, computers, messaging apps, social media, etc.

Bullying: Who to Contact

If your child is a victim of bullying or if you are being abused, it is essential to inform the school directly with as much information as you have (the type of abuse, how often, who, etc.).

There are also numbers to call for victims of bullying and their families:

3020: this number, subsidised by the Ministry of National Education and Youth, is free and can be called by victims or witnesses of bullying (family, friends, teachers). At the other end of the line, someone will listen and take action to address this serious matter. With your consent, notes are taken to report the incident to National Education. You can call this number Monday through Friday, 9 am to 8 pm, and Saturday 9 am to 6 pm.

3018: national hotline for cyberbullying. This hotline is free and anonymous. The services listens to and advises victims of cyberbullying. It can also have illicit content removed from the internet. You can call this number Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 8 pm.

Academic numbers: bullying specialists are dispatched all over France on the platforms mentioned above or other channels. You can find the number to call on the Ministry of Education website when you enter your school information.