While the students returned to the school benches and their teachers this week, the rules on discipline sometimes raise certain questions, especially from parents. Hence the question that often comes up with them: what about punishments within establishments?
If there is no exhaustive list of authorized punishments, certain indications are nevertheless given by the National Education in circular n ° 2014-059 of May 27, 2014, reference text for the development of internal regulations. We find there the additional duty, the note on the correspondence book, the oral or written public apology, or even the detention to do a duty not done.
But what are the prohibited punishments?
All corporal punishment is strictly prohibited
While this may seem obvious, it should nevertheless be remembered that at school all corporal punishment is strictly prohibited.
It is written in black and white in another circular of the National Education, dated June 6, 1991. As a result, nowadays, typing on the fingers of the pupils with a ruler or spanking, are not done any more. at school. And if that happens, then it is a case of mistreatment that can be punished and prosecuted.
PENALTIES AGAINST THE DIGNITY OF STUDENTS
If physical or verbal violence are prohibited, the same goes for humiliation or a degrading attitude towards students, who are also prohibited. The same goes for the lines of writing and in general the punishments contrary to the dignity of the pupils.
Zero score for ONE behavior
Teachers also cannot put a zero on a student for purely disciplinary reasons, such as bad behavior.
Collective punishments
Collective punishments are also banned. “If the acts are committed in a group, it is necessary to establish the degrees of responsibility of each in order to individualize the sanction, which does not exclude that it is identical for several pupils”, stipulates the circular.
Exclusion of a pupil left alone
Any exclusion from lessons of a pupil left alone in the hallway without supervision or support by school life (principal education advisor or supervisor) is also prohibited. In addition, in the event of exclusion, the teacher “must ask the pupil in particular to provide him with work related to the subject taught”.
A punishment is not a sanction
The Education Code also distinguishes sanctions from punishments. Listed in Article R 511-13 of the Education Code, the sanctions – a warning, a reprimand, a measure of responsibility, a temporary or definitive exclusion – relate to serious or repeated breaches and to injuries to persons or property. They are given only by the school head and do not exist in elementary and nursery schools.
In middle and high schools, the punishments, which must appear in the internal regulations, are immediate responses to acts of indiscipline and are pronounced directly by the teacher, management, education or supervisory staff.
But whether it is a question of sanction or punishment, both must be part of an educational perspective and take into account the best interests of the child. Parents must also be systematically informed in writing of each punishment given to their child.