According to a new French survey, nearly 8 out of 10 young people have already experienced violence at school. A phenomenon which has worsened over the years and which can be seen at all levels, in college and in kindergarten. Details.

Today the school violence are much more worrying than 20 years ago. The figures from the new Education Barometer of the Apprentis Auteuil Foundation, carried out in August 2022 with the Opinion Way Institute among more than 1,000 young people aged 15 to 20 and 1,000 parents, speak for themselves. . 77% of young people admitted to having experienced violence at school , whereas at the time of their parents, only more than one in three said so. For this new generation, school is ultimately not a safe place. 74% of them believe that it is a place conducive to the expression of violence and 29% do not feel safe there.

Not one but violence

Still according to the survey, violence at school today is plural, it takes different forms, ' mainly verbal for 64% of young people surveyed, but also psychological for 44% and physical for 38%'. They would also be much more serious and more frequent in our time. '15% of young people say they have been beaten, 14% of sexism, sexual harassment or sexual violence, 9% have taken part in dangerous games (Tik Tok challenges, games from Squid Games, scarf games, etc.).

This violence does not seem to spare anyone. They affect both girls (79%) and boys (74%) , and in most cases this violence is mainly done by students on other young people. In this type of situation, on the other hand, it is mostly boys who are the perpetrators (79% against 43% for girls).

When does school violence occur?

One could imagine that violence in the school environment occurs only from the second degree. This is partly the case and especially in college , where '71% of 15-20 year olds say they have been victims during this period', but in kindergarten and primary also acts of violence are noted and much more than one would believe. ' 30% of young people say they have been victims of violence in kindergarten and primary school . They are even 6% to have known them before 6 years.

Multiple causes

The Apprentis Auteuil study also teaches us that in this violence there are multiple causes or triggers. Within schools, what is determining in the passage to the act it is above all the famous group effect (at 44%) . Together, the perpetrators of violence more easily take action. The 'bad Company' and one difficult family background don't help in these situations either. For the young people interviewed, social networks also have a role to play. 83% of them 'believe that social networks contribute to reinforce violence . They are also a form of violence in themselves as 56% of 15-20 year olds say they have seen humiliating videos and photos of young people circulating on their phones.

Dramatic consequences

This violence committed during the school career leaves long-term consequences in the victims. Both in terms of their self-confidence (46%), as well as their mental and physical health (22%) and their education. Violence increases the risk of dropping out and school phobia (27%), according to the survey. The consequences are such that for 81% of young people, these are traumatic experiences. So much so that many, 1 in 5 young people, prefer to ignore them and not talk about them.

Faced with these phenomena of violence, the both students and parents still feel helpless . 'Nearly half of young people (48%) and 2 out of 3 parents still believe that they still do not feel sufficiently informed about these issues of violence at school.' A legitimate feeling, which also shows the limits of the government's plan to combat school violence, implemented since 2019.

Source journaldesfemmes.fr