Date: 22 Sept. 2006

Published by 20 Minutes newspaper

~ Translated by Anne-Marie Barré, Rennes, France

Title: Four children expelled from nursery school for caresses during recess

Four kids aged 5 were expelled from their nursery school, in Jonquières (Vaucluse ), accused of forcing a 4 year old little girl into accepting caresses during recess. We learnt this from a judicial source. According to La Provence and Dauphiné Libéré (translator's note: 2 French newspapers), this occurred  last week at the Frédéric-Mistral school.

The Vaucluse Academic Inspection confirmed the children had been expelled without being able to specify if this was a definite decision. When interviewed by the A.F.P, the magistrate on duty at the Vaucluse District Attorney's office in Carpentras said he lacked information on the exact facts: " There weren't really any witnesses: neither adults nor children. They tried to undress a little girl. We don't know if the matter went any further." He added : " People panic. We're forgetting we all played doctor at school."

However an enquiry has started and is focusing on the children's way of life: " to see if they weren't unstable."
According to Didier Blanc, head of the F.C.P.E in the Vaucluse  and who was contacted by the A.F.P: " It's an extremely rare and exceptional case, we mustn't judge things hastily because we must remember those children are
very young and don't have all their bearings yet."

"I find it ridiculous that this case will be dealt with by the District's Attorney's office. Usually, there's a conversation with the parents, a school psychologist and the school staff." added Mr. Blanc who is also the F.C.P.E 's national administrator.

"If these children have been removed temporarily in order to clarify the matter for the five children and their family, that's fine by me. However, this decision cannot be a disciplinary one." He also hoped that the R.E.A.P.P would finally be set up in the Vaucluse." It's purely theory just now."

The national head of parents belonging to the F.C.P.E, Faride Hamana, said he was " surprised such heavy proceedings had taken place" as it concerned four children aged 5.

"This case should have remained within the families and the teachers: they're not rapists" he declared while reminding that " at 5 years old, they're still big babies."

"They're perhaps a little unstable, a little violent, I don't want to judge anything but anyway we mustn't expel such young children." He protested.

A circular dated 6 June 1991 which focuses on the respect of rules at school precises that " in some cases, proceedings to expel temporarily can be decided by the school's head." The Ministry of Education states this also
applies to nursery schools.

Translator's notes:

-A.F.P: Agence France Presse. It's a news source.

-F.C.P.E: Fédération des parents d'élèves des écoles publiques.
One of the biggest pupil's parents association in France.

-R.E.A.P.P: Réseau d'écoute, d'appui et d'accompagnement des parents. A
support team for puplis parents.

~ Translated by Anne-Marie Barré, Rennes, France

source:
http://www.20minutes.fr/articles/2006/09/21120060921-actualite-France-Quatre-Enf
ants-renvoyé-de-maternelle-pour-attouchements-a-la-recreation.php
 

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