While 11 million students returned to school on Tuesday, September 1, a concern accompanies this return to school: that of many parents who no longer know if they can entrust their children to after-school activities. After revelations of sexual violence in several cities, notably in Paris, some families are now choosing to turn away.
“In recent weeks, we have noticed that parents are very worried as the start of the school year approaches,” relates Élisabeth Gutmann, co-founder of the SOS Périscolaire collective, guest of France 24. “They want to know if the promises made by municipalities to protect children at school and in extracurricular activities will translate into practice.”
According to Paris town hall, after-school attendance had already fallen by around 12% this summer, recalls Élisabeth Gutmann, after the revelation of several cases in Parisian after-school activities leading to the suspension of around a hundred leaders, notably for suspicion of sexual assault.
Also readBack to school: parents’ anxiety due to scandals of violence in after-school activities
A series of measures after the scandal
To try to restore confidence, Paris town hall has established a listening cell, a dedicated number, information meetings for families, as well as an immediate suspension of agents who are the subject of a report.
“For years, we asked for the precautionary suspension to be applied. Today, it works,” recognizes Élisabeth Gutmann. “But I’m not sure that that’s enough to reassure families. They also need to ensure that prevention works.”
The SOS Périscolaire collective calls on parents to maintain regular dialogue with their children, “without being paranoid”, advises Élisabeth Gutmann. “The first thing, when a child reports this type of fact, is to believe him. This helps him to free his speech afterwards.”
See alsoViolence in extracurriculars: parents facing the unbearable
“Not all extracurriculars are dysfunctional”
Élisabeth Gutmann reminds us that a child does not necessarily deliver “a story like an adult does”. Elements can arise “over time, and sometimes in the middle of a family dinner.” Parents are invited to carefully note down what the child says rather than “cook” him.
Beyond the responses provided after the reports, SOS Périscolaire is calling for an improvement in the working conditions of facilitators and compulsory training on gender-based and sexual violence.
Despite the seriousness of the cases revealed in recent months, the co-founder of SOS Périscolaire refuses to cast suspicion on the entire profession. “Many of the animators are extraordinary and do a great job with the children,” she insists. “Not all extracurriculars are dysfunctional.”
