The atmosphere was tense, Thursday, September 2, at the start of the school year at the Saint-Ferdinand Catholic school in Chartres. Parents of students explained that they did not understand the presence of a 45-year-old teacher being the subject of an investigation for harassment on CM2 students, during the 2020/2021 school year.
This Friday, September 3, at 8:15 am, four signs were placed by some parents of students on the wall of a house located opposite the school, rue Chanzy. The inscriptions evoking their incomprehension.
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New hearings will be carried out
Contacted by The Republican Echo, the public prosecutor, Rémi Coutin, drew up the genesis of this file in this establishment with 350 students: “A complaint from a family was lodged in March 2021. The investigation was entrusted to the brigade of minors of Chartres police station. “
And to add: “I deplore this poster campaign which seeks to put an indirect pressure on justice and the media. This is not appropriate because the facts are complex and sensitive. “
The teacher suspended for five months
During the investigations, the police reportedly identified at least four alleged victims in the class of 30 students, and three parents of students joined in the complaint. According to the prosecutor, “the parents denounced a potential harassment committed against their children”.
During the first five months of the investigation, the teacher was suspended by the National Education. The numerous hearings of children, parents, colleagues and former colleagues of the teacher followed one another. Even its former director, in Tremblay-les-Villages, was auditioned and allegedly revealed behavior deemed inappropriate.
20 days of ITT for a child
The four minors were received by specialized psychologists in Argenteuil (Val-d’Oise). ITTs of 5 to 20 days have been issued. This Tuesday, “it seemed appropriate to hear the teacher and to place her in police custody for a day,” said the prosecutor.
His statements and the elements provided by his lawyer led justice to continue in a preliminary investigation, while leaving the indictment at liberty. Other hearings will be carried out: “The investigations will last several weeks. At the end, either the facts are characterized and it will be referred to the criminal court, or the procedure will be closed. “
“Cries, mockery of racist words”
The lawyers of a plaintiff, Me Bertrand Lebailly and Anne-Gaëlle Le Roy, affirm: “Several of the students of this CM2 teacher have reported unacceptable behavior on the part of their teacher of which they were victims or witnesses in the course of the 2020/2021 school year: shouting, mocking or public humiliation, disparaging or intimidating remarks, racist gestures and comments, etc. These students confided that they were “afraid of their teacher” and went to school “with a stomach ache”. Parents noticed a change in their children’s behavior (withdrawing into oneself, difficulty falling asleep, night terrors, self-deprecating words, etc.). Some have developed psychological disorders. Slippages likely to receive a criminal qualification (psychological violence or harassment). The reaction of the school remains incomprehensible. “
My client strongly contests the accusations against her and calmly awaits the outcome of the ongoing investigation
Vincent Rivierre (Teacher’s lawyer)
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The Bâtonnier Vincent Rivierre, the teacher’s lawyer, said: “I deplore the media coverage of the present case by the complainants with the obvious aim of harming him and while my client was interviewed in the context of police custody in order to to benefit from respect for the rights of the defense. My client strongly contests the accusations against her and calmly awaits the outcome of the ongoing investigation. “
“The presumption of innocence prevails”
On the side of the parents of students, two clans were formed. A mother says she is outraged: “There are doubts but she remains in office. “A father defends the teacher:” You have to put things into perspective. It is a minority that complains and, in my opinion, this is not a reflection of reality. »Contacted by The Republican Echo, the bishop of Chartres, Mgr Philippe Christory, gave his feeling: “I feel concerned because it is a question of the well-being of the children. I often go to schools to ensure an educational space of peace where benevolence is essential. Three mothers joined in a complaint questioning the teacher’s attitude. The academic management considered that the resumption of his work on his 3rd return to the establishment was possible. I regret that this business exists and that the mothers, who have their appreciation of the situation, refused to discuss with this mistress. There were no dialogues. “Evelyne Mège, academic director of Eure-et-Loir, also spoke:” The teacher was suspended for several months in order to preserve her. It was not a sanction but a precautionary measure. We have no new elements. We are awaiting the end of the investigation. And his return to school was authorized because the presumption of innocence prevails. “
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Thierry delaunay
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