After the indictment of five people including four minors for school harassment, the question of the responsibility of Lindsay’s college arises. This 13-year-old girl committed suicide after having endured hell for months in her school.
On May 12, Lindsay, a 13-year-old schoolgirl ended her life after months of school harassment. Three weeks later, Betty, her mother, spoke at a press conference : “If today, we had been helped, if we had been supported, I think that my daughter, I am even sure, would still be with us.” She notably pointed to the “inaction” of her daughter’s college and of National Education.
The director of the Bracke-Desrousseau college in Vendin-le-Vieil can be accused of breach of the supervision obligation. Lindsay’s parents can point to a deficiency in the organization of the surveillance system and a lack of vigilance. Betty is angry with this principal, and points to what she describes as negligence: “Lindsay was in middle school for a while, she was asking the principal for help, he clearly told her ‘you’re bothering me with your nonsense, it stays between you, we have other things to do“, she said.
According to Decree No. 89-122 of February 24, 1989 relating to school principals, the latter “ensure the smooth running of the school and compliance with the regulations applicable to it.” In this drama, Lindsay’s mother lamented, according to her “no support before, during or after.” The director of the college is exposed to a five-year prison sentence and a fine of 75,000 euros according to article 434-3 of the Penal Code.
Complaints against the director of the establishment
Four complaints “against those who knew of Lindsay’s plight and did nothing” were announced by the family. They target the director of this college, the Lille academy, Facebook France, Instagram France and the police officers who received Lindsay’s testimonies. If a trial then opens, the justice will have to establish whether one or more members of the educational staff could have prevented this violence against Lindsay, but that they did nothing.
Pap Ndiaye was scolded by Pierre Debuisson, Lindsay’s family lawyer, during the family press conference : “It is inconceivable that the Minister of National Education would prefer May 24, 12 days after Lindsay’s death, to reward 12 students from a college in Paris for the fight against school bullying, but not to take care of ‘call Lindsay’s parents.’
On Neoprofs, a social network of teachers, a topic “School harassment, what is our responsibility?” appeared following Lindsay’s suicide. The user Maju testifies: “I remind you that one of the objectives of the Phare program was to have trained staff and a clear protocol in each establishment. We are far from it.”
“3020”, “No to harassment”, is the national number to call to report a situation of school harassment. The person or their relatives can call this listening and support number free of charge, accessible from Monday to Friday, except public holidays, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.