Violence Against Children at School

Abstract

The feelings of children about school are ambivalent and contradictory. The appreciation, especially when they have good teachers and receive good education, alternates with frustration and anger in the face of exclusion, abuse and violence. Physical and psychological abuse has been documented. Teachers frequently fall back on such violent methods. Awareness of the issue and of the consequences for the children has been investigated. Sexual violence by teachers has also been documented. Numerous are the stories of sexual remarks, unwanted touching and even intercourse. The difference between forced sexual contacts and consensual sex with sweet promises is not always obvious. Children tend to put more stress on violence by peers, not because it is more frequent but probably because they want to learn so badly that they are willing to tolerate anything from teachers. The hierarchical distance anyway is too huge. Children crave friendship and direct and concrete impact. The school compound, rather than being a fair playing ground for all children, for many children rather turns into a new arena, in which they are at the receiving end, especially the poor and handicapped child, boys and girls alike.