During the first day, the group visited the Provincial Palace of Liège, where they were welcomed by Ms. Muriel Brodure Willain, Provincial Deputy in charge of education, training, and digital transition. The Province's education policy and student well-being were presented, followed by a visit to the Provincial Institute of Agricultural Education in Theux (IPEA la Reid). There, they learned about the PESH program (For a School Without Bullying), which focuses on preventing and addressing bullying. The program involves forming teams of PESH coordinators who work with school staff, parents, and students to detect and take action against bullying.
On the second day, the group visited Athénée Guy Lang in Flemalle, where they had the opportunity to meet with the Belgian Minister of Education, Caroline Desir. The Minister expressed her intentions to fight against bullying in schools through various measures, including staff training, the establishment of a bullying reporting system, and the introduction of a regulated hour dedicated to bullying prevention in the school curriculum. Video on the fight against bullying was shown, and case studies were discussed in small groups. Presentations were also made on the PMS Centers (for Psycho-Medical-Social), which provide psychological support and guidance to students, and an alternative method supported by Emmanuelle Piquet based on the Palo Alto method.
The third day took place at the Jean Boets Provincial Institute located in the city center, which specializes in caregiving and offers training in various fields. The focus was on combating bullying and taking care of students. Training was provided on topics such as extortion and the use of social networks, and videos addressing bullying were screened.
The day went on with a visit to the Technosphere, an interactive learning environment that promotes scientific and technological education. The opportunity was also given to visit the Techni Truck, an articulated lorry equipped with testing devices on which kids between 10 and 12 years-old can discover fields of technical studies (electricity, home automation, coding…).
The mobility ended at IPES Huy, where presentations and activities related to the fight against school bullying took place, including discussions on reference teams, the "Sentinels" project, and a role-playing workshop.
Overall, the mobility provided valuable insights into the strategies and programs implemented in Belgium to prevent and combat school bullying. It emphasized the importance of coordination, training, awareness-raising, and involving all stakeholders in creating a safe and inclusive school environment.
Some resources and tools
THE NO BLAME METHOD
This article describes the implementation of this method by the Province of Wavre in Belgium. The seven steps of its implementation are described. [In French]
THE METHOD OF SHARED CONCERN
Ce wiki aborde les fondamentaux théoriques de la préoccupation partagée, inspirés de la méthode PIKAS. [In French]
BRIEF THERAPY OF PALO ALTO : THE INTERACTIONAL APPROACH TO DEPRESSIVE SITUATIONS
This text discusses the limitations of the biomedical approach to depression and highlights the importance of the interpersonal context in understanding and treating depression. It advocates for the alternative approach of brief therapy from Palo Alto, emphasizing the interactional perspective and its potential benefits in addressing depression. [In French]
Delroeux, Olivier. « La thérapie brève de Palo Alto : l'approche interactionnelle des situations dépressives », Thérapie Familiale, vol. 29, no. 4, 2008, pp. 513-534.
I stand up against bullying