ABSTRACT
In France the main approach to this phenomenon is often restricted to a legal one (through the definitions given to physical violence or offences by the Penal Code). However, there seems to be a continuum from the pupils' utter lack of concern towards what they are taught, the hard-living 'incivilities' (abuse, hustles and so on) towards the personnel, the feeling of injustice and arbitrariness mentioned by the pupils and finally the violence defined by the Penal Code. Hence a feeling of insecurity is often felt by both the pupils and the school staff.
