French children, 10, read slave rape scenes
A Paris teacher has come under fire for reading a book on slavery and sexual abuse to ten-year-old pupils. Parents say they are consdering legal action.
Martine says her son came home feeling sick after reading a story in school with his teacher in an interview with the daily Le Parisien.
In class, her ten-year-old son was reading Betty-Coton, a novel for teenagers aged at least 13 years old. The book tells the story of a young slave Betty and her relationship with her master Henri.
The novel includes graphic scenes where Betty is forced to masturbate Henri and is raped with a letter-opener.
"He gets up abruptly, grabs her hand and puts it on his penis. 'You see you can do it! Now move you hand slowly... stroke it up and down...'"
Parents say the pupils were too young to read such detailed accounts and have called on local authorities to protect their children. A psychologist has met the children to discuss their feelings after reading the book.
Parents however say they are still considering legal action against the school.
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