A teacher from Quebec victim of the “comma game”

The Capital School Service Center confirms that a case of this phenomenon on social networks was reported in one of the schools of its territory. (Archive photo)

• Flavie Villeneuve (View profile)Flavie Villeneuve

A teacher from a Quebec high school was reportedly the target of the “comma game,” a viral challenge on social media.

The Quebec Region Education Union as well as the Capital School Service Center confirm that an incident linked to this challenge, generally launched on the social network Tiktok, occurred in a school in Quebec.

The comma game, called houlisdayin English, involves hitting a person on the back of the head when they are not expecting it. The action is generally filmed, then broadcast on social networks. This phenomenon first appeared in France.

A teacher from one of our secondary schools was involved in what x27;we call it “the comma game,” the Capital School Service Center wrote to Radio-Canada in an email.

This phenomenon is new, and it is the only case that has been brought to our attention. The school management is taking all necessary measures to manage the situation in accordance with its code of conduct and its plan to combat bullying and violence. The School Service Center reiterates its commitment to maintaining healthy and safe environments, we can read in the email.

We supported the member by mentioning her rights in the circumstances, said the president of the Quebec Region Teaching Union, François Bernier. /p>Open in full screen mode

François Bernier is the president of the Quebec Region Education Union.

The union does not want to specify whether the teacher suffered injuries after being a victim of the comma game.

< p class="StyledBodyHtmlParagraph-sc-48221190-4 hnvfyV">The Quebec Region Education Union is saddened by this phenomenon, which only confirms an increase in violence in schools, according to its president .

What I saw and what is circulating on social networks, for me, it is an assault, it is an attack against an individual, whether a student or a teacher. It has no place in schools.

A quote from François Bernier, president of the Quebec Region Education Union

This phenomenon or all the other situations of violence that are experienced on a daily basis in establishments reiterate the importance of a request that we have within the framework of our negotiations and which concerns the fact of having a workplace healthy, he adds.

The spokesperson for the Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ), David Poitras, says that a complaint was recently filed in connection with the comma game. However, Radio-Canada was not able to confirm whether it is the same file.

The SPVQ is aware of this game which is spreading in Quebec and wants to be proactive. Police officers are doing prevention work in collaboration with school service centers on these digital trends.

When physiotherapist Edith Castonguay watches the numerous videos on social networks of young people playing the comma game, she sees the risk of injury from these vigorous gestures given to the neck.

I find it aberrant as a fashion, if you can put it that way, for the injuries it can cause and for all the rest that [this gesture] can cause, says Edith Castonguay, who is also president of the Federation of Physiotherapy Clinics of Quebec.

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Edith Castonguay is the president of the Federation of Physiotherapy Clinics of Quebec.

She warns about the consequences of this sudden tap, which can range from a whiplash to a concussion if the strike results in a fall. I have seen footage that was filmed on stairs, so there may be a fall on the stairs, there may be a head hit on the ground, therefore a risk of concussion.

It can lead to consequences and symptoms that can persist, believes Ms. Castonguay. These are still notable consequences for a viral phenomenon, concludes the physiotherapist.

With the collaboration of Camille Carpentier< /p>

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