Teachers at Jacques-Cartier college in Issou (Yvelines) filed a strike notice this Monday. Since Thursday, these teachers have been living in the anguish of a new tragedy like the one experienced by Samuel Paty.
Last Thursday, as part of an art awareness course, a French teacher presented the 17th century painting to a 6th grade class. Diana and Actaeon by the painter Giuseppe Cesari, a painting which shows five naked women. If the table is linked to texts studied in the program, it aroused strong reactions from several students and parents.
Defamation and accusations of racism
According to BFM TVwhich confirms information from the site 78Newsseveral students looked away and took offense, explaining that it was against their religious beliefs.
Quickly, the teacher found herself accused by students of having deliberately wanted to make them uncomfortable and of having made racist remarks. Accusations quickly denied by discussions during an hour of “class life” later in the day. The students even apologized later in the day.
” The damage is done “
Too late. “She never said that, but the damage is done. We are dealing with some vindictive parents, who would rather take their children’s word than ours. Our colleague needs to be protected. We must protect her,” a teacher told 78Actu. Teachers now live in anxiety and fear a danger reminiscent of the assassination of Samuel Paty.
“We know very well that these kinds of methods can lead to tragedy. Our colleagues feel threatened, in danger, teachers are doing their job, they must be respected for that,” explains Sophie Vénétitay, general secretary of the SNES-FSU union, to BFM TV.
According to the media, at least fourteen “establishment” acts (attacks on secularism, people, security or property, or even acts of racism) have been recorded in the establishment since the start of the school year last September compared to only three over the entire last school year.