It is now difficult to believe that attacks on secularism in schools are isolated cases. According to a survey* by the National Union of National Education Management Staff (Snpden-Unsa) published on Wednesday, 42% of school heads report pupils entering class with so-called “cultural” clothing, but which can “be used in the context of a religious practice”, during the first quarter of the 2022-2023 school year. These are most often abayas (long black robes) and qamis (a long tunic for men).
And if we isolate the high schools, it is 72% of the principals who have observed this type of outfit in their walls, without however specifying how many students were concerned and how often this happened. “These observations are mainly made in establishments located in large cities or their suburbs, and more often in REP”, notes Carole Zerbib, deputy headmaster of the Lycée Voltaire, in Paris, and member of Snpden. These findings are in line with those of the Ministry of Education, which now publishes monthly figures for attacks on secularism, showing that wearing signs and clothing indicating religious affiliation is the problem most often encountered.
Disputed courses, refusal to go to the swimming pool…
This is not the only striking fact underlined by the heads of establishments: 26% of them have noted challenges to teaching content in the name of “religious truth”. Facts that are more often observed in college, “perhaps because of the lack of culture of these students compared to high school students,” says Didier Georges, principal of the Jean Drouant high school, in Paris, and national secretary of Snpden. “High school students practice self-censorship more than middle school students, because they know that these teaching challenges are prohibited”, also explains Carole Zerbib.
In addition, 23% of school heads noted problems with respect for secularism in the context of educational outings or school trips. “It may be a student who is going to put on her veil during a school outing, unaware that the wearing of signs or outfits manifesting a religious affiliation is also prohibited during educational activities that take place outside the school. enclosure of the establishment for the pupils”, emphasizes Carole Zerbib. “Some also refuse to visit a mosque or a synagogue, or dispute what the guide says,” notes Didier Georges. Finally, 28% of college principals and principals identify cases of refusal to take part in physical education classes, particularly in swimming pools.
A report to the hierarchy far from being systematic
Faced with these situations, some headteachers feel quite alone. Because they tend to rely only on themselves to solve problems and do not always report incidents of which they are aware to their hierarchy. Example: 43% of those who had to deal with students wearing outfits that could be used in the context of a religious practice did not report it to the institution. The same absence of feedback for 37% of those who noted teaching disputes, for 49% of those who had been confronted with incidents during outings or school trips, and for 71% of those who recorded refusals to participation in physical education and/or swimming lessons.
If the management teams do not resort to their hierarchy, it is because they very often manage to solve the problem by discussing with the pupils and their families. But not only. “Some heads of institutions are reluctant to report attacks on secularism because they fear the conclusions that would be drawn”, notes Bruno Bobkiewicz, the secretary general of Snpden. Namely a “bad publicity” to their establishment, while making them appear incompetent to manage these problems. With, ultimately, consequences for their careers. “Some are also convinced that they will not be supported by the institution”, analyzes Didier Georges.
Clarify the rules
Faced with these complex situations, some principals or principals take measures which may surprise you: “I received two reports from establishments which have decided to establish single-sex swimming pool slots”, informs Didier Georges. In some high schools, we also prefer not to react to questioning outfits, because too many students wear them.
To solve the problem, Snpden appeals to the government. “A ministerial circular would be needed to clarify, for example, what is an accepted outfit or not. If it is said that it is yes for the abaya, there will be no more subject. Otherwise, we will be stronger to enforce the rules, which will be national and not local. In any case, we no longer want to be the arbiters of a form of uncertainty,” says Didier Georges. Still, if tomorrow, the government decided to ban certain clothes, the management teams would need to be accompanied on the ground. “The presence of the Values of the Republic teams should be strengthened in certain establishments so that they can dialogue en masse with the students and their families”, notes Bruno Bobkiewicz.