the essential
Guest of a conference on the future of France organized in Var on Friday November 8, the former head of state made comments about teachers which sparked indignation. In particular, he judged the work of teachers to be too weak and congratulated himself on having been the only president to have eliminated civil servant positions in National Education.
Invited on Friday November 8 to a conference in the Var entitled “Meetings of the Future”, broadcast by BFM2, Nicolas Sarkozy made comments about teachers deemed contemptuous and which aroused indignation. In an extract shared by BFMTV on the social network
“I don’t criticize anyone, I don’t want to bore anyone”
“I am told, there are not enough civil servants in National Education. But this is incredible demagoguery,” said the former head of state. “I'm not criticizing anyone, I don't want to bore anyone. I'm stating facts. It's 24 hours a week, and […] six months of the year, because between the holidays and the weekends…”, he then declared. “So I know well, you have to prepare the lessons, he concedes, before ironically “large section kindergarten”, to the laughter of the public. “I know we have to correct the papers. And I know it’s a difficult job to be a teacher,” he continues. “But we have to tell the truth now. We can’t afford a million of teachers.”
Nicolas Sarkozy then continues his diatribe, welcoming in particular the results of his five-year term, during which he eliminated civil servant positions. “There are hundreds of thousands of competent, dedicated and wonderful teachers. And there are a few who choose the job for the wrong reasons, he believes. And if we don't tell you, I I'm telling you, because I don't have to run for office, and I'm saying things as I know them.” “You take all the Presidents of the Republic, General de Gaulle included, from 1958 until now. All of them. There is one who reduced the number of civil servants. It's me. 155,000 fewer civil servants”, he congratulates himself in conclusion.
“Contempt”
Comments which quickly provoked reactions from teachers, unions and political figures. “This is what the right thinks of civil servants. We must listen to this contempt for school teachers! And dare to say that there are too many teachers when our children are often far too numerous in each class,” criticized the First Secretary of the PS, Olivier Faure. Go and spend even just a week in a nursery school Mr. Sarkozy! Your words are abysmally ignorant”, reacted the MoDem deputy, Laurent Croizier. “Show him in front of a class, that will calm him down”, also suggested Ian Brossat (PC).
This is what the right thinks of civil servants. We must listen to this contempt for school teachers! And dare to say that there are too many teachers when our children are often far too many in class. https://t.co/NAXkZqGWLE
— Olivier Faure (@faureolivier) https://twitter.com/faureolivier/status/1855229274153787580?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Go and spend even just a week in a Mr. Sarkozy nursery school! Your words are abysmally ignorant. They are part of the crisis in the attractiveness of the teaching profession. For our children, choose education rather than contempt from teachers. https://t.co/Vu3YoDNbww
— Laurent Croizier (@CroizierLaurent) https://twitter.com/CroizierLaurent/status/1855172566702227953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“A former president who spits in the face of thousands of kindergarten teachers and more generally PE teachers (to the loud laughter of the audience who must not have children)… so yes, coming from him that is not not surprising, but through those who teach, it is the students and parents of students that he despises!”, reacted Guislaine David, co-general secretary of SNUipp-FSU. “School teachers are annoying you and the 800,000 teachers!” launched the Les Stylos Rouges collective in reaction to Nicolas Sarkozy's comments, then referring to the numerous legal cases damning the ex-president.
A former president who spits in the face of thousands of kindergarten teachers and more generally PE teachers (to the loud laughter of the audience who must not have children)… so yes, coming from him that is not surprising but through those who teach this… https://t.co/CqFd79Sxu3
— Guislaine David (@guislainedavid) https://twitter.com/guislainedavid/status/1855181988459602123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Sir @NicolasSarkozy the school teachers are annoying you and the 800,000 teachers!
By the way, do you still wear your electronic bracelet?
Because it must be said, an offender sentenced to 12 months should not say that. https://t.co/iiD6gTiPoU— Les Stylos Rouges (@stylos_les) https://twitter.com/stylos_les/status/1855149356342497652?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The subject of teacher job cuts is particularly sensitive at the moment, even though the 2025 National Education budget provides for 4,000 for the start of the 2025 school year.
