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: “We have an increase in racist comments or actions in schools”

Published: December 17, 2024 at 2:29 p.m. – Modified: December 17, 2024 at 2:33 p.m. by Dolorès CHARLES

The teachers of the Lycée Bréquigny are mobilizing in , in the face of racist acts and actions, which have been increasing in particular since last June. This time, a teacher was also targeted, he filed a complaint.

Teachers at Lycée Bréquigny suspended their classes last Thursday, after recurring racist remarks and animal cries towards several students. The staff says they are determined not to let these acts happen. Fabienne Portanguen, professor and member of the Sud union, had never seen such acts in her career. “I’ve been teaching at Brétigny high school for 15 years, and this has never happened… We are seeing an increase in racist remarks or racist actions in establishments. It’s something quite new, very new in Bréquigny, even though we are a very mixed, and very mixed, high school. We can say that since last June, racist speech has been largely unbridled…

Racist speech has been largely unbridled

We have been questioned about actions such as animal cries when non-white students go to the blackboard; racist remarks in classes or in the courtyard or in the cafeteria. These are things that moved the entire educational community and also the students.”

Fabienne Portanguen, professor and member of the Sud union
Fabienne Portanguen, professor and member of the Sud union

Credit : Valentin Monnier

The staff received the support of many parents, continues Fabienne Portanguen. “Parents thanked us, sometimes individually, without knowing who was participating… but several colleagues received emails of thanks for our reaction, to refuse what could have been a trivialization.

Racism has no place in Bréqigny

But there will be no trivialization of racism in Bréquigny, that’s certain. All staff are vigilant and so are the students. The parents of the students too. Racism has no place in Bréqigny. “

Fabienne Portanguen, professor and member of the Sud union
Fabienne Portanguen, professor and member of the Sud union

A professor was also targeted by a fake account which impersonated his identity on social networks and which attributed racist remarks to him. He filed a complaint. A student admitted to being behind it and the Disciplinary Council suspended this high school student. A sentence deemed “light” by the head of the establishment, who appealed this decision, and refused to allow the student to return to the establishment.

Social networks

After the Morgane affair in Pabu, the question of the use of social networks by young people arises again. “In this case, there was a clear intention to cause harm and then, on the broader issue of social networks, these are things that we see in class. There is media education that is done at school, middle school, high school, etc. Teachers have this role of critical thinking in their mission. This is something that students are reminded of throughout their schooling, with varying degrees of success.but it’s still something that is led by teachers.”

Fabienne Portanguen, professor and member of the Sud union
Fabienne Portanguen, professor and member of the Sud union

Teachers at Lycée Bréquigny have planned new interventions to raise student awareness of the fight against discrimination.

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