Teachers at a school in Tourcoing (North) are not giving lessons this Wednesday morning. Two days earlier, Monday October 7, a “serious incident took place within the Sévigné high school”, “involving a violently attacked teacher and a student”, writes to us from the rectorate in Lille.
In question, a “non-compliance with the principle of secularism” inside the school grounds. We take stock of this affair which caused the Minister of Education, Anne Genetet to react.
A religious veil worn in high school
Around 4:30 p.m. this Monday, a teacher “observed that a student was wearing the veil within the establishment”says the Lille academy. As a reminder, wearing signs or outfits by which students ostensibly demonstrate religious affiliation is prohibited by law. This concerns Christian crosses, yarmulkes or veils for example. But also, since last year, abayas and quamis, clothes traditionally worn in Middle Eastern countries.
Read also: REPORTING. In this Paris high school, “the abaya was not the priority subject for the start of the school year”
Still according to the National Education services, the teacher called the high school student, who was preparing to go out into the street, to “respect” the regulations and to remove the tissue from his head. According to the rectorate, the student refused and “inveighed” the adult, “while continuing his path towards the exit”.
A complaint filed
According to the Lille public prosecutor’s office, this time, the professor would have “opposed to his leaving the establishment in order to obtain his identity”. It was at that moment that the student brought him “a slap”what has he “rendered” the civil servant. What followed “several blows, threats and shoves”, detailed prosecutor Carole Étienne in a press release.
Following this incident, a complaint was filed by the teacher, “who benefits from the functional protection granted by the rectorate”. The student, aged 18, was taken into police custody. The young woman must be judged in immediate appearance this Wednesday, October 9 at the Lille judicial court, announce BFMTV et France Blue.
The Minister of National Education – who called the teacher – specifies that a precautionary measure has been taken against the teenager, pending a disciplinary council. On a disciplinary level, a temporary or permanent exclusion could thus be decided at the end of this procedure.
No classes this Wednesday
For the teaching team, a support system “was set up by the rectorate”. Rector Valérie Cabuil recalls that the School of the Republic “will not allow any attack on its principles and values to pass”. “Any attack on the physical integrity of teachers will be severely punished,” she insists.
The academy also confirms West France that classes will not be taught this Wednesday, October 9: “A time for discussion and work being carried out by the teams”.
Several political reactions
Before the National Assembly on Tuesday, during questions to the government, the Minister of National Education declared: “To threaten a professor is to threaten the Republic. Hitting a professor is hitting the Republic. » Bringing “his support” to the attacked teacher, Anne Genetet “requested that very firm disciplinary sanctions be imposed given the seriousness of the facts”. According to her office, she plans to go there in the coming days.
Present in the Hemicycle, the former Minister of the Interior and deputy for the North, Gérald Darmanin, also reacted to this affair, writing on “this teacher was simply enforcing secularism. Everyone must support our teachers and condemn this violence against the Republic itself”.
“All my support to the attacked teacher”, also reacted the president of the Hauts-de-France Region, Xavier Bertrand, “secularism is one of the pillars of the school of the Republic, it cannot be negotiated”.
