night and day, these squatter teachers determined to fight for accommodation for their homeless students

Some of the educational staff at the Lezay Marnésia college, in Strasbourg, are beginning a third night of occupation of the establishment. Thanks to a well-established organization, they intend to continue their mobilization until the communities find a solution for their students on the street.

The street lamps of the rue du Poitou still cast their white light on the rare pedestrians when Louis Schlatter arrived in front of the gate of the Lezay Marnesia college, in Strasbourg. “So, did the night go well?“In front of him, Baptiste Greib, 41, bundled up in his khaki sweatshirt, in jogging pants, taps his feet a little to warm up.”Quietly, we really slept this time!” Baptiste has just spent the night at the college, where he is a French and Latin teacher. There were around ten of them at his side, 25 in total, taking turns since Friday, November 9, to occupy their establishment as a sign of protest against the extremely precarious situation of some of their students. Thirteen of them have been sleeping on the street with their families since the start of the school year.

“We had already demonstrated last winter for one or two cases of students on the street, but this is unheard ofconfides Baptiste Greib. And the worst thing is that we have a solution within the college itself.“The teachers' demand is simple: that we use the vacant staff accommodation available at the Lezay college as a temporary solution for the coming winter. But the European Community of Alsace (CEA), owner of the walls, ensures that they reserve these spaces for foster children or unaccompanied minors.

While waiting for a possible change in the communities, teachers are organizing themselves as best they can so that the shock mobilization lasts. “We do 7-hour shifts to make it easier for those who have children, for example.”explains Sylvie Thiriet, a 66-year-old librarian professor.

The protesters mainly took up residence in the teachers' room, and sometimes even in the CDI, covering approximately 200 m2. They sleep in sleeping bags, on the ground or on small inflatable mattresses. “Those who are used to camping outdoors provided equipment to those who had nothing“, smiles Baptiste. These teachers who usually conduct their lessons serenely behind their desk, find themselves asleep at the foot of the photocopier or the shelves of books. “It sure feels weird“, smiles Luca, a 37-year-old French teacher. “But be careful, we are well aware that this has nothing to do with the living conditions of our students on the street: we have heating, a job, a house waiting for us when everything is over. It has absolutely nothing to do with.”

The squatters also receive support from some of their colleagues who do not mobilize. “We have a colleague who came to bring us our meal last night“, remarked one of them. To pass the time, some brought back their pile of papers to correct, others took books and board games with them.

“I remember a parent-teacher meeting where a girl systematically fell asleep on her crossed arms. I understood afterwards that there had been a storm at night and that the family had had to take shelter in a gym.”

Géraldine Dalla, teacher at Lezay college

But more often than not, teachers talk. They talk “of course” about the fate of these street children for whom they are fighting. Everyone has their own anecdote revealing the seriousness of their situation. These are dark circles here, the same sweater that we see for several days in a row for some, an inability to concentrate for others. Géraldine Dalla, a teacher of allophone students (whose mother tongue is not French, in this case), regularly witnesses scenes full of meaning. “I remember a parent-teacher meeting where a kid systematically fell asleep on her crossed arms. I later understood that there had been a storm at night and that the family had had to take shelter in a gymnasium after spending hours in the rain..”

Teachers also debate a lot about the follow-up to the operation. What will happen once students return and classes resume on Tuesday? How far to go? “We sincerely hope that we will have at least a reaction from the CEA by then, breathes Baptiste Greib. If not…We'll see then. But for the moment, the objective is the same: we are not leaving the premises until we have feedback from the CEA on our proposal. We will go until the end. ”

This is not the first time that teachers have occupied an establishment in this way in order to lobby for accommodation solutions for their students. A year ago, in Toulouse, an elementary school experienced such a mobilization. Parents were threatened with expulsion and teachers with sanctions. They had held on. After two weeks, the families were temporarily relocated.