Gathering in Paris on October 18, 2020 in memory of Samuel Paty, a teacher beheaded for showing caricatures of Mohammed in progress.

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Bufkens Cedric / SIPA

Almost three months after the assassination by beheading of Professor Samuel Paty, a study shows the difficulty of teaching subjects related to secularism.

To avoid possible incidents in the classroom, 49% of teachers say they have already self-censored in their teaching around religious issues.

This figure has increased by 13 points since 2018, according to an Ifop survey for the Jean-Jaurès and Charlie Hebdo foundation, published on Wednesday.

Incidents for 40% of teachers

This survey focuses on “the challenges to secularism and religious claims experienced by teachers in the school environment”, the first part of a series of three on this theme.

In it, carried out online from December 10 to 17, 2020 with a sample of 801 first and second degree teachers in mainland France, 40% of teachers say they have experienced incidents on issues relating to school catering, a increase of 5 points since 2018.

Almost half (49%) of protests or the fact that some students try to escape activities or lessons occur during physical education and sports classes, a figure up 14 points compared to 2018. They also increase during lessons on secularism (+12 points), during moral and civic education (+10 points) or science lessons (+6 points).

On the other hand, these disputes are on the decline during artistic education lessons (-5 points) or even during technological lessons or professional workshops (-5 points).

Massive support for the choice of Samuel Paty

When asked about Samuel Paty's decision to teach a course on freedom of expression based on press cartoons, three quarters of the teachers questioned (75%) support him, 9% think he was wrong and 16 % prefer not to comment.

The Ministry of National Education had indicated in early December that it had identified nearly 800 incidents (17% for apologizing for terrorism) during the tribute paid to Samuel Paty in schools.

In total, 44 definitive exclusions were pronounced by the establishments and 286 reports were made to the police, gendarmerie services and 136 to the public prosecutors.

Society

Teachers on strike to support one of their colleagues attacked after the tribute to Samuel Paty

Society

A rapper in custody for a clip evoking the death of Samuel Paty

  • Education

  • Censorship

  • Teacher

  • Video

  • Society

  • Secularism