Decapitated teacher: Blanquer promises teachers state will "protect" them

The State will be alongside teachers to "protect" them, promised the Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer in a video message to "all teachers in France" broadcast the day after the beheading of a teacher in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Yvelines).

Jean-Michel Blanquer also received the teachers' unions at the ministry on Saturday morning with Prime Minister Jean Castex, and those met by Europe 1 in front of the ministry said they were very touched by their words.

They particularly appreciated that Jean Castex came from Matignon to rue de Grenelle to meet them.

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"Do not give in to fear"

The prime minister told them that it was the entire national community that was struck and upset.

School is the heart of the Republic, he told them again.

The teachers were thus able to feel the unity of the Republican camp this morning, they confided to Europe 1. They in turn call for cohesion and, like the president last night and like the Minister of Education, not to give in to fear.

"The emotion is very strong, it was palpable throughout this meeting, from all sides," said Frédéric Marchand, from Unsa Education.

"It's something very, very serious that has just happened; the Republic has been attacked through the assassination of this teacher. The objective on this subject is well not to give in to fear, which would be to no longer seek to educate in freedom of expression, freedom of conscience. It is important that we can educate in critical thinking, important to defend at all costs the freedom of the press and the freedom of 'expression,' he said.

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In his video message, Jean-Michel Blanquer joined this desire, noting that the teacher "was assassinated for having given a course which had a link with a pillar of democracy: freedom of expression. It is a despicable act. and cowardly, it is an attack against the Republic, because the school is the backbone of the Republic, "he said.

"Our teachers will continue to awaken the critical spirit of the citizens of the Republic, to emancipate them from all totalitarianisms and all obscurantisms", for his part hammered Jean Castex on Twitter. 

In our schools, colleges, high schools, everywhere, our teachers will continue to awaken the critical spirit of the citizens of the Republic, to emancipate them from all totalitarianisms and all obscurantisms.

And we will be there with them: I told their representatives this morning.

pic.twitter.com/BBcZ2gn1pO

- Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) October 17, 2020

Call for gatherings 

Discussions will continue with the ministry on teaching and in particular on moral and civic issues, as well as on times of meditation that will be put in place at the start of the school year.

The teachers 'union representatives now want a citizens' rally to pay tribute to the murdered teacher.

They call for such a gathering on Sunday in Paris, at 3 p.m., Place de la République, subject to the police headquarters authorizing it.

Calls for rallies have also been launched across France, in Lille or Clermont at 1 p.m.

At the ministry, it is the turn of the parents' federations to be received by Jean-Michel Blanquer to share the fear of parents and their children.

The national anti-terrorism prosecutor Jean-François Ricard must then make a first point of the investigation in front of the press at 3 p.m.