On November 2, French students will return to their school, for the first time since the assassination on Friday in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, of Samuel Paty.
National Education is already thinking about the measures to adopt to install a moment of meditation, and to place secularism at the heart of the action.
Since the terrible assassination, Friday in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, of Samuel Paty, the vast majority of students in France have not returned to class, the All Saints holidays oblige.
The start of the school year will take place on November 2, and the Ministry of National Education wants to take advantage of this time to set up mechanisms for the start of the school year.
The objective is to make this return to school a solemn and republican moment, but also to install tools for staff in the event of a challenge from students or parents.
"No improvisation"
The first priority is to work on the organization of a time of meditation at the start of the school year.
The key word for Jean-Michel Blanquer is: 'no improvisation'.
The minister hammered it at the heads of establishments he received on Monday.
He wants a vertical, strong message on secularism and the values of the republic.
Among the avenues considered: a classic or topical text that would be read everywhere, in every schoolyard, in primary, middle and high school.
>> Find Europe Matin in replay and podcast here
At the same time, the ministry is working on developing advice and recommendations to be sent to all teachers and school leaders in the event of a dispute or refusal to respect the minute of silence.
This communication should be done via a simple email to all National Education staff a few days before the start of the school year to be effective.
Appeal to civil society?
Teachers and management staff are also demanding to delay the arrival of students on Monday, November 2, perhaps at 10 a.m., so that they can discuss with each other, before talking to their students.
The minister also mentioned the possibility of calling on civil society, lawyers, journalists to discuss with the students.
School principals advised him to spread all these initiatives over a long period of time, perhaps not to concentrate everything on November 2.
On all these subjects, it is the Council of Elders of Secularism created by Jean-Michel Blanquer will be called upon every day during these two weeks of school holidays.