Back to school: what will the tribute to Samuel Paty look like?

More than two weeks after the attack against Samuel Paty, a tribute will be paid to the history-geography teacher in all schools in France, Monday at the start of the school year.

After long discussions, the government announced on Friday the program of this eagerly awaited tribute, which must be reconciled with health measures to fight against the coronavirus, a tense security context after the Nice attack and possible tensions around freedom. expression and caricatures of Muhammad.

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A minute of silence will be observed at 11 am, after reading a text by Jean Jaurès.

But voices are already rising to denounce a minimum ceremony, on the side of the opposition as well as teachers.

Europe 1 takes stock of this tribute.

A normal return to school, with a minute of silence

The government hesitated on the modalities of this ceremony.

The start of the school year should initially be postponed to 10 a.m., to give the teaching teams time to meet and discuss to prepare the tribute.

But Jean-Michel Blanquer announced Friday evening that the return to school would finally be kept at the usual schedule because of the health and safety context, except in establishments which had already defined another schedule.

It is therefore necessary to inquire on a case by case basis to know the time of the start of the school year.

A minute of silence will in any case be observed in all schools, colleges and high schools at 11 am, after reading Jean Jaurès' letter to teachers.

“The tribute was the priority at first, with a return to 10 am. But new events such as the Nice attack and the new confinement made it impossible, especially because school transport did not could not be changed in most establishments. We could not leave the pupils at the door from 8 am to 10 am because the parents cannot bring them all at 10 am ", explained on Europe 1 Lysiane Gervais, principal in Gironde, national secretary of the National Union of National Education Management Staff.

Reading a text by Jean Jaurès

The other highlight of this tribute will therefore be the reading of a letter from Jean Jaurès to teachers.

It should take place "preferably in classrooms, and if sanitary conditions allow, in the courtyard of the establishment," said Jean-Michel Blanquer.

This text, foundational but difficult to access, sets out three main principles: the unfailing commitment of the teacher "imbued with what he teaches", the emancipatory mission of public schools "in a free democracy" and confidence in the natural potential of the child "with unlimited curiosity". 

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"You hold the intelligence and soul of children in your hands, you are responsible for the country", begins the text published in the Toulouse newspaper

in 1888 by the young Jean Jaurès, then aged 29.

Youngest deputy of France (1859-1914), figure of the beginnings of socialism and founder of the newspaper

, Jean Jaurès has passed down to posterity, alongside Jules Ferry, as one of the first "hussars of the Republic" .

His fight in favor of the separation of Church and State led in 1905 to the "law of separation".

Organization of speaking time in class

The teachers are also invited to organize an hour of discussions with the students on freedom of expression and the principle of secularism, before the start of the tribute to Samuel Paty.

But this speaking time could take place throughout the month of November, in particular if the tension is too strong with the pupils or to "leave to the professors who wish it the time necessary to prepare this sequence".

Government encourages teachers to "point out" possible problems

The government has also warned against possible tensions, such as the few unrest that had erupted during tributes after the attack on Charlie Hebdo in January 2015. Monday's minute of silence "must be respected", warns in his mail Jean-Michel Blanquer.

The Minister of Education invited teachers to report any possible problem to the education authorities.

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"This is the instruction that is given. We have educational work in the establishments to be carried out and we must see if it is a student who is in opposition but without foundation and at that time, the educational work can also be done in the establishment in individual interview. We can also possibly discuss with the families to bring the pupils to reason. If it is something deeper, it will be extremely important to point out ", according to Lysiane Gervais, national secretary of the National Union of National Education Management Staff. 

A tribute already criticized

Jean-Michel Blanquer's announcement to keep the start of the school year at the usual schedule angered many teachers, who hoped to have time to prepare the tribute.

"What happened is not trivial, it was extremely important that we have time to meet again to talk about it among ourselves," lamented to AFP Christine Guimonnet, general secretary of the association of teachers of history and geography (APHG).

"If we had had a whole day of reflection with the teachers, that would have been a good thing. The information reached us extremely late, so it was a bit complicated to organize", abone Lysiane Gervais.

Several opposition figures also criticized the government's choice.

The deputy of rebellious France Adrien Quatennens denounced an "insufficient" tribute, which "would have deserved a real time of discussion between the teachers and between the pupils" on the questions of freedom of expression and secularism, Sunday during the

Europe 1 / CNews /

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