"Here, Samuel Paty taught each child of the Republic to become a free citizen. For him, for our country, we will continue. It is our honor and our duty," Prime Minister Jean Castex wrote on Twitter, posting a photo illustrating his meeting with the college students.
Prime Minister Jean Castex paid tribute on Monday to the assassinated professor Samuel Paty in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Yvelines), the city where he taught, by observing a minute of silence with the students of a CM2 class.
Accompanied by the Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer, the head of government arrived around 9:30 am at the Bois d'Aulne college, where the history teacher was working, where they spoke with the educational community.
Jean Castex insisted on the necessary collective reconstruction and the central role of teachers in the school of the Republic.
Here, Samuel Paty taught every child of the Republic to become a free citizen.
For him, for our country, we will continue.
It is our honor and our duty.
pic.twitter.com/QXnneELe55
- Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) November 2, 2020
"Here, Samuel Paty taught each child of the Republic to become a free citizen. For him, for our country, we will continue. It is our honor and our duty," wrote the head of government on Twitter, posting a photo illustrating his meeting with college students.
The Prime Minister and his Minister of Education then went around 11 a.m. to the neighboring Clos d'en Haut primary school in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine where, after listening to the reading by three pupils of the letter to the teachers of Jean Jaurès, they observed a minute of silence a little behind the schedule for the national tribute.
Come on children of the Fatherland, pic.twitter.com/qQ8U0fA8CK
- Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) November 2, 2020
Taking in turn the posture of the teacher, Jean Castex then M. Blanquer questioned the students on the meaning of the homage to Samuel Paty and on the symbols of the Republic.
To illustrate the point, the minister offered them to sing together La Marseillaise.
On this back-to-school day marked by the new health measures, the Prime Minister also insisted on the wearing of masks for students.
The exchange ended with an invitation from the class to the ministry and to Matignon.
After two weeks of vacation, 12 million students, including those in primary schools now masked, made Monday, in a reconfined France, a special return to school between health and safety vigilance, and tribute to Samuel Paty.