Antoine Bienvault // Photo credit: MYCHELE DANIAU / AFP 12:51 p.m., February 21, 2024

In Orléans, a history and geography teacher was attacked this Monday by one of her students. In this establishment known as quiet, the amazement and anger of the teaching staff does not subside. As a sign of solidarity, teachers suspended classes for 24 hours. Students were able to return to school this Wednesday morning.

It was an attack that shocked the educational community in Orléans. A history and geography teacher who teaches at Pothier high school was attacked by a student. At issue: the confiscation of a cell phone. The teenager hit her teacher in the face, and is now the subject of disciplinary proceedings, according to the rectorate. Faced with this violence, the teachers at the establishment decided to stop their classes in the morning and gather in the courtyard for support. After almost 24 hours without classes, the students were able to return to school this Wednesday morning.

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A shocked teaching staff

"The teachers were really angry. They brought out their banners that they had kept from last year's demonstrations, they had megaphones... My history and geography teacher gave a speech in front of everyone. Usually , he is very calm but there, we felt him really pumped up,” explains a final year student on Europe 1’s microphone. 

It must be said that the attack on this history and geography teacher on Monday shocked the teaching staff. "The teacher confiscated the student's phone, and the student went to retrieve it herself at the end of the lesson, without our colleague having authorized her to do so. The student then put a slapped him, and pulled his hair,” Sylvie Lesné, Snep-FSU union leader, told the establishment.

An establishment yet renowned as quiet

And it's not just teachers who say they are marked by the aggression. The shock is also significant for certain students, particularly those who encountered this history-geography teacher during their schooling: "I had her in second grade, she was really a very nice teacher. She was strict, but, like all the teachers. When we found out that she was the victim, we really wondered why,” underlines a high school student. 

All the students we met also assure that they have never noticed any major problems in the establishment, reputed to be rather quiet.