“We are once again in mourning,” declared Gabriel Attal, this Saturday, October 14, the day after the murder of Dominique Bernard, a teacher stabbed by a radicalized young man in front of a middle school in Arras, during an attack where three other people were injured. The Minister of Education spoke at the Sorbonne, in Paris, on the occasion of the award ceremony for the Samuel Paty Prize – named after the history and geography teacher who was beheaded on October 16, 2020 for having shown caricatures of Mohammed during classes on freedom of expression – in order to clarify the progress of the resumption of classes and the tribute to the two teachers on Monday.
“We will not give in to violence,” Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne also assured. “We will face it and we will fight it.” Friday evening, France went into “emergency attack” alert, the highest level of the Vigipirate system.
Tribute for victims of attacks against school
On Monday, the start of classes will be postponed to 10 a.m. for middle and high school students, after a “normalized” time of two hours reserved for teachers to discuss and prepare the tribute to the teacher. “Monday will be a day of solidarity for our teachers,” declared the minister. They need to “meet among themselves” and “to be able to prepare among themselves the return of the students”, explained Gabriel Attal, who detailed the modalities of this time of exchange and the tribute “in memory of the victims of the attacks committed against our School”, in a letter sent to all teachers.
A minute of silence will also be observed in each class of schools, colleges and high schools, but also in all services of the national education administration, Monday at 2 p.m., in tribute to the victims of attacks against the school. Sad coincidence, this Monday, October 16 also marks the third anniversary of the death of Samuel Paty. “In primary school, this time of homage and contemplation may take other forms, to take into account the age of the students,” explained Gabriel Attal.
Strengthening the security of establishments
The day before, the minister also announced that the “priority of this weekend” is to put in place reinforced security in schools, colleges and high schools, following the “terrible tragedy” which took place in Arras. Nearly 1,000 security personnel trained on these issues must also be deployed “to the maximum of their capacities” in educational establishments. “The school will not allow itself to be terrorized. Never,” he declared at the time. We will not cede an inch of our freedom to any terrorist, no matter how barbaric. In the face of hatred and terrorist barbarity, the school will remain united and it will remain firm.”
This Saturday, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne also assured that the authorities will be “there to ensure (the) safety” of teachers. “The school is a sanctuary. When a teacher is attacked, it is not only the Republic that is targeted: it is its future that is threatened,” said the head of government.
A strengthening of information sharing was also announced between the Ministries of the Interior and Education, thanks to the “radicalization prevention and family support units set up in each department”. Gabriel Attal also promised better support for educational teams, with the reactivation of the national emergency number. By dialing 0 805 500 005, “any member of the educational community will be able to speak with a psychologist”, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Each academy also opened a support unit this Saturday.
Tears and anger in Arras this Saturday
This Saturday morning, the Arras establishment was open to students, parents or members of the teaching team wishing to discuss the drama of the day before. Tears, “anger” but above all a heavy silence reigned in front of the Gambetta school complex the day after the Islamist attack.
Some students of Dominique Bernard were present. “I don’t dare talk about it with a lot of people, but since these psychological cells are made for that, I think I will have less trouble,” confided Chloé, 17 years old and a sweater decorated with a bright red heart on the back. AFP: “I need it”. “She was a golden person,” agrees Camille, same age, hooded sweatshirt and messy hair, who was also his student for a year. “The proof is that he sacrificed himself for us.”