This affair sparked a lively controversy. Thursday December 7, 2023, during a course dedicated to the history of art at the Jacques-Cartier college in Issou (Yvelines), a French teacher presented the painting Diana and Actaeon, by the painter Giuseppe Cesari, to a 6th grade class. On this canvas is a mythological scene representing the hero and the goddess, who is busy taking a bath with her nymphs. Monday December 11, 2023, BFMTV reports that upon seeing the painting, several students would have looked away from the nudity of the female characters represented, on the grounds of their religious convictions. Following this course, several rumors circulated within the establishment, attributing to the said teacher a racist attitude and remarks towards her Muslim students, aimed at making them uncomfortable. On the same day, these accusations were dismissed and the students apologized to the person concerned for having carried out this defamation campaign against her, despite a letter from one of the student’s parents which was damning despite everything. the teacher.
Gabriel Attal: “At French schools, we do not contest secularism”
Our colleagues atNews spoke with the teachers of this college. The latter deplore the threatening climate in which they have to teach. “She never said that, but the damage is done. We’re dealing with some vindictive parents, who prefer to believe the word of their children rather than ours. Our colleague needs to be protected. We must protect her!” testifies a professor. “We know very well that this type of method can lead to a tragedy, we saw it in the context of the assassination of Samuel Paty. Our colleagues feel threatened, in danger, the teachers are doing their job, they must be respected for that”, explains to BFMTV Sophie Vénétitay, general secretary of the SNES-FSU union. Gabriel Attal, Minister of National Education, showed his support for the college teaching staff in a message extending to all public schools in France. “At the French school, we do not challenge authority, we respect it. At the French school, we do not challenge laicitywe respect her”he repeated inside the Jacques Cartier college in Issou.