Lionel Gougelot, edited by Loane Nader // photo credit: Denis Charlet / AFP
After the assassination of Dominique Bernard on Friday, a teacher in a middle school in Arras, the entire National Education system is in mourning. Before welcoming their students for a new week, the teachers at the Gambetta establishment spoke with each other for two hours, as shown by Europe 1, in order to find the right words for their classes this Monday.
This Monday, in the high school of Gambetta, like many others in France, the teaching staff had two hours to exchange and discuss the latest events, before the arrival of the students at 10 a.m. Returning to work will inevitably be difficult for this traumatized educational community. Europe 1 was able to note the arrival of the first middle school staff, with serious looks and some with a rose in their hand. These teachers also wonder about the future, like Sophie, a history and geography teacher, who is worried about her establishment.
Ensure that everything is done to ensure the safety of students
“Will this result in a decline in registrations? Will this result in staff who will want to request transfers? Staff will be shocked for life, we are survivors of a terrorist attack, we must not have any illusions…”, she recalled. Questions which are added to those concerning the way in which they will treat, with their students, the subject of the attack in which Dominique Bernard was assassinated. Especially since this day coincides with the national tribute to Samuel Paty, who died in the same circumstances three years ago to the day.
Finding the right words and hearing the grief, even the trauma of students, will also be a concern for school teachers, confirms this elementary school teacher. “We also don’t know how, at home or outside, we spoke to them about it, so we will also have to collect their words first. I think that with little ones, we also have to go through, perhaps , through drawing so that they too express their emotions”, believes the teacher. She also insists on the fact that students will need to be reassured, regardless of their age. Not hiding the truth from them is certainly essential, but emphasizing that everything is done to ensure the safety of the school is just as important.