Vincent is not about to return to teach in this higher education institution in the Île-de-France region. Intervening for three years in a private school whose name he prefers not to mention, this specialist in media education was thanked this Tuesday, in full training, for having... wore Bermuda shorts.
While temperatures have been exceeding 30 ° C for several days in the capital, this trainer based in Brussels came in shorts Monday morning in front of the students to whom he provided training "around critical thinking and debate". Very followed on Twitter, from his account "Vincent Flibustier", he told over the hours his epic, remonstrances made by the management of the establishment Monday, leading to the prohibition of his Bermuda shorts, until his dismissal Tuesday morning, after wearing a skirt in protest.
"Do we agree that I take the blue skirt?"
It all started early Monday afternoon, when the management of the establishment interrupted his training, "while there were two hours of classes left", because of the Bermuda shorts that Vincent wore. "We will ask you to leave," was said to the one who had risen at 5:30 am to come from Brussels.
The school of Paris where I give a training today not accepting Bermuda shorts and not having pants with me ... I'm going to go buy myself a skirt for tomorrow. It is allowed. pic.twitter.com/iCHionBceL
— Vincent Flibustier 👽 (@vinceflibustier) June 19, 2023
At that time, Vincent then asked the institution to show him, in the agreement that binds him to the institution for training, the mention of the fact that Bermuda shorts are prohibited. "It's not marked," he says. He is only asked to "enforce the internal rules of the institution" to students. He is therefore not concerned by this text, which had not been communicated to him beforehand, he stresses.
"I'm still often in Bermuda shorts. I come every year at the same time, it is not impossible that I have already come in Bermuda shorts in this school. I saw on screens within the establishment that Bermuda shorts and caps were prohibited, maybe the rules have changed, "admits the teacher to the Parisian.
Then emerges the idea of asking if he can return the next day "in a skirt", to give his second day of training. "It's not forbidden," he is told. Sold. Vincent goes to a ready-to-wear store and sets his sights on a long blue and white skirt with pockets.
We agree that the blue is better right? Which one do I take? https://t.co/k4s9S26WGJ pic.twitter.com/Ew0Z39w4Ux
— Vincent Flibustier 👽 (@vinceflibustier) June 19, 2023
"I find deeply shocking that in 2023, there is still monumental reluctance to work, study in shorts, pantacourt, Bermuda shorts," he insisted Monday night on Twitter.
"Well, they fired me"
Dressed in his most beautiful (and only) skirt on Tuesday morning, Vincent returns to the establishment, but is quickly stopped by the deputy director of the place: "Sir, I will ask you to leave. " The Belgian then asks for a justification for this decision, which will not be provided to him.
To preserve evidence of this dismissal, Vincent recorded his discussion with the school principal. In this recording, which Le Parisien has seen, the head of the school tells him that he is in a private establishment and accuses him of being in "provocation", before firmly inviting him to leave the premises.
The management of the institution also refused to sign a document certifying that Vincent's dismissal was related to his outfit. "They can't justify it. If I came in a skirt, it is because I was told the day before that legally I could do it. I find it quite pathetic, it's been three years that I come and that the feedback is super positive, "protests Vincent, who assures him: "Many teachers have come to see me at the entrance to discreetly support me. "
Well bah they fired 😅
me (tweet corrected thank you for rt ☺️)
I am waiting for them to sign me a paper to justify my exclusion and make me pay my bill.
Nothing in the rules says that a man cannot wear a skirt, I am within my rights.
And they seem very annoyed... pic.twitter.com/yXNod7kqOL
— Vincent Flibustier 👽 (@vinceflibustier) June 20, 2023
"This year, he's dying hot," he says, his Belgian accent. The man also denounces the learning conditions in this establishment, which according to him justified all the more his outfit.
"Rules must adapt to the weather"
Charged with teaching in a room with "only one window", without air conditioning or fan, he found himself "facing 60 students who are not aware, students in a field that has nothing to do with media education, by 30 degrees". "Some sleep in class. There is a dust side under the carpet: they prefer students to sleep in class rather than me wearing shorts, "says the teacher.
Vincent does not wish to disclose the name of this private higher education institution, located in the Paris region, "whose public is rather disadvantaged and which provides training whose cost is between 7,000 and 10,000 euros per year". He evokes a school whose diplomas are recognized by the State, "but not in great luxury either". To return to this story, he published a long explanatory video on Twitter.
✅That's it, I left the school where I was supposed to teach and from which I was excluded.
👉I ran into the director.
👉 I remake a summary of the whole story with its epilogue.
I didn't do this to troll or to make a joke I think it's a real social issue pic.twitter.com/QrI27wi6l3
— Vincent Flibustier 👽 (@vinceflibustier) June 20, 2023
"I'm not against the fact that there are rules of good behavior," he justifies himself. But there is a real societal issue around this, the rules must adapt to the weather, especially with the reality of global warming. When you are stoned by the heat, you are unable to learn in good conditions," maintains Vincent. Dismissed, he will still be paid, assured him the establishment. Freed from his obligations, he took the opportunity to take his Thalys back a few hours earlier than planned, towards Brussels.