Driven by anger, the approximately 200 teachers at the Pothier high school in Orléans, one of the largest in Loiret with nearly 2,000 students, were on strike this Tuesday, February 20.
A spontaneous movement to denounce the attack on one of their colleagues the day before by a student.
“We are shocked by what happened.
We wanted to express our astonishment and our support,” explains Sylvie Lesné, high school French teacher and SNES-FSU union representative.
“His cell phone is like an addiction”
This Monday, February 19, she explains, a history-geography teacher had an altercation with a first-year STMG student to whom she refused to return her cell phone at the end of the lesson.
“The student took the cell phone back without her permission and scratched and slapped her.
My colleague then tried to make him let go, it was violent,” relates Sylvie Lesné.
“She has bruises on her face and she filed a complaint,” explains the unionist, who knows this student well since she also has her in class.
“It’s not the first time she’s had her cell phone confiscated, she looks at it all the time.
But what is surprising is this violence.
It's like an addiction.
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A joint letter will be read to high school students this Wednesday morning
The news spread quite quickly among teachers.
Gathered at 8 a.m. this Tuesday in the high school courtyard around a banner to demonstrate their anger, they then voted unanimously to continue the suspension of classes until the end of the day.
However, they did not remain inactive.
Around fifty of them stayed on site to write a letter which will be read to students in all classes when classes resume this Wednesday morning.
The management team will also be present alongside the teachers to support them.
“We are reminded of the seriousness of the facts – which is not necessarily clear to certain students – and what is expected of them in terms of responsibility,” adds Sylvie Lesné.
“Teachers have an educational mission, they must be respected, and this message is also addressed to families.
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