In Avignon, « the fear and pain » of teachers threatened with death – Liberation

There are times when the name of Samuel Paty Surface rebuilded. Since the beginning of the week, this is the case in Avignon (Vaucluse), where teachers of the Grands Cypress public primary school have received on the general mailbox of the establishment of anonymous emails, where threats of physical assault and death are swarming. In all, three emails, emanating from different and unknown transmitters of teachers, respectively dated April 22 and 23. In one of them, entitled « scandalous favoritism », sentences with approximate spelling, competing with violence, are linked: « You want Samuel Pati you ora. » On October 16, 2020, the history-geography teacher was murdered in front of her college For having shown his class caricatures by Charlie Hebdo representing Muhammad.

It was the director of the Grands Cypress School who discovered emails, consulted by Release. Over « Large cypress school of corrupt », « I live you with a weapon or knife » And « I condemate your addresses », The object of dissatisfaction of the author of the threats – or the authors – takes shape: the fact that a teacher did not offer a child to jump a class, while he did it for another student, appointed in the email. There is a question, on multiple times, of an alleged discrimination against « Moroccans who are not allowed to jump a class ». The names of two teachers appear several times, agonis of insults.

The case is taken « Very seriously », Indicates the rectorate of the Aix-Marseille Academy. The Avignon prosecutor’s office has been seized and a police investigation is underway. In addition, the moments of entry and exit from the school are subject to regular monitoring by municipal and national police patrols. Finally, special support from the school is deployed « With a reinforcement by one or two teachers depending on the day » and a « Daily point » is carried out between the school, the town hall of Avignon and the Department of Departmental Services of National Education, as confirmed by the rectorate.

Nicolas Odinot was one of the first witnesses to the concern that has been swelling for days in the educational team of the Grands Cypress School. As a member of the Vauclusian branch of the SNUIPP (UNITY UNIFICATE OF UNITITY OF SCHOOL teachers), he « All done to set up a protection of (his) colleagues » so that they can « Continue to exercise their profession » and that they don’t have to fear « To be attacked on the journey that leads them to school ». It is « As unionized » that he also worked to improve the dialogue between the different stakeholders.

Nicolas Odinot notices the imbalance he was immediately confronted with: the horror of threats to character « Almost anecdotal » accusations that motivate them. Among teachers, he saw the questions raising one by one, in « Fear and pain ». Should we opacify the mesh of the school? Protect the playground, a space open to the district, whose daily life scenes are at the sight of everyone? « What is certain, in any case, is that the National Education must form seasonal staff to support establishments in the management of crises like these »tonne who is also a teacher at Carpentras. Because on the responsiveness of his hierarchical superiors depends the psychological health of his colleagues. « Being threatened with death is a situation for which a teacher is never prepared. »

According to the barometer of school climate 2023-2024, published by the Autonome de Solidarité Laïque (ASL), there is a significant increase (+ 7 %) Compared to the figures for the previous school year of education professionals exposed to disputes. Among the approximately 10,800 files opened by the association as part of the support of its members, the vast majority were for defamation, verbal assaults and physical assaults. In addition, in almost half of the files (48 %) concerning an assault or a feeling of aggression, legal representatives or a close to the students’ family are involved.

For Jean-Louis Linder, president of ASL, « A feeling of impunity » was born from the moment the attacks began to occur via digital tracks. « Behind a screen, the attackers imagine themselves in an undocumented area and allow themselves everything and anything », he judges. And conclude: « It is a reality that must be fought at all costs. »