“A way of associating two dramatic events”, according to a historian

A minute of silence is observed Monday in middle and high schools in tribute to the two teachers murdered by Islamist terrorists. it’s important, but we also need “moments of discussion”, insists Sébastien Ledoux.

The minute of silence observed Monday, October 14 in middle and high schools in tribute to Samuel Paty and Dominique Bernard, two teachers murdered by Islamist terrorists is “a reminder of what happened, of the dramatic events that took place”, comments on franceinfo, Sébastien Ledoux, historian, lecturer at the University of Picardie Jules Verne, member of the Samuel Paty prize created by the APHG (association of history and geography teachers) and co-author of the book-investigation A school in shock? : the teaching world after the assassination of Samuel Paty (The Water’s Edge).

This minute of silence, “it is also a way of associating two dramatic events, the assassination of Samuel Paty and that of Dominique Bernard together”, he adds. “Until now the minute of silence was associated with Samuel Paty and unfortunately last year there was Dominique Bernard.” It is therefore “the association of two dramatic events because they have the same characteristics”.

The minute of silence is important, but it is also necessary “moments of exchange, discussing with students. This is essential beyond moments of contemplation”defends the historian. This minute of silence is sometimes contested, certainly by students, recognizes Sébastien Ledoux, but without minimizing their actions, he considers that it is also a form of “provocation on the part of certain students without there being any radicalization, even if there are radicalization phenomena” behind this gesture for some. Nevertheless “What we noted was that ultimately there were students who understood that it was better to remain silent during the minutes of silence because otherwise they could face fairly strong disciplinary sanctions. On the other hand, in the context of exchanges with teachers” they can have “the possibility of discussing relevance” of the minute of silence “without advocating terrorism, there is also this form”shade Sébastien Ledoux.

In these moments, the teacher is also faced with “a dilemma”. “Am I bringing it up?” this kind of dispute or not? These are “new issues for teachers because the institution pushes them to report incidents”. Sébastien Ledoux therefore affirms that we must also put “the cursor on the debate with the students” because sometimes you have to let them “a certain freedom of speech, within certain limits, no call to hatred, no incitement to violence”, he warns.

Today the conditions for practicing the teaching profession have changed, admits the historian since the assassinations of Samuel Paty and Dominique Bernard. “There is a before and an after” of these events, “in the way of perceiving these threats, we know that unfortunately there are now possible actions taken and there has also been an increase in the demand for functional protection of National Education civil servants for three years , because indeed there was a precedent”analyzes the historian. Teachers now know that we “can be murdered for doing his job”.