The rectorate of Grenoble opens an internal investigation after the commemorations of November 11, reports Tuesday, November 15 France Bleu Isère. The rectorate, surprised by the comments made by the students, must meet the teacher and the principal of the school. For their part, the prefecture and the City of Grenoble explain that they were not informed of the content of the text recited by the children during the ceremony.
During the November 11 commemorations in Grenoble, children from the CM2 class of the Bajatière primary school, chosen to work on the duty of memory, wrote a text with their teacher, staged and sang. A performance watched by France Bleu.
The children, aged 10, had learned their text by heart to talk about the First and Second World Wars, but also the war in Ukraine. In the text, it was also about terrorism, health crisis, Covid, racism, yellow vests, pension reform, 49-3 or even street harassment. One of the students, for example, said: “I wore the mask for a fifth of my life”.
Words that surprised the audience. Émilie Chalas, former LREM deputy for Isère and elected opposition representative from Grenoble, who attended the ceremony, denounces the instrumentalization of children by one or adults: “I challenge anyone at 10 to know what 49-3 is”.
An opinion that does not share Elisa Martin, LFI MP and elected Grenoble, who also attended the ceremony: “These children challenged us on our responsibility as adults, both ecologically and democratically. I was blown away by such lucidity on the part of children so young.” According to her, the students were not manipulated.
Commemoration of #November 11th 1918. France and #Grenoble honor their dead in the great war and celebrate the armistice. More than ever we must remember the value of peace. Congratulations to the children of the school of La Bajatiere for their poignant and so lucid speech. pic.twitter.com/YzqvED2AN5
— Elisa Martin (@ElisaMartinGre) November 11, 2022
As for the parents of pupils, they support the discourse of their children and refute any instrumentalisation. A mother testifies: “I knew what my daughter was going to do”she testifies. “I was asked for permission, like other parents. I signed so that my daughter could speak that day. I helped her learn her text. I was proud of her and her classmates. . They spoke about truths, about things that exist. I am for freedom of expression.”
For its part, the rectorate recalls that all teachers are bound by a duty of neutrality.