a professor accused of Islamophobia after showing a painting of nudes in class, the college’s teaching team exercises its right of withdrawal

The 17th century painting shows five nude muses from antiquity. The teaching team at Jacques-Cartier college in Issou has been exercising its right of withdrawal since last Friday.

The Minister of National Education, Gabriel Attal, visited Monday, December 11, the Jacques-Cartier college in Issou, in Yvelines. The teaching team of this college has been exercising its right of withdrawal since Friday, after a French teacher was the target of accusations of racism and Islamophobia, France Inter learned on Monday from the Versailles academy.

The day before, as part of the study of a text with a 6th grade class at the establishment, this teacher showed Diana and Actaeon, a 17th century painting by Italian painter Giuseppe Cesari, in which five muses are depicted nude. According to the academy, upon seeing this painting, “a handful of students” pointedly looked away. It was from this class that rumors began to circulate about the fact that this professor had made racist and Islamophobic comments.

A complaint for slanderous denunciation

The same evening, parents of students appeared in front of the establishment to obtain explanations on the comments that this teacher may have made. After this event, the head teacher of this class reported to the principal of the establishment, who himself reported to the Academy. Then, the teachers were given the right of withdrawal since Friday morning and still are on Monday.

The professor concerned filed a complaint for slanderous denunciation. Contacted by franceinfo, the Versailles public prosecutor’s office had still not received this complaint. This professor also requested functional protection so that National Education could assist her legally.

Since September, according to the Versailles Academy, 15 reports on this establishment have been made, several of which already concerned attacks on secularism. “The Rider of Arpin [surnom de Giuseppe Cesari] is becoming very famous in France thanks to its Diana and Actaeon“, reacted on a curator from the Louvre museum where the painting is exhibited. “It’s a gem, a superb little oil on wood painted with a fine and voluptuous touch”writes the curator.