French school children on strike

David49

"Of Colour"
Is PC nonsense it describes nobody, a person is White, Black, Asian, Oriental maybe a few others, none are derogatory just a factual appearance.

👏👏👏

Instead of condemning another poster for use of the wrong word describing an attacker why haven't you condemned the attacker MawsRosie
You have no idea what my opinion is of mindless violence or attacks of any sort - but might probably be able to guess, so with all due respect, back off.
I am however legitimately IMO unhappy about an entire nation or ethnic group - whatever it might be, being stigmatised on the account of the actions of one person, or even a few.

Back off. I beg your pardon with all due respects this is a forum for grans so we can post our views and thoughts and I am unhappy about posters labelling other posters.

Peacelilydilly

Back off. I beg your pardon with all due respects this is a forum for grans so we can post our views and thoughts and I am unhappy about posters labelling other posters.

So am I.

I think flinging the R word around in an accusatory manner must make some posters feel good about themselves.

I have apologised.
They won’t be happy until I flagellate myself MDG.

MT62

I have apologised.
They won’t be happy until I flagellate myself MDG.

So true 🤣🤣🤣

MT62

OldFrill

I'd never seen a video where a 15 year old set fire to an aerosol spray and directed the huge flame directly into someone's face. I think it was the fact I knew he was 15 that made it much more shocking than those run of the mill videos you seem used to.

Are you referring to me oldfrill.
I don’t watch violent videos.
It was a clip that just popped up & I was absolutely horrified, especially of the fireman being set on fire.
I presumed you had seen the clip.
I was being actually being sarcastic’ about the violent people being lovely people’ nothing to do with the ethnicity of a person.
I would say the exact same sentence if it was violent hooligans this country.

.

No, my previous post at 00:40 was supporting you. This post you have quoted was in response to Lemonjam's post at 00:41.

As I said, I read your post as sarcasm towards the people involved in the attack. I didn't think you were making a racist comment. I thought you were very unfairly attacked.

Back to the topic,

It all seems a bit pointless to me. The pupils are protesting against the poor conditions in their schools which interupts their education, yet today nearly 500 schools are closed in France because the pupils themselves have made them unsafe!

Moreover, protest organizers have called for pupils to continue protesting with large-scale demonstrations scheduled to persist for tomorrow and the rest of the week.

MartavTaurus

greyfur16

Meandrogrog

Primrose53

It’s all gone quiet now but originally students were saying they were fed up with overcrowded classes due to the large number of immigrant kids in French schools.

I read that too.

Where? We are still waiting for information.

I think this thread is getting unnecessarily tetchy, and yes there has been mention of the above in French reports. Of course, it then appears for English speaking people, like posters here, to read.

However, a lot is being lost in translation, and unless you are familiar with the history and make-up of the Parisian banlieues then wording becomes misconstrued or twisted. I mentioned earlier that Créteil, where the riots started, has a population of 25% immigrants, and that teachers leave almost as soon as they arrive due to the challenges they face.

Immigrant pupils require far more support, which isn't forthcoming, so other pupils do inevitably attach some of this blame to the overcrowding in their own lycées.

Ce n'est pas compliqué to see how and why. That's your answer.

I had already worked out that France's colonial past would undoubtably play a part in this.

I dare say, like many things it's complicated.

Thank you old frill, very much appreciate that.

A 15 year old has lost a hand this morning during riots in Lens, what a waste.

greyfur16

MartavTaurus

greyfur16

Meandrogrog

Primrose53

It’s all gone quiet now but originally students were saying they were fed up with overcrowded classes due to the large number of immigrant kids in French schools.

I read that too.

Where? We are still waiting for information.

I think this thread is getting unnecessarily tetchy, and yes there has been mention of the above in French reports. Of course, it then appears for English speaking people, like posters here, to read.

However, a lot is being lost in translation, and unless you are familiar with the history and make-up of the Parisian banlieues then wording becomes misconstrued or twisted. I mentioned earlier that Créteil, where the riots started, has a population of 25% immigrants, and that teachers leave almost as soon as they arrive due to the challenges they face.

Immigrant pupils require far more support, which isn't forthcoming, so other pupils do inevitably attach some of this blame to the overcrowding in their own lycées.

Ce n'est pas compliqué to see how and why. That's your answer.

I had already worked out that France's colonial past would undoubtably play a part in this.

I dare say, like many things it's complicated.

The French government are making severe budget cuts, the public sector and the students are protesting. The heavy handedness of the French government and their police forces are inflaming the protests. It's all very out of hand with no way out apart from severe policing

You don't need to know the history of France to discuss the current unrest.

Jaxjacky

A 15 year old has lost a hand this morning during riots in Lens, what a waste.

Yes I read that too. If the local newspaper report is correct they think he picked up a stun grenade, probably intending to throw it back if so. So senseless and now he will suffer the consequences for the rest of his life and likely it will be his dominate hand he's lost.

You don't need to know the history of France to discuss the current unrest.
I don't think that was what was meant.

Actually, I think rioting on the streets can probably be traced back to the French Revolution of 1789.

Also when pupils blockade schools, French leaders fear a repeat of the unrest of May 1968 when student protestors nearly toppled the government of Charles de Gaulle.

Moreover, history dictates that in France, street disruption historically yields political results, which explains why the tactic is deployed so readily today.

By integrating France's unique history it helps us realize that this is not an unprecedented collapse of law and order, but a tactic that has been readily deployed there for centuries.

But sorry, if you feel these examples are irrelevant.

I may have mentioned Les Misérables earlier, *MartavTaurus because yes, the French do have a history of violent protest and rioting in order to try to bring about change.

Is the French Government listening this time? The Justice Minister, Gérald Darmanin, has said parents must pay for the damage. Are they listening to the pupils/students or just sending in riot police to shut down any discussion at all? Is the promised consultation taking place yet?

Good Point frill
I've just been listening to Radio 4 and the students are protesting about the state of buildings and inequality in education.
No mention of immigrants.
Still, what do you expect from a lefty/woke report I suppose.

I was a teenager in Paris on a language course during the événements of 1968 and was soaked by one of the police hoses. It was very frightening.
Having worked in French schools I agree that some of the buildings are poor and resources are way behind UK schools. It is interesting that one of the issues raised by students is the poor ranking for France in the international PISA results.
As well as working in schools, I did a lot of teaching of English to individual pupils and cringed when they said that their teachers said "if you didn't know how to say something in English, then say nothing". I have no doubt that investment for change is needed and the online university application system is a nightmare.
Despite that, nothing justifies violence.

Still, what do you expect from a lefty/woke report I suppose

Radio 4 being renowned for its lefty/woke bias of course?.

A huge day of protest organised for Tuesday.

I would expect most people reading/contributing would know protest and riots are de rigueur in France. The ages of those participating (c5000 mainly young people arrested) makes the current unrest extremely concerning. It's unlikely Tuesday's massive planned protests will be trouble free.

I would expect most people reading/contributing would know protest and riots are de rigueur in France.
And I would expect that most people contributing would be keen to discuss the origins of protests and riots in France, or are you wishing to control the whole thread?

Focusing only on today's headlines merely allows us to understand the immediate political crisis rather than considering it the latest chapter in the volatile relationship between the French public and the state.

Thank you for sharing your experiences Mamie. 1968 in Paris must have have been a scary time while you were in the thick of it, but interesting to look back on.

Breakfast news has just reported that over 5,000 of those arrested are under 18.

I'm inclined to surmise its about more than schools.

Is it not the case, as in the UK, that young people find it very hard to find jobs and the future doesn't look great? Are there the same problems about adequate trade and apprenticeship opportunities (asking, not knowing, here)

Thank you mamie for the observation that many schools really really actually are in bad nick (and one can presume, the poorer/deprived the area, mostly, more so).

I agree with Wyllow3 that the conflicts reflect a much deeper angst dealing with specific socioeconomic anxieties and institutional decline.
I think they remind us of the unique disruptive power of youth, and maybe it's in some way due to our digital age that these youths are getting involved younger and younger..

Wyllow3

I'm inclined to surmise its about more than schools.

Is it not the case, as in the UK, that young people find it very hard to find jobs and the future doesn't look great? Are there the same problems about adequate trade and apprenticeship opportunities (asking, not knowing, here)

Thank you mamie for the observation that many schools really really actually are in bad nick (and one can presume, the poorer/deprived the area, mostly, more so).

It is the lycées who are mostly involved in the riots and many of these these are pupils on a pathway to university and professions. Many pupils go to secondary school and then on to specialist vocational and commercial courses at 14. We had a big agricultural training centre near us.
The difference about France is that your métier is normally a long term if not lifetime decision. The idea that you can change careers as in the UK was always greeted with shock by my neighbours.
I wouldn't say the worst school buildings were necessarily in poor areas, though many rural schools are showing their age.

I found this from the House of Commons Library.
"Youth (aged 15 to 24) unemployment is a major issue in many developed economies at present. In Q2 2026 the youth unemployment rate was 24.9% in Sweden, and it was also 20% or higher in Spain (23.8%), Finland (23.6%), Chile (23.3%), Estonia (23.0%) and France (21.5%). It was 16.2% in the UK."