French school children on strike

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There's a very smart modern lycée in Nantes which has been trashed, and which will cost millions of euros to repair.
The only reason I can see why pupils would join in and destroy it is in solidarity with their peers who study in crumbling, overcrowded schools in poorer areas. I guess any state-owned property becomes a target to lash out against the government's current economic policies.

Thank you Mamie

Well if its the Lycées - and on the TV plenty of clearly well heeled youth there -

what's all the racist hoo-ha above on this thread? Ie its not mainly schools students in very multicultural areas demonstrating really on schools?

*Perhaps those demonstrating in those areas facing all round deprivation are demonstrating on a much, much more complex range of issues and beefs with policing and so on

MartavTaurus

^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.

Please show where I am trying to control the thread and report all of my posts that you think uphold this accusation.

This kind of accusations leads to people being banned so no doubt you can evidence your opinion.

I think controlling the thread is rather more indicated by the phrase you earlier used "back to the topic" Quote MartavTaurus Mon 05-Oct-26 11:54:20 which might be interpreted as a goad to silence some you don't agree with, maybe me haha.

I have no problem with detailing French history but l don't, as I've said, see that you need to understand the history to discuss current events in France.

Our difference in opinion is not either of us controlling this thread, or no threads would exist

However feel free to report my posts, you are not the final judge.

May be worth opening a thread on the history of France, l find it particularly interesting as l was taught French history/politics by the late, and incredibly great Byron Criddle.

I'll withdraw from this thread now as I really object to personal attacks.

I think protests do stem directly from the Revolution and the Liberté part of the constitution. What we saw with the Gilets Jaunes protests was a build-up of grievances that erupted in massive damage and disruption across the country. It is the same with the farmers, lorry drivers etc.
It seems to me that the right to strike and to protest is very important to French people, even though everyone complains when it happens. You do get used to working around it.
My neighbours loved my stories of 1968. Real kudos that I had been there (even by accident!)

Yes Mamie. Perhaps you and I, and maybe a few others see this more from a French perspective because we are familiar with the way they are brought up and think.
I went to school myself in France as a teenager, I later worked teaching in schools there. It is my perception that the intersection of historical tradition and modern systemic issues are equally important to the French.

Mamie

I think protests do stem directly from the Revolution and the Liberté part of the constitution. What we saw with the Gilets Jaunes protests was a build-up of grievances that erupted in massive damage and disruption across the country. It is the same with the farmers, lorry drivers etc.
It seems to me that the right to strike and to protest is very important to French people, even though everyone complains when it happens. You do get used to working around it.
My neighbours loved my stories of 1968. Real kudos that I had been there (even by accident!)

Definitely. Always been the case, and '68 a prime example. Well, the whole period - links with the anti-Vietnam war in the USA big time and oh my - the Womens Movement blossomed ........ and I was part of the front of it locally in Manchester. vivre Simone de Beauvoir et al.

It turned me into an alternative activist in the 70's. Climate change in the New Scientist flagged up, few believed. Worked in a communal whole food bakery and was a van delivery girl instead of fulfilling parental hopes of a career post uni. Gay people were safe in our community.

When you have that in your 20's something always stays. and I see many young people in their 20's and 30's returning to some of the values we lived by.

Nothing to see here / well according to mainstream media.

If you watch Tousi-TV on YouTube you'll get much better reporting....

All the main stream UK media is reporting on the matter- what a strange comment.

AI Overview : Tousi TV is an independent online news and political commentary platform founded and hosted by British-Iranian digital broadcaster Mahyar Tousi.

Key Details
• Founder and Host: Mahyar Tousi, who moved from Iran to the UK as a teenager and previously supported Brexit and stood as a Conservative candidate in local elections.
• Content and Focus: Delivers breaking news, live streams, and political analysis focusing on international politics, British politics, and Middle Eastern affairs—particularly Iran, Israel, and security conflicts.
• Audience: Built a large following with over 1.6 million subscribers on the official Tousi TV YouTube Channel.
• Platforms & Services: Offers a paid subscription service called Tousi TV+ via its website (tousi.tv) and dedicated mobile apps available on iOS and Android.
• Location: Relocated its primary studio from London, United Kingdom to South Florida in the United States in mid-2026.

When you type * riots and France* into Google news, every western media outlet describes this unrest in terms of students demanding change because of poor facilties and classroom overcrowding etc

However, there is an article in the 'Global Times' (a Chinese state owned newspaper) which says that this unrest is being driven by mainly Muslim immigrant groups from north Africa and the Maghreb. It says this has also been the case in previous years.

When you tend to agree with the Chinese communist news, then you know we are really in trouble.

It’s good to read around some topics a bud more widely.

Factual Accuracy and Bias AI Overview:

Tousi TV is a political commentary channel run by Mahyar Tousi (not to be confused with the American filmmaker Mahyad Tousi).

Political Bias Right-Wing / Conservative: Mahyar Tousi is a British-Iranian political commentator and a known Conservative activist who has aligned himself with right-wing, free-market, and populist-conservative viewpoints in the UK.

* Content Focus* The channel features commentary on British politics, culture wars, global affairs, and anti-woke sentiments, generally championing conservative or right-leaning perspectives while criticising progressive policies, mainstream media, and left-wing politics.

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Independent / Alternative Media Because it is driven by individual commentary, it does not undergo standard institutional or independent third-party media-rating audits (such as Media Bias/Fact Check for every segment), and its content often reflects a strong ideological spin, selective framing of events, and partisan interpretation.
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FriedGreenTomatoes2

Nothing to see here / well according to mainstream media.

If you watch Tousi-TV on YouTube you'll get much better reporting....

Tousi- TV? It's a no from me FGT- I prefer to get news reporting from more accurate main stream media channels.

I'm not so keen on getting my news from biased opinion based commentary

"It’s good to read around some topics a bud more widely."

Absolutely.

“Student protesters"

The language that the media and politicians now deploy, bears no resemblance to the actual the events happening in the streets. Protesting is standing in a group, with signs and chanting your slogans.

In actuality there is organised violence, random attacks on teachers and bystanders and the burning down of schools and looting of shops.

Protests against education resources these are not.

European Utopia Burns: Far-left Riots Spread Like Cancer From France To Belgium.
BREAKING: Young second and third-generation migrants are now rioting in Liege, Belgium.

Well I think it's delightful and so very French that the mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Gregoire is opening the capital's town halls so that 'high school students can come "to gather, debate and democratically organise" their movement.
He is also calling on the police prefecture to prioritise de-escalation. He said 'we cannot lament the lack of organisation among these young protestors while at the same time closing high schools and the venues where their general assemblies are held'.
Such respect for debate, for the young and for consideration of the issues as the way forward.

Source: France24 app which contains live coverage from inside France and is a valid news host rather like the BBC.

This is not about schools and education.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

“Student protesters"

The language that the media and politicians now deploy, bears no resemblance to the actual the events happening in the streets. Protesting is standing in a group, with signs and chanting your slogans.

In actuality there is organised violence, random attacks on teachers and bystanders and the burning down of schools and looting of shops.

Protests against education resources these are not.

I wish Tommy Robinson, Daniel Thomas et all would just protest by standing in a group and chanting their slogans! 🥱

Fair point LemonJam.

Still - this is a riot in Paris not a demo.

FGT- I have not described what's happening in France as a 'demo'. 🤷‍♀️ Careful and/or intentional and/or careless application of the language- is often an issue in MSN, SM and political propaganda I agree.

Definition of demo, short for demonstration, includes: political march, public protest and expressing political support or disagreement. It well may be that this began with students began this to demonstrate their disagreement re their concerns in education.

Strikes, protests, riots, demos - we see these various nouns also thrown around and used variably here in UK also. Usually each also has an adjective applied to better describe what the demonstration or protest is about or its cause or purpose.

TR has held what he has described as an 'anti immigrant rally' So now we also have a political activist throwing the noun 'rally' into the mix. Rally defintion- a large public gathering, a recovery or comeback or the act of coming together to support a shared cause. Such TR 'rallies' descended into violence and chaos.

We've seen footage and read reports in UK of 'local demonstrators' or 'local protesters' outside hotels then watched those hotels being burned with people inside. Not every individual who initially joined those local demonstrations set out or even joined in the actual burning of the hotels. We've seen UK police officers being harmed, shops being looted and cars overturned this year all as a result of what started as a demonstration or protest.

We agree it's best for individuals to read around a subject and find the facts.

It's blindingly obvious that opinion based, online commentators are more likely to apply biased adjectives and nouns as they share their personal opinion. Editorially reviewed news reporting from main stream media outlets are more likely to serve up facts and more likely to try to resist personal bias. We've seen main stream media individuals being sacked for showing personal bias and we've seen MSN outlets taken to court e.g. BBC by Trump. MSM outlets are much more litigation aware and also are to account by Ofcom. You tube online commentators are not.

I agree LemonJam that you had not used the word demo.

Protest however used by some does not adequately reflect events in my opinion.

It’s much more orchestrated and serious than is being fed to us by MSM sources.

Although I can understand about litigation.

Worryingly this can suppress what’s actually happening to an extent I fear.

Events unfurl day by day. Also not all protesters are being violent or casing harm or injury. Plus as in every situation here and abroad sometimes political activists opportunistically get involved.

Thats why it's important to weigh up and consideration matters such as opinion, facts, bias and nuance matter.

From what I read, the majority of French politicians are calling them exactions. I think the word exists in English too - the act of demanding and forcefully getting something.