Students' defiance after Paris attacks prompts action by French government
PARIS -- A day after the deadly attack on the offices of satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo that killed 12 people, French president Francois Hollande led the country in a minute's silence to remember the dead.
But in a number of schools around France, an estimated 200 students refused to stand in silence when the call came at noon on January 8.
While few defended the killings, some students said they were angry that the newspaper had printed cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, and so believed the murdered cartoonists did not merit respect. Others cited social media rumors to back up claims it was all a conspiracy and that the killers had never shouted "Allah ahu Akbar" - Allah is great - nor that one of the Kouachi brothers had yelled that they were avenging the prophet. The Kouachis were caught on tape by several eyewitnesses and their words can clearly be heard.
The refusals shocked many teachers, and sparked lively debate among students - and even a few tussles. Some students argued that there should be limits to free speech when it causes offense - but blasphemy is not a crime in France. And while Charlie Hebdo was frequently provocative and irreverent, it never incited its readers to hatred or terrorism, which are crimes.
When some 200 incidents of students refusing to observe the minute's silence were reported to the Education Ministry, the French government decided something needed to be done.
On Thursday, the government announced a series of measures aimed at promoting respect among students, and at improving the social mix in classrooms.
Chief among the new measures is a plan to reinstate civics classes in school starting next September. These classes will stress social responsibility, respect for others, and respect for French values, including the nation's strong secular tradition.
Announcing the reforms, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said France's attachment to a secular state was the best way to encourage brotherhood, or fraternité, one of the three founding ideals of the French republic: Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
An early-warning system will also be set in place in schools to identify and deal with potential problem students. There will also be stricter monitoring of how well the French language is being taught, particularly in areas with a high-immigrant population. And schoolchildren will be reminded of the basic rules of politeness and consideration for others.
The first 1,000 teachers who'll give the classes will be trained from July, in time for the new school year in September.
Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem also promised to make it easier for university researchers to find funding for studies on radicalization, as the government estimates the number of young people being wooed by Islamic extremists is growing.