Twelve days after the death of Dominique Bernard, a literature teacher in Arras stabbed by a former Islamist extremist student, LCP modifies its programs and broadcasts Liberty, Equality, Secularism, which goes to meet teachers and students in a primary school in Echirolles (Isère) and in a priority education network college in Cluses, in Haute-Savoie, to see, on the ground, how secularism is studied and perceived. A simply essential documentary.
Produced in 2021-2022, it does not mention the assassination of Dominique Bernard. On the other hand, that of Samuel Paty, a history-geography teacher who had his throat cut in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Yvelines), three years ago, emerges from the first minutes, in a CM2 class, while Isabelle asks her students to comment on statements such as “everyone is free to believe or not believe” or “there is a god who created the world”. Young people know that the professor was killed because he showed caricatures of Mohammed. “Does this justify killing someone? », asks the teacher. Only “no”s are heard.
Most of the film is shot at the Cluses college (975 students, from twenty different origins). In 5th grade, Sami teaches a lesson on secularism: “The students must understand that it is a principle which will not prevent them, but [which] will protect them in their religion and their beliefs. »
Informative exchanges
Another 5th grade class with Anthony. Here, teens have to say opposite each sentence – “a teacher doesn’t believe in God” – whether it “bothers them a little”, “a lot” or “not at all”. Then Anthony corrects in a collegial manner. Impossible, unfortunately, to transcribe all the exchanges between students and teachers, all of which were instructive.
Béatrice, a retired teacher, explains in three minutes how the situation at the school has changed in two generations. Calmly. “When I arrived in Cluses [after the migratory wave of the 1970s], diversity happened naturally. There were docile parents, to whom we gave French lessons in a good mood. » Then Béatrice had their children and grandchildren in class. “And I saw a change. » This new generation has experienced inequalities, noticed that their parents could not find an apartment because they did not have the right name. So some of them chose to assert themselves, to show themselves as they are, including veiled.
Another strong moment, when Samuel Paty is once again the subject of debate in class. “Violent words are spoken,” warns the director, Jean Crépu. He will not broadcast them, but repeats them: “It is not okay to speak about a prophet, it is forbidden”; “Samuel Paty took the risk. He paid”… “These are shocking words that you have to be ready to hear,” Anthony reacts. And it’s not easy. » Sami says the need to master the foundations of different religions to be able to respond to students, and setting an example “on respect for values”. Some will be surprised that the end-of-year school trip takes place in an old abbey to reenact a scene between monks in the Middle Ages…
