Since Monday, December 11, teachers at Jacques-Cartier College in Issou, Yvelines, are on strike following an incident during a class where a teacher showed an image of a painting by Giuseppe Cesari.
In a French class a teacher displayed a 17th-century artwork, "Diane and Actéon" by Giuseppe Cesari, to sixth-grade students.
"Some students looked away, felt offended, and claimed to be shocked," reported Sophie Vénétitay, general secretary of Snes-FSU, the largest teachers' union in France.
During a class discussion, some teenagers complained that the teacher made racist and Islamophobic remarks. According to the Versailles education authority, contacted by Le Monde, this claim is false. They state that "the students retracted their statements and apologized on Friday."
A parent also sent an email to the school principal claiming that his son was prevented taking part in the discussion, and he intends to file a complaint.
The accused French teacher has also filed a complaint, as reported by franceinfo, which adds that she has also requested legal assistance from the National Education Board.
On Monday night, French Education Minister Gabriel Attal announced a "disciplinary procedure against the students responsible for this situation, who have indeed admitted to the facts" in a press conference.
Main Image :Diane and Actéon by Giuseppe Cesari
Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.
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