Hundreds of educators and union representatives gathered at the CGT headquarters in Montreuil, France, on January 29th and 30th, for an unprecedented colloquium focused on resisting the rise of far-right ideologies within the education system. The event, co-organized by the Ferc-CGT and the CGT’s Institute of Social History, alongside the FSU and its research institute, signaled a commitment to joint action and reflection.
The colloquium addressed growing concerns about the impact of extremist viewpoints on French schools, particularly in the wake of a 2022 Cevipof (Sciences Po) study indicating that 25% of teachers voted for Marine Le Pen. Participants highlighted instances of teachers facing harassment and threats for their pedagogical approaches or subject matter, often stemming from pressure groups like SOS-Éducation and Les Mamans Louves, which have expanded their influence from the private sector into public schools.
Sophie Djigo, a philosophy teacher, shared her experience of receiving police protection after facing online harassment for planning a field trip with her students to meet with a migrant aid organization. She has secured a condemnation against six of her cyberharassers, with sentencing scheduled for March 20th. Djigo emphasized the necessitate to confront the denial of privilege and the persistence of far-right ideas within the teaching profession, noting that even seemingly benign attempts to acknowledge diversity can inadvertently reinforce existing inequalities.
Historian Patrick Boucheron argued that educators may have operated under a “comfortable intellectual” assumption of shared values, overlooking systemic issues within the French education system. He stressed the importance of acknowledging these imperfections although firmly rejecting the proposals of the far-right, stating, “If, the extreme right in power, we have already tried it.”
Charlotte Vanbesien, Secretary General of the Ferc-CGT, expressed concern over budget cuts that could undermine efforts to address educational inequalities and support student mental health. She stated that educators perceive increasingly isolated in facing these challenges.
Jérôme Beauvisage, author of L’Extrême droite. Permanence et métamorphoses, pointed out the historical targeting of the education system by the far-right, noting that the Front National (now Rassemblement National) attempted to establish a union presence within the sector in the 1990s, without success. Historian Laurence De Cock recounted an incident from 1933 where educator Célestin Freinet was forced to brandish a weapon against a mob threatening his school.
The discussion also focused on specific curriculum areas under attack, including life sciences, history, and sex education. Sophie Vénétitay, Secretary General of the Snes (National Union of Secondary Education), warned that the far-right seeks to reduce teachers to mere “executors” of a rigid curriculum, suppressing their pedagogical freedom and undermining values of inclusivity and equality. She highlighted concerns about alternative school programs promoted by groups like Périclès Foundation and Pierre-Édouard Stérin’s “Saint Louis” academies, which are gaining traction and circumventing existing regulations.
Participants emphasized the need for solidarity with teachers in the private sector who are facing similar pressures. The Ferc-CGT representative called for the newly formed “common house” of CGT and FSU to support these educators.
The colloquium concluded with a call for increased vigilance, information sharing, and the creation of a “library of resistance” to counter the spread of far-right ideologies. Paul Devin of the FSU’s research institute cited the Visa network and the “1001 territories for fraternity” initiative as examples of existing resources for combating fascism. A follow-up meeting to discuss concrete actions is planned.
