Gabriel Attal has made the phrase “You break it, you fix it. You dirty it, you clean it. You challenge authority, you learn to respect it” a central theme of his action as Prime Minister. He emphasizes the need for a “surge of authority” in response to the violence of some adolescents, focusing on education. However, his approach is primarily focused on the use of sanctions, even suggesting marking a disruptive student’s Parcoursup file. This strategy is seen as a political calculation ahead of the upcoming European elections, where far-right parties are expected to perform well.
Educational professionals are concerned about the power dynamic that the former Minister of National Education wants to establish with young people deemed to be on the wrong path. They believe that this vision could have the opposite effect and widen the gap between educators and students. According to Marie Beretti, a teacher-researcher in education sciences at the University Jean-Monnet-Saint-Etienne, authority is based on a relationship of trust between teacher and student, rather than strict enforcement.
Teachers, who understand the importance of authority in the teaching process, have a different interpretation of it than Gabriel Attal. According to Bruno Robbes, a professor in education sciences at the University Cergy-Paris, authority is not synonymous with authoritarianism. It is about influence based on the consent of the student to obey, recognizing their own interest in doing so. This is how authority gains legitimacy over time, rather than through strict rules such as students standing when a teacher enters the room.
In this context, the demand for students to stand when a teacher arrives, as proposed by the Prime Minister, is seen as a superficial measure. True educational authority is built over time and through experience. Even experienced teachers require training to analyze their practices, as the time dedicated to this topic has decreased in initial training. Therefore, this emphasis on immediate obedience may not address the underlying issues in the education system.
Overall, the approach to authority in education taken by Gabriel Attal is seen as problematic by many educators, who emphasize the importance of building trust and respect in the classroom. They believe that a punitive approach may not be effective in addressing the root causes of disruptive behavior. By focusing on quick fixes and superficial measures, the Prime Minister’s strategy may not lead to the desired outcomes in terms of improving student behavior and relationships within the educational system.
