Following the tragic murders of French teachers Samuel Paty and Dominique Bernard, concerns over teacher safety in France have increased significantly in recent years. The number of educators requesting protection from the state has more than doubled, with requests for functional protection rising from 2,218 in 2020 to 4,948 in 2023. The brutal killings of Paty and Bernard have highlighted the risks faced by teachers who tackle sensitive topics in the classroom, sparking national conversations about the safety of educators and the role of the state in their protection.
Functional protection, a safeguard for public servants including teachers, provides legal, medical, and financial support for those facing threats or violence in connection to their duties. While largely unused in the past due to lack of awareness, the murders of Paty and Bernard have brought this option to the forefront. Despite efforts to encourage teachers to request protection, many remain hesitant, either due to lack of awareness or concerns about their requests being taken seriously.
Since the deaths of Paty and Bernard, there has been a significant surge in requests for functional protection. Reports from the Ministry of Education show a 123% increase in requests from 2020 to 2023, with the main reason cited being threats to physical integrity. Minister of Education Anne Genetet has announced plans to expand the state’s ability to provide functional protection, including allowing the Ministry to file legal complaints on behalf of threatened teachers, in hopes of simplifying the process and encouraging educators to seek help.
The tragic killings of Paty and Bernard have brought teacher safety to the forefront in France, prompting a nationwide discussion on the protection of educators facing threats and violence. The murders have shed light on the risks faced by teachers addressing complex social and cultural issues in the classroom, and the need for increased support and awareness of functional protection. As schools across France prepare to observe a minute of silence in honor of the memories of Samuel Paty and Dominique Bernard, the country continues to grapple with ensuring the safety of its educators in the face of growing threats.
