Teaching objections due to private convictions among French teachers 2020

In 2020, nearly half (46 percent) of French teachers had already experienced challenges to teaching or teaching content in the name of religious, philosophical or political beliefs in middle schools. This proportion, although lower in other types of institutions, amounted to 38 percent in high schools, 28 percent in preschools, and 25 percent in elementary schools.

Meanings associated with secularism

For a good part of the French population, secularism is an intrinsic part of the country's identity, but also an essential republican principle. Yet the meanings associated with it are diverse, and vary according to individuals: in 2020, when asked about it, some associated the principle of secularism with reducing the influence of religion on French society (26 percent), separating politics and religion (27 percent), putting different religions on an equal footing (19 percent), or ensuring freedom of conscience (23 percent).

Threats to secularism

Nearly a month after Samuel Paty, a history and geography teacher, was murdered by an Islamist after showing Mohammed caricatures in class, and while the bill on separatism was being examined in the National Assembly, seven out of ten French people considered that secularism was in danger. Although this principle has been at the heart of the French education system since the end of the 19th century, the inadequacy, or deficiencies, of its teaching could partly explain this opinion. In 2020, nearly three out of five French people considered that secularism was not taught enough in school. Moreover, they were rather reluctant to allow the wearing of ostensible religious symbols, such as crosses, veils or kippas, in the educational environment.