French Education Official Exits School Over Veiled Women, Sparking Secularism Debate

According to Le Parisien, it was at 11 a.m. that the Rector of the Versailles Academy, Charline Avenel, the Academic Director, Dominique Fis, and the Mayor of Clamart, Jean-Didier Berger, presented themselves in this school located in Haut-Clamart.

But the face-to-face meeting of the delegation with veiled women was the source of deep discomfort, as the officials simply passed by.

"The rule is clear, inside the school, religious symbols are not allowed," said the Rector of the Versailles Academy. "I understand that it is not easy for the Director to define the situations," she said, continuing: "But there is a secularism platform at the national and academic level to support teachers and school principals. We cannot be resigned. This case will be analyzed...," she said before turning around, accompanied by the rest of the delegation, without visiting the workshops.

According to the newspaper, at the end of the workshops, Siam, one of the mothers who caused the discomfort, did not hide her surprise to learn that she was one of the reasons why the delegation failed to visit the workshops.

"Me, I do this for my children, I like them to know that I am present and that I participate in their life at school," she said, before specifying that she has always participated in the activities on a voluntary basis without asking questions.

"Honestly, who will accompany them if we remove the veiled mothers? There are few volunteers. We take care of all the children. It’s a responsibility too, the safety of the little ones," adds Siam.

The school, for its part, points out that it can count on always available, caring mothers who support the various activities.