School security: teachers soon armed with tear gas bombs in Marignane ?

the mayor of Marignane Eric Le Dissès affirms that tear gas spray would be a means of defense for teachers. ILLUSTRATION Midi Libre – MIKAEL ANISSET

In a letter addressed to the school directors of his commune, the mayor of Marignane, Eric Le Dissès, announced his intention to provide school staff (teachers and town hall employees) with tear gas bombs to ensure their security in establishments. An announcement which sparked strong reactions, particularly among parents.

Will the primary school teachers of Marignane (Bouches-du-Rhône) soon teach with a tear gas bomb in their pocket ? This is the wish expressed Eric Le Dissès, the various right-wing mayor of the city, in a letter sent to school directors this Monday, January 22, as reported by BFMTV Marseille . 

Vendredi, dans un collège de #Marignane, un surveillant gravement blessé par 4 élèves !

En plus du terrorisme, la montée de l'ultra-violence dans la jeunesse menace le personnel.

Leur fournir du spray de défense est le moins que l'on puisse faire, à court terme.

— Eric Le Dissès (@LeDissesEric) January 22, 2024

In this letter, the councilor specifies that he wants to give teachers the means to defend themselves, particularly in the event of intrusions. Tear gas canisters would be supplied with necklace or bracelet alarms. 

Parents divided on the measure

Between concern, distrust and approval, this announcement did not fail to provoke a reaction in the town. Some parents said they were "stunned" faced with this decision deemed “excessive and radical”. Others are more favorable to the idea of ​​equipping teaching staff with means of defense, believing that they could be "dissuasive" . Still others are doubtful and would be in favor of the measure but under certain conditions, such as the installation of cameras in class in order to avoid any excess or abusive use . 

The teaching unions are mainly against the proposal. "We must be careful not to turn teachers into vigilantes, says Charlotte Bourgougnon, departmental co-secretary of the FSU-SNUIPP 13 teaching union at the microphone of TF1. This is not our role and it completely removes us from our missions". Same story on the side of the academic inspection which opposed the measure. 

Category D weapon

The Bouches-du-Rhône police headquarters also reminds Eric Le Dissès that a tear gas bomb is considered a category D weapon whose carrying and transport is prohibited without legitimate reason. In the event of an inspection, the circumstances are studied on a case-by-case basis, but the carrying or transport of a category D weapon without legitimate reason is punishable by a penalty of 15,000 euros. fine and 1 year in prison. 

This is not the first time that Eric Le Dissès has been talked about for his school policy. Last December, the mayor of Marignane made meat compulsory in canteens, by requiring his municipal agents to serve all components of the menu – including meat. A decision which Gabriel Attal, then Minister of National Education, said he was “shocked”.