French Minister Visits School Over Renaissance Painting Row
The Facts
On Monday, Gabriel Attal, the French Minister for Education, visited Jacques-Cartier Middle School following an incident concerning the showing of a 17th-century painting depicting unclothed women last Thursday, which was reported to have offended Muslim pupils at the school.
The 17th-century Renaissance painting by Giuseppe Cesari, named Diana and Actaeon currently resides in the Louvre. Sophie Venetitay of the SNES-FSU teachers union stated that students ages 11 and 12 "felt offended" and were "shocked" by the image.
The Spin
Narrative A
This incident highlights an escalation of tensions between the right to freedom of expression, the awareness of an increasingly diverse society, and state commitment to secular values. The relationship between art, diversity, and security has long continued to provide friction in France, and the government must prioritize a resolution to ensure a peaceful educational environment between all parts of French society.
Narrative B
The French government has not done enough to support teachers at Jacques-Cartier. The allegations of Islamaphobia have not been proven and the entire situation seems to be the result of a lack of support for those attempting to provide education to future generations in the spirit of genuine good will.