French teacher on talking to students about Charlie Hebdo attacks

After the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris in January some French schoolchildren refused to observe the nationwide minute of silence to commemorate the victims. This has raised the question of how effectively schools are transmitting the concepts of citizenship and secularism, and the education ministry has issued new directives. A history teacher in a nort Parisian suburb, who blogs under the name Chouyo, describes talking to her students about the attacks, and says the government should focus on improving their lives outside school and let her do her job.

Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem at a primary school in Paris on 6 February, 2015 AFP/Stéphane De Sakutin