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Written by Riviera Reporter
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Letting It All Hang Out
And that's what those low-slung jeans do, favoured by some school girls
and disliked by some of their teachers. But that's not Harriet's
problem. Her son goes to a local lycée and got called in by the proviseur
and told his teeshirt - emblazoned with the slogan "Americans out of
Iraq" - was "inappropriate" and that he'd do best not to wear it again.
What do I think?
Well, the state educational system is above all bound to uphold les valeurs de la République
- and especially "liberty". This means a minimum of intrusive
regulation (at least in theory). At the same time, there has to be
respect for decency - hence doubt about those low-slung jeans - and the
good order necessary for a fertile working environment. That's why
religious symbols, including the Islamic veil, have been banned.
Grossly provocative political slogans - favouring the National Front,
for example - would also fall under this interdiction but I'd hardly
put "Americans out of Iraq" in that category. On the other hand,
the matter doesn't seem worth making an issue of. Harriet's son won't
be helped by having a bad relationship with his proviseur.
From Reporter 107 - Feb/Mar 2005
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Eye on France 
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