Kenitra's suspended French school teacher gathers former students, parents' support

Over 70 parents and former students of Kenitra’s French school gathered testimonies in support of a fired teacher, after the latter was said to have “taught homosexuality, and islamophobic ideas” in the classroom.

The Honoré de Balzac School’s employee was recently suspended by the Agency for French Schools Abroad (AEFE) for “serious failure in her professional status and teaching practices.”

In a statement received by Hespress, the group denounced a “hate campaign to convey false and misleading information” affecting the integrity of the teacher, describing parents’ complaint as “ill-intentioned.”

The teacher sparked outrage among the school’s parents, who claimed she showed images of men kissing, during a speech for schoolchildren of ages between 7 and 9 years old, about homosexuality.

According to parents, the teacher allegedly also evoked subjects relating to Iran and Islam, “making statement that contradict and hurt the religion sacred aspects.”

For their part, the parents who wrote the collective statement of support say they are following this campaign “with great shock, dismay and disgust,” while rejecting the version of events as presented by the complainants.

“As parents of students attending this school for several years and in constant contact with the slandered teacher, we believe these are all false allegations.”

“We denounce this defamation and disinformation campaign targeting the same teacher on social networks and some media, lacking any respect for the ethics of the profession,” said the group.

“We also denounce those who have not hesitated to lynch the teacher online, without even trying to know her version of events,  without any consideration to her brilliant career, and to the professionalism she has always demonstrated during her long years of practice.”

Signatories provided documents along their letter of support, attesting to the teachers’ career, which include several testimonies of satisfaction from students and parents over her 20-year long career in the Kingdom.

“We appeal judicial authorities to render justice to this exceptional woman, victim of a great injustice,” concluded the group of parents and previous Balzac students, as the judicial complaint and investigation continues.