Teaching Assistant “Stabbed to Death” Outside French School”

Early on a Monday morning, it was supposed to be just another normal school day at the Saint-Exupéry secondary school, a small town in eastern France, not too far from Strasbourg. Students were entering the school, some wearing backpacks on their backs, all of them drowsily saying good morning to each other, not knowing of the tragedy about to unfold less than 30 minutes into the school day.

On this quiet Monday morning, 31-year-old teaching assistant, Yann B., known as a good, calm guy who wanted to help troubled kids, was “stabbed to death,” in what has shocked the entire country.

According to witnesses, the stabbing occurred at around 7:45 AM and was allegedly committed by a 14-year-old student as he was being checked outside the school as part of routine school’s security checks. Initial investigations suggest that there was an altercation between the student and assistant as the student was being searched.

“We all saw them arguing and before we knew it… he stabbed him. We all just froze,” said one student who was clearly shaken up by what he had witnessed that morning.

Police say the student used a knife he had stored in his backpack, and that the attack was extremely quick, vicious, and appeared to be planned.

Yann B. was not just a member of the staff, he was considered the custodian of the lives of the poor and at-risk students, who had no one else to trust. In fact, several staff members commented about how Yann was one of those individuals who always volunteered to do extra duties whenever it involved mentoring at-risk students. They were often students who would speak with Yann about their difficulties, and he taught others that “there’s a reason for everything that a child does.”

“He tried to help that boy so many times. He had removal after removal from school. He believed in second chances. This makes it even worse.” one teacher said, while fighting to keep tears from forming.

Paramedics arrived within minutes, but Yann had already succumbed to the injuries.

The shocking attack quickly drew national news coverage. French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been focused on youth violence and challenges posed by social media on young people, referred to the stabbing as “a horrific tragedy” and vowed new rules to protect young people in schools and help support their mental health.

As recently as the Monday prior to the stabbing, Macron proposed banning social media access for those under 15 in France. The aftermath of this attack has raised serious questions about the escalating violent behavior of minors and the role digital media plays in this regard.

Saint-Exupéry School suspended all classes indefinitely. Their very own crisis groups with grief councillors in Student Services from PDSB were on standby to assist kids and teachers cope with the trauma.

Parents stood outside the campus, some crying, others were simply in disbelief. “We send our kids to school. We want them to be safe.”

While the student is under police custody and being psychologically evaluated, authorities have not yet fully determined the motive. Investigators are looking at the teenager’s history, social media and school history.

Experts have said this is not a one-off situation. There has been a rise in incidents concerning school violence, and teen mental health issues, particularly since the pandemic, have reached terrifying levels in France.

“Children are not born violent,” said child psychologist, Dr. Lise Perrin. “At some point, society, online, at home something broke that pushed them to this edge.”

This heinous act serves as a chilling reminder that schools that were once sanctuaries of growth and learning are now precarious spaces that require reinforcements, structurally and emotionally, as a whole.

As France mourns Yann B., a mentor, a colleague, a friend, his loss now represents a deeper, painful understanding that needs attention, youth mental health, school safety, and the technology of today and its impact on young people.

For now, the gates of Saint-Exupéry are closed. But in every classroom in the country, the thoughts and voices are loud. How do we protect children and teachers?

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