A series of student protests have taken place across France over the past three weeks, with tens of thousands of students participating. The students are demanding that the Republic fulfill its promise, inscribed on school buildings, to provide every child with the means to succeed regardless of where they live or their background. In response, the government has employed measures involving water cannons, tear gas, and other non-lethal equipment against the students. These actions have raised concerns about the use of force against young people engaged in peaceful demonstrations. The government's approach has been described as one of repression rather than dialogue. From the beginning of the movement, the government's method has been to first denigrate the protests, labeling them as manipulated or the work of "professional wrecking crews," which allows them to avoid addressing the students' demands. Then, they have criminalized the protesters through mass arrests, detentions, and expedited legal proceedings. Finally, they have ignored the actual issues, with no mention of the students' concerns or the conditions in schools. The students are not making extravagant demands. They are asking for dignified learning conditions, including smaller class sizes, balanced schedules, safe and clean school facilities, and adequate resources for schools in priority education areas. They are also calling for fairer pathways that do not condemn students from less privileged backgrounds from an early age, as well as guarantees of concrete rights such as health, support, safety, and proper school meals. These requests reflect a broader concern about inequality within the French education system. These demands are seen as reflecting a broken republican promise. International studies have shown that the French education system has become one of the most unequal in Europe, with social origin heavily influencing educational outcomes. This is described as a political choice rather than a necessity, with the government being criticized for underinvestment and for not recognizing the legitimacy of those who are dissatisfied with the current state of education. The protests have highlighted a growing disconnect between policy and the lived experiences of students and educators. The government's response to the protests has been seen as a failure, with the use of force against students being viewed as a sign of political failure. The students, many of whom are not yet old enough to vote, are seen as having no other voice but the streets. The government's response is perceived as telling them to remain silent until they reach the age of 18. To address the situation, calls have been made for the government to abandon repressive measures, open a genuine dialogue with student organizations, parents, and educational staff, and implement concrete measures to address the underlying issues in the education system.