Shooting incident at Lakanal middle school

On 12 October, a third-year student at the Lakanal middle school in Aubagne opened fire with a hunting rifle on his principal and a teacher, injuring both. The shooter, suspected of having acted under the influence of an online community that glorifies mass murderers, was then subdued by the school's CPE (school counselor) and handed over to the authorities.

School resumes after a break

After a week of closure and two weeks of autumn vacation, the school reopened to students this Monday afternoon. Voices of small groups of middle school students, clearly happy to be back together, could be heard. They greet each other. They check in. Parents' cars stop in double file and drop off the teenagers.

Returning to normalcy is complicated

Three weeks after the shooting, school life resumed at the Lakanal middle school in Aubagne this Monday. "I have Spanish, technology, and physics this afternoon," said Kimberly*, shortly before 2 p.m. Because the morning was regular for the students, allowing the school staff time to regroup. At least those who could: "It's definitely a bit complicated. We are trying to regain a semblance of normality, but those for whom it was still too difficult to return did not come," said one of them, most of them politely refusing to speak, which was understandable.

Parents and students seek normality

This restraint is not systematically found among the middle school students or the parents. "The children - and the parents - are all eager for things to return to normal," said Christina, who, once in a lifetime, came to drop off her son, a sixth grader, and ensure his good entry into the school grounds. "I am a big worrier and I think that among the two, the parents are the most worried. But we need to turn the page, even though the children all have a little apprehension and what happened worries me."

Security and support at the school

To reassure the children as well as the parents and the teaching staff, two police units were present at the opening of the Lakanal middle school gates. "Sure, it stresses me a little," admitted Clara*, a third-year student, who explained that she had shared most of her schooling with the young shooter since primary school. "Since last year, he made some strange statements," she said she noticed after the teenager began to establish links with the online movement TCC (True Crime Community) that glorifies mass murderers.

Moving forward without constant discussion

However, her friend considers that "it is time to stop talking about it. It is good to talk about it among us, but it will not change anything. If we want to resume calmly, we need to avoid talking about it constantly." "The most important thing is to bring back humanity into the middle schools," an opinion shared by Pauline*, a parent who also came exceptionally today to accompany her child: "We have talked a lot at home, there is also the school's psychological support cell, but it is important to stop so that the children do not keep ruminating and can move forward."

Mixed reactions from students

In front of the school entrance, a group of three boys recite geography definitions that seem to be inherited from homework. Laure, on the other hand, has no desire to resume classes. "In general, middle school is annoying," the girl says, proof that things seem to be returning to normal. Once all these middle school students entered their school, two parents spoke with the police present: "The little ones are traumatized. My daughter is haunted by the sound of the gunshot. She was talking about it yesterday [Sunday] evening. I think the most important and effective thing is to bring back humanity into the middle schools. More than a metal detector at the entrance, we need a nurse, a psychologist, humans," said this father who wanted to greet the teaching staff, "admirable" for their commitment and presence.

Preparedness and reflection

"We need to be ready for anything," a scene observed from afar by a military father who came in uniform and with a green beret to drop off his daughter. "It's not so much about what happened that I'm here as about everything else. You never know what could happen. We need to be ready for anything. I come as soon as I can. We have had a good talk at home. It is important for it to come out to avoid possible resurfacing of traumas. There is also the psychological support cell in place and that is a very good thing." Resuming classes is already a victory for the school. "There will be a before and an after," estimates this mother of a sixth grader who asked her this morning before returning to the middle school, "if the bullet impacts would still be visible on the math class blackboard." One suspects that the blackboard has been replaced, but removing the traces of the attack will take a bit more time. Starting with "getting back the normal lessons and life in the middle school," concluded a parent.