France's school principals say threats and violence have become unbearable

A demonstration outside a French high school, but this time it's not the students, but the principals. Across the country, headteachers have gathered to express their frustration after feeling physically and mentally exhausted after nearly two months of high school blockades, in which they say they've been insulted, threatened and even injured. We're here to ask the government to protect school principals and our schools. We cannot continue to endure the situation for much longer. We are calling for a resolution to this crisis through a strong political response from the government and in particular through significant resources that will enable us to meet the needs of schools today, especially high schools. I'm from Puglia dei Licei. The teachers say the violence in the student protests increased gradually, going from vandalism and setting trash cans on fire to incidents that have seen teachers injured. We spend our days trying to restore order, doing things that are completely outside our duties. We're on high alert and live in fear every day. We arrive in the morning and wonder if we'll be targeted by projectiles or rocks, or if we'll even make it home safely. Yes. Many of the teachers support their students' demands, but feel that they need protection against the mounting violence. It's not the end. It's not the end of the blockades we want, it's the end of the violence. We want to make our voices heard in a different way and for the government to protect us. As for the solution, I'll leave that up to the government. We just want this to stop. We can't take this anymore. According to the main union in the sector, more than 80 principals and vice-principals have been injured since the students' movement kicked off mid-September, and around 50 head teachers have requested transfers.