French school protests: Focus on solutions, not blame

French high school student protests continue despite a slight decline, with 735 schools affected and over 5,000 arrests since Monday. Violence and property damage remain widespread across the country. Student organizations are calling for continued mobilization next week. Regional presidents are estimating millions of euros in damages to school buildings, while Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has requested prosecutors seek parental civil liability for minors involved in the destruction. The movement, which began this summer, has been attributed to populist demagoguery and President Emmanuel Macron's handling of the crisis. Some commentators were surprised by the protests, though analysts note they were expected given ongoing educational inequality concerns.