French students' anger over school conditions, as seen by a Pau teacher

French high school students are protesting, and a teacher from Lycée Louis-Barthou in Pau describes their anger as rooted in deep structural problems, not just recent events. The movement reflects long-standing grievances over school conditions and reforms. Laurent Bruneau, a social sciences teacher and union member, cites infrastructure failures like inadequate cooling during heatwaves, overcrowded cafeterias, and poor toilet maintenance. He also blames the Blanquer reform for chaotic schedules that atomize students, breaking up stable class groups and creating stressful, ever-changing daily routines. Bruneau notes that while Parcoursup, the university admission platform, is a major concern for seniors, the broader frustration stems from the baccalauréat no longer guaranteeing higher education access. He says this anger has been building for years and is widespread, not unique to his school.