The air force and space army intervened at the Marc-Bloch high school in Sérignan on March 24. The organization criticizes the holding of a military recruitment event at the Marc Bloch high school, which it sees in the context of “preparation for war” and calls for the school to be protected from any external influence.
The Free Thought organization has criticized the forum organized by the army at the Marc Bloch high school in Sérignan on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. According to the defense of secularism association, presentation stands and a dedicated hour were set up to introduce students to military careers, with recruitment in mind, especially for voluntary military service.
In a strongly worded statement, the organization believes that this type of initiative is part of a “march towards war”, aiming to “prepare minds for human losses and sacrifices”. It also rejects the argument of providing professional opportunities to young people in difficulty, denouncing an “illusory” view of the army’s role.
Meanwhile, the City of Sérignan stated on Facebook that “a partnership has been signed with the Sérignan establishment”. This partnership is intended to “benefit from actions of the Air and Space Army as well as regular information”, while offering students a priority for obtaining scholarships awarded by the latter.
For the Free Thought organization, public schools must remain a strictly educational space dedicated to instruction and critical thinking, shielded from any political, economic, religious – including military – influence. It draws a historical parallel with the period before World War I, recalling a youth then “prepared for war” and the known consequences.
The association finally calls on elected officials and organizations to oppose these interventions. As a reminder, the Free Thought had already denounced a similar initiative at the Jean-Monnet high school in Montpellier on January 12.
