French Teacher Samuel Paty Beheaded after Prophet Mohammed Cartoon Lesson

"There must be a unity in the adult world" over "pride of the values of the Republic", he added, "Each child must understand they are lucky to go to school in France and to live in democracy."

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Dozens of pupils and parents gathered on Saturday to lay flowers and show solidarity.

"He was great, very supportive, and a good listener," said Hugo, a former pupil.

"Everybody gave their opinion during his lessons, it was great, now we have to go on, we must not give in," said another student, who asked not to be named.

'Super nice'

Pupils and parents insisted Samuel Paty was not trying to provoke by showing the Prophet Mohammed cartoons that led to his attack.

"He didn't do this to create arguments or to disrespect," says Nordine Chaouadi, whose 13-year-old son enjoyed Paty's classes. "My son said to me, 'He was super nice, this man'."

The president said a day of national hommage would be organized at a date to be agreed with the teacher's family.

"One of our fellow citizens was murdered today because he was teaching, because he advocated to his students freedom of expression, the freedom to believe and not to believe," President Emmanuel Macron said after visiting the scene. 

(Writer: Fanny Lattach)

Source: http://u.afp.com/3rVQ