A farewell letter as compulsory reading?

As of today, the farewell letter written by the young resistance fighter Guy Môquet will be required reading at French schools. In an interview with Michaela Wiegel, historian Max Gallo explains why interpretations of the past should not be imposed from above in schools. "In my opinion there should be no penalties if a teacher decides not to include Guy Môquet's letter in his reading list. It should be left to him to exercise his freedom of opinion and decide at his own discretion. By the same token, all teachers should be free to comment on how they see the letter in a historical context. There should be debate rather than uniform categorisation." Gallo explains why the letter is still important for France today: "The Second World War is still the reference point for all political debate, such as the current debate about DNA testing for immigrants. It's a past that refuses to be left behind."

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