A 14-year-old student opened fire at a school in Aubagne

A 14-year-old student opened fire on a principal and a teacher at a school in Aubagne, France.

The attack affected the school’s staff and students, who had to cope with what happened to a classmate.

Green and Social lawmaker Léa Balage El Mariky said youth distress can lead to violence, self-harm, anxiety and difficulties at school.

She linked some of that distress to the Covid pandemic and worries about the environment.

She argued that although schools cannot solve every problem, government policies can help, especially by improving young people’s access to mental health care.

Jad Zabah, a spokesman for Gabriel Attal, instead called for changes to the legal response to minors, including ending the reduced criminal responsibility given to them because of their age and allowing immediate court appearances.

The discussion raised both youth well-being and school safety, but no next steps were specified.