School sparks disgust following decision to mark pupils out from their peers

We have reported on a number of schools who have come in for criticism following their handling of certain situations in recent weeks.

Following on from the controversy surrounding MacArthur High and just days after little Zayde Sand's classroom debacle, a school in France has sparked utter outrage following an ill-advised decision to use a coloured disc to mark certain students out from their peers.

In a bid to differentiate meat-eaters from non-meaters, Piedalloues primary school in Auxerre gave students different coloured discs to wear around their necks at lunch-times.

Jewish and Muslin children were instructed to wear red discs while yellow discs were given to meat-eaters so as to clarify the situation for canteen workers.

Unsurprisingly the scheme, which only saw 18 out of 1,500 students wear red discs, lasted just one day before parents and community leaders got involved and voiced their disgust at the practise.

Commenting on the school's questionable judgement, local councillor, Malika Ounés, said: "It’s revolting. It reminds you of the darkest times."

“Practices like this are not acceptable. No one has the right to impose this on children," she continued.

Equally disturbed by the school's approach to the matter, Christian Sautier, director of communications for the mayor, said: "When we learned about it, we fell out of our chairs.”

The initiative which has been dubbed "isolated, clumsy and unfortunate" is now the subject of an investigation.