ELI STEELE: France's schools are burning. White guilt is helping fan the flames

Editor's note: This op-ed is part of a series by Eli Steele exploring White guilt in America and the West.

Steele is the director of the newly released documentary essay, " White Guilt ." See the film at WhiteGuiltFilm.com .

One of the most striking images of the riots that I saw sweeping France in recent days was that of a burning school in Nantes.

The student movement in the streets around the school called itself a demand for education.

I was scrolling through my X feed when I saw the image of a burning trash can outside Lycée Nelson Mandela.

The flames spread to the walls of the building and into the glass entrance hall.

There were still students in their classrooms and, thankfully, every one of them got out.

When this school opened 12 years ago, its construction cost approximately €64 million, and it was touted as a beacon of hope and possibility for young people.

Now the school has been shuttered for repairs, and its 1,700 students must learn from home for the time being.

TRUMP, WALTZ LINK FRANCE RIOTS TO MASS IMMIGRATION AS THOUSANDS ARE ARRESTED And that is just one school.

According to the education minister, 24 schools have been burned or ransacked since late September, and about 30,000 students won't see the inside of their classrooms for weeks.

More than 6,500 people have been arrested, most of them minors.

At least 215 students have been hurt, along with 85 teachers and staff.

A 16-year-old lost the use of an eye.