“Can do better”: parents skeptical of presidential announcements on education

Parents are expecting more ambitious measures from the Attal government. MAXPPP – Vincent Isore

The head of state dwelled at length on his vision of the school. But the announcements did not really convince parents who were hoping for more ambitious measures.

In his opening remarks, then several times to answer questions from journalists, Emmanuel Macron spoke at length about education on Tuesday evening. To return to the choices "formerly" worn by Gabriel Attal, defend his new Minister of National Education entangled in a controversy and roll out some announcements: experimentation with a unique outfit, compulsory learning of theater and the history of history art in college, rise in civic education, establishment of diploma ceremonies, learning of La Marseillaise at school, generalization of universal national service (SNU) in second grade…

"Nothing disruptive"

A revolution ? Not really for parents. "There is nothing disruptive, most of these measures exist in many establishments, for example learning La Marseillaise or the diploma ceremony. Wearing a uniform is not a new idea either and exists elsewhere in the private sector or in other countries", analyzes Bertrand Balez, whose son Lukas is in 1st grade in Uzès.

Bertant Balez. DR

"I don't believe that the uniform will improve the academic level of the children", joins him Benoît Veyrunes , whose 8-year-old twins attend CE1 in Gigean. "It’s all very well and good, the theater, the national anthem… I have nothing against it, but these are small measures that won't solve anything. There are much more pressing issues to address, starting with his broken promise to have a teacher in front of every child every day. There needs to be a major reform of the school", estimates the fifty-year-old, mentioning in passing the 2 to 3 billion that the SNU would cost each year & quot;which would be more useful to have more teachers, therefore much less overcrowded classes".

"A necessary structural reform"

Bertrand Balez, while admitting that theater can help to acquire verbal expression and eloquence, also expected "concrete measures on basic knowledge which is no longer mastered: reading, writing, counting". He still hoped "an overhaul or improvement of the Parcourssup platform, which remains a real headache for the majority of parents and teachers". Benoît Veyrunes, for his part, wonders about "the return to the IUFM that the President seems to announce. But it is true that we need to reform training and recruitment and put an end to job dating to find teachers at short notice. It is still the future of our children that is at stake here. I'm waiting to see".

Benoît Veyrunes.

Can do better, therefore, according to his two fathers. For parent-teacher associations too. Olivier Constans, the president of Apij which works at the Joffre high school in Montpellier, is not opposed to the measures unveiled on Tuesday –"even if I doubt that’ a piece of clothing improves the system" he said -, but he hoped for more ambition from the executive. "I frankly and firmly believe that a structural overhaul of the French school system is necessary today. To do this, we need to listen more to the grassroots, to teachers, even to students. Also look at what is happening abroad. It’s work that must be spread over several mandates, at least a five-year term", he weighs.

The President and his government can still work on their copy.

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