“No one is going to exclude a kid because he doesn’t have his uniform,” promises Robert Ménard, mayor of Béziers

L'expérimentation de l'uniforme va commencer le 26 février dans quatre écoles de Béziers – Ville de Béziers

The school uniform was for the first time under debate at the Béziers municipal council this Monday evening.

The uniform in Béziers schools has already made the headlines in the national media, but this is the first time this Monday, February 5, that it was mentioned in the municipal council’ hellip; in an electric atmosphere. For Nicolas Cossange (PC), this measure will in no way level out social inequalities, and raises many practical questions: "Will the State continue to pay half of the 200 euros that the uniform costs if the experimentation is generalized ? How is it doing be evaluated ? Is currency exchange provided ? Will a child without uniform be turned away ?", he asked. "This money could have been used to finance other measures, added Thierry Antoine (EELV), as tutoring. The uniform is an American tradition, like Halloween or Black Friday."

"But get out, go look elsewhere!, replied Robert Ménard, recalling that many students in Africa or in the Overseas Territories already wear a uniform. Let's stop the wars of religion!"  The experiment will not be evaluated by the municipality, but by the State. The 200 euros, "it’is a gift offered to the families". The other questions will remain unanswered because it is, "precisely, an experiment". And what about the sanctions for those who do not wear their school blazer?, asked Christophe Huc, another opposition advisor . Reassuring response from the mayor:  "No one is going to exclude a kid because’he doesn’not have his uniform, but it will be included in the internal regulations. We will do pedagogy."