The idea of reforming school rhythms is an old sea snake that regularly points out of the water in public debate. Last week, in Le Parisien, Emmanuel Macron announced the holding, in June, of a citizen agreement devoted to “child’s time”, namely the organization of holidays and school hours.
“It seems necessary to me that we are working to ensure that the organization of our students’ days is more favorable to their development and learning,” said the president. In his viewfinder are also the school holidays, deemed “longer than in many countries”, particularly those of summer, qualified as “very very long”.
“Disclaiming attempt”
On the form, by choosing to entrust reflection to a citizen convention, Emmanuel Macron knew that he would arouse criticism. “Asking for their opinion from citizens is a way of drowning the fish, tackles Corinne Devaux, president of the Federation of parents of FCPE students in Gironde. There is a real job to do but you have to mobilize the right contacts, unions, experts … I will not ask my baker how to sew a button! You have to be consistent. »»
“This is an attempted scaraf,” sums up Barthélemy Mottay, departmental secretary of the Syndicat of first degree FSU-Snuipp in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. We can clearly see Emmanuel Macron’s attempt to want to deviate real subjects, including the lack of means. »»
On the merits, in our country, sixteen weeks are granted to schoolchildren, eight for the summer break and as much for the “little holidays”, four times two weeks (coughing, Christmas, winter, spring). Among the OECD countries, France actually appears in the leading peloton, behind Greece (17), Romania (16.8) and the Baltic States (between 16 and 17.2). But if we are only interested in summer holidays, our country is one of the least generous, notably preceded by Italy (13), Greece (12,2) or Spain (10,6). On the other hand, no one offers so many “small holidays” …
“Small holidays”
So, is it really too much? With our interlocutors, opinions diverge. Regarding summer, Barthélemy Mottay sees no reason to change, just like Claire Leconte, professor emeritus of education psychology and chronobiology researcher: “I would not touch this vacation for two reasons: first because there are many separate families, and the father and the mother must have as many weeks with their child. Then many teenagers work at least a month during this summer vacation. If they are reduced, they will not remain much left. »»
-Corinne Devaux, she is “not against reducing the long holidays”, provided that “May or June”, an additional “small holidays” in “May or June”. On the latter, the debate is animated: “We are favorable to the current rhythm of seven weeks of class then two of vacation, says Barthélemy Mottay. After seven weeks, it starts to shoot for the students, they need this cut. »»
“I do not agree,” replied Claire Leconte. We are the only country in the world to have four times two weeks during the year. It’s too much, we break the pace of children. We could be satisfied with five to six weeks, plus the bridges. It would recover learning time. »»
Longer morning
Regarding the organization of courses, the four and a half day week has the favors of the FCPE representative and the chronobiologist. In fact, this is the legal system since the 2013 reform, but a large majority of schools have chosen, since the implementation of derogations in 2017, to return to the four days.
“Four and a half days, I say yes, but on condition of giving the municipalities to offer interesting things about extracurricular and ensuring equity between all students,” says Corinne Devaux. “From the point of view of biological rhythms, it is in the morning that the children concentrate best,” emphasizes Claire Leconte. 3 am and as much in the afternoon, it is not suitable. What would be necessary are five mornings of 3:45 am and four afternoons of 2:15 am. “
The FSU-SNUIPP, it believes that it should be “the teaching team” of each establishment to decide: “The choice cannot be dissociated from the question of the means, insists Barthélemy Mottay. If teachers do not have good conditions for teaching, it will not work. »»
