“It was a total surprise, I didn’t see it coming.” Bruno Bidet, a professor of literature and ancient languages at Saint-Maur in Pau, was treated to a memorable guard of honour on Tuesday 25 June by the students of the school he was about to leave after thirty-nine years of teaching. Having reached the age limit of 67 last January, he had obtained exceptional authorisation from the rectorate to finish the school year.
This special moment in school life was immortalized in a video, posted online by the video workshop of the small private school in the center of Pau. We see the future ex-teacher, appreciated and respected by all, pacing the corridors and stairs for a long time under the ovations and smiles of the 225 students lined up on both sides for dozens of meters until the exit.
Images that exude emotion, whether in the looks or in the voices. “I was at first in complete astonishment, then I looked in the young people’s eyes to see what they could feel. I found respect, sincerity,” confides the recently retired man, with restraint but also an emotion that is always palpable. Attachment, too, that little something that can do everything among people because it allows us to feel safe with the other.
Language is stronger than images
“Teaching is not only providing access to knowledge, to knowledge, but also providing access to life skills and free will,” explains the man who gave his first literature classes at Saint-Maur in 1985. Nearly four decades later, don’t count on him to decry a youth who is going astray or to deplore the loss of benchmarks or authority.
“Young people are being invaded by images, which, for me, are far too prevalent at the moment. There is a lot of criticism about immediacy, but I don’t believe in the lack of interest of young people. Some people try to “captivate” students with images, while the field is primarily through language. We are sure to be able to capture the attention of young people if we master language. This is a dimension that tends to be erased.”
“Continuously looking for the best way to support them, so that everyone finds their place in the reality of the world we find ourselves in, it’s fascinating”
Rather, Bruno Bidet had to fight not to let a practice be imposed on him that did not correspond to his deep convictions. “It’s true, I had to fight in particular against the intrusion of tablets which, for me, distract young people from the attention they need to provide access to knowledge, quite simply. This does not mean that we cannot use them in a thoughtful and reasoned manner. But for me, the technical approach is not the right way to support a young person. It’s just a tool. » And the very young retiree calls for “continuing to lead this fight, within society” to prevent distraction from taking precedence over learning.
L’IA in example
For Bruno Bidet, the “greatest danger” does not come from the images themselves, but from the multiplication of temptations which precisely “distract them from the ability to take a step back from what they are exposed to”. He provides a weighty and very current example to illustrate his point: “Artificial intelligence knows how to develop, precisely through this practice of intensive, methodical, reflective and deep reading that the tablet and screen absolutely do not allow. »
Saint-Maur College
Looks filled with mutual respect.
“AI knows how to develop precisely through the practice of intensive, methodical, reflective and deep reading”
He, who has long practiced catechism, does not dodge questions about respect for secularism. “It is a subject that can be a source of tension while secularism, if it is well understood, is a wealth in a society like ours. For me, there is a border that is intangible between carrying the good word and talking to children about religion with the intention of converting them. In teaching, we cannot be in proselytism, that goes against our pedagogical concepts.”
The teacher considers his luck to have spent these years “in an establishment on a human scale, where we know everyone”, and to have followed so many generations of college students. “It’s a permanent enrichment,” he confides – in the present tense. Constantly looking for the best way to support them, so that everyone finds their place in the reality of the world we find ourselves in, is fascinating. » And as if it were obvious, he delivers his recipe: “Attention and listening, which help build trust. This is what I found while crossing the corridors. »
