On Cnews, Monday December 2, the Minister Delegate in charge of academic success, Alexandre Portier, spoke to react to the controversy concerning the ban on Advent calendars in certain schools in Aisne. “What seems important to me to remember is that, in all cases, even before questions of religious convictions, the Advent calendar is first and foremost a popular tradition. You just have to go to a supermarket to see it,” declared the government member, believing that the school should concentrate, “whether now or even later”, on “other priorities” more fundamental than these debates.
The controversy erupted after school officials received a warning from National Education. The institution stressed in an email that “Advent is a religious process” and invited establishments to respect secular neutrality by banning Advent calendars in schools. This reminder aroused the indignation of certain local elected officials, including the senator from Aisne, Pierre-Jean Verzelen (Les Indépendants, République et Territoires), who denounced, in a letter addressed to the Minister of National Education, Anne Genetet, a measure calling into question “the freedom of teaching of school teachers”.
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The reflection of a misunderstanding of French traditions?
For Pierre-Jean Verzelen, this decision illustrates a desire to marginalize the country's cultural heritage. “The Advent calendar has become part of our habits, in society, it even has a very commercial twist. In schools, it is seen as an educational tool. We are a secular state, we are a Republic, but we also have a culture to preserve,” insisted the parliamentarian, recalling the Christian roots of French society.
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Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts-de-France region, also criticized the decision. He called the ban“incomprehensible” on X (formerly Twitter), adding: “Doesn’t National Education have other priorities than attacking school Advent calendars and our traditions?! »
In a letter addressed to the secularism referents of each academy, which Franceinfo was able to consult, Anne Genetet assured that she was not opposed to their use within public schools, unless they include “explicitly religious content”.
