Several schools in Aisne were called to order at the end of November for work around the Advent calendar by a letter from a district inspector of National Education. The ministry judges that calendars “have become societal and educational objects”.
The use of Advent calendars in the classroom “can be compatible with the principles of secularism as long as they do not convey any religious content”, said the Ministry of National Education on Monday, December 2 after a controversy on the subject .
“Advent calendars, although coming from a tradition linked to the liturgical calendar, have become societal and educational objects,” adds the ministry in these “framing” elements sent to the coordinators of the Republic’s value teams in the academies, and of which AFP obtained a copy.
This clarification, written at the request of the Minister of National Education Anne Genetet, aims to close the debate after a controversy that started in Aisne a few days ago.
Controversy after the intervention of an inspector
Several schools in this department were called to order at the end of November for work around the Advent calendar by a letter from a district inspector of National Education, the regional daily L'Union reported on Friday.
“I remind you that Advent is a religious process: within the framework of the neutrality imposed by secularism, the cardinal value of the Republic, I invite you to remind the teachers of the school that you direct that no student should be confronted with an Advent calendar in the school context”, said this message quoted by L'Union.
It was “an individual and isolated initiative of a district inspector from Aisne, which had not been validated either by the rectorate or by another authority”, a close source told AFP on Monday. of the file.
The media and elected officials took up the subject this weekend, including the president of Hauts-de-France Xavier Bertrand (LR) who criticized National Education for “attacking schools' Advent calendars”. and our traditions.
He welcomed on Monday the fact that the Advent calendar could finally “be present in the schools of Aisne”, adding “it will be the same for the galette des rois in January”.
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