It’s another trick of what Pascal Praud calls “The little gray men” on Cnews: an obscure collaborator of the director of services of theNational education in theAisne has just sent a bull, which is not papal, and which is swelling more and more to prohibit the Advent calendar in Axon schools in selected terms: “I was alerted to the possible presence of Advent calendars in classes. 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 setting.” This collaborator obviously avoids targeting the next Christmas vacation, which will begin on December 21 in his administration, and which he will obviously take, even though the birth of little Jesus is the reason for this rest.
Senator Pierre-Jean Verzelen starts like clockwork
It was enough to outrage the senator from Aisne Pierre-Jean Verzelen (LIOT group) who castigated this initiative in a letter sent to Anne Genetet, the Minister of Education in the Barnier government: “I don’t understand not the reaction of National Education. This calls into question the freedom of teaching of school teachers in whom we must trust. 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. It allows work in grammar, mathematics or English and why not also to understand the history of a religion which is part of general culture. Whether you are a believer or not, the Advent calendar belongs to everyone.”
The senator despairs that this missive from National Education will erase the history and culture of the country in the name of an exacerbated secularism: “We are a secular State, we are a Republic, but we also have a culture to preserve. Whatever some people say, our society has been based on Christian values for 2000 years, it is the history of our country that National Education wants to put aside. Our cultural heritage comes directly from these religious roots, even if it is only public holidays, school holidays or Sunday rest.”
The RN deputy for Soissons jumps into the controversy
As of this Friday, November 30, the RN deputy José Beaurin published a press release which hits the mark on this initiative: “I learned with indignation of the ban on the Advent calendar in the schools of the Aisne. This decision is another example of a worrying shift in the interpretation of secularism which attacks our traditions and French cultural identity. The Advent calendar, although it has its origins in a Christian tradition, is an integral part of the customs of our country, and it is widely accepted as a festive, playful and unifying symbol. By banning this object, we are giving in to a narrow and dogmatic vision of secularism which ends up eradicating everything that forms the basis of our common culture. Worse still, it is a signal of abandonment sent to thousands of French families who expect school to be a place of education, but also of transmitting the benchmarks and values which structure our society. The MP therefore sees clearly the intentions revealed in this letter from National Education.
The Axon boss of the President’s party walks on eggshells
This ban caused Sawsen Clément-Jebbari, the president of Renaissance in Aisne, herself a professor, to react: “I alerted the minister as soon as I learned of the email requesting the deletion of the Advent calendars. Hell is paved with good intentions, they say. So, clumsiness or overzealousness? This decision seems excessive to me. The Advent tradition is part of French culture shared with joy by families and children whatever their religion. It is also educational, it is a nice way to teach our children to differ from expectations. On a more serious note, it seems unwise to me to seek fights where peace reigns.”
A communist education assistant castigates the little gray man and the policy of National Education
An educational assistant from an Axon high school also protests against this “diversion” from the administration (his identity is not published in order to avoid retaliatory measures against him by the Axon National Education) : “This ban on the Advent calendar in schools is a typical example of these symbolic measures which divert attention from the real problems of National Education. While we debate symbols, students experience glaring inequalities: schools in poor condition, overcrowded classes and teachers exhausted due to lack of resources.” He proposes more serious subjects to transform National Education than a story about the calendar that we find in all the supermarkets currently. “If we truly want to transform education, we need to make ambitious and concrete decisions. The first would be to eliminate Parcoursup, an unfair and opaque system which transforms access to higher education into a lottery for students, favoring the most privileged. Instead, let’s establish a real right to education for all, with guaranteed places in the chosen sectors. Then, we must invest massively in renovating schools, recruit teachers to reduce class sizes, and guarantee real educational support for all students. It is by fighting against social inequalities at the root that we will defend the values of the Republic: freedom, equality, fraternity.” His conclusion is uncompromising for the letter of the little gray man: “Rather than distracting public opinion with debates on calendars, let us commit ourselves to a public school, free, and emancipatory, at the service of working-class families and the future of our country.”
The minister whistles the end of recess
While this Advent calendar affair goes back to the government caught in the storm of a probable motion of censure, Anne Genetet, the minister responsible for the Mammoth who became drunk in the name of God, was accused by Xavier Bertrand, the president of the Hauts-de-France Region and former “small insurer” from Axon this Sunday, December 1, “attacks our traditions”.
This Monday, December 2, the minister finally whistles the end of this game. She replied that this ban “was the personal and isolated initiative of an inspector, who informed no one, neither the rectorate nor the ministry”. In addition, the minister, probably for a few more days, sent a message to the secularism referents of each academy in which she recalls “the social and cultural dimension” of these Advent calendars, but which “have become societal objects and pedagogical”, “useful teaching tools”. There are therefore no longer any restrictions on their use in public schools, “unless they include explicitly religious content”, recalls the minister.
After this rise in tension, of which we do not know whether or not it could be reimbursed by Social Security, the communist education assistant brushes aside all this controversy: “We should know: Banned or not banned Advent calendar? Lol, crazy debate. But when do we talk about participatory democracy? When will Macron officially become king?
Maxime-Grégory Adrien
