In Marseille, the “laboratory” schools create the division
The emergency plan presented by the President of the Republic, traveling Friday in the South, contains an educational component.
“It’s a bit like Santa’s list», Summarizes Emilie *, a school principal concerned by the experiment announced by Emmanuel Macron in 50 of the 470 Marseille schools. Traveling at the beginning of September in the Phocaean city, to present his emergency plan “Marseille en grand”, the Head of State had created a surprise by announcing, among other things, wanting to discover in 50 schools “laboratories” the freedom of choice of teachers by the director “to be sure they are fully motivated“. A real paving stone in the educational world. Ambition displayed? Bring teachers to unattractive schools and instill a spirit of innovation, on the basis of projects then evaluated to be renewed and financed. This liberal tone bristles the unions.
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Arrived Friday in Marseilles, the Head of State dined with the prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône, the socialist mayor of Marseilles, Benoît Payan, the rector of the academy and the actors of the plan “Marseilles en grand” – who cover education, housing, transport and security. To welcome him, an inter-union had called for a rally on the Canebière to ask for the withdrawal of the experiment. “50 schools concerned, this does not answer the problems“, Asserts Virginie Akliouat, general secretary of Snuipp 13, the main primary union, who mentions”deregulation” and an “two-speed school ”. “We are also awaiting details on the school building”, she adds. Earlier this week, Mayor Benoît Payan unveiled a plan worth 1.2 billion euros for this building. State investment remains to be specified.
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“Macron schools”
“With the presidential election, National Education may be in a position to shake the mammoth”, Emilie hopes. This nursery school director in the southern districts of Marseille returned to the Inspectorate her project to be part of the “laboratory” schools. “With these“ Macron schools ”, the town hall will also be forced to make efforts, by recruiting more Atsem (Specialized regional agent for nursery schools, Editor’s note), who can be there to really support the teachers, not to clean up! she adds. In Marseille, one Atsem per class does not exist“. She was inspired by recent research in neuroscience, around writing and music – with an order for Itech headphones for “listen to Mozart and develop concentration from the age of three»-, opening of a class for children under three, creation of a care center with a permanent speech therapist, reduction of numbers to 20 per class, parents’ literacy, and the possibility of choosing teachers, via “Profile positions” …
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“We had fun! It is very gratifying. It remains to be seen if all this can be triggered, as the school year has begun and the presidential election may reshuffle the cards.», Observes the director, enthusiastic, but not fooled. In his constituency, the schools requested by the inspector to participate are not concerned by priority education (REP). “REP schools have received a lot of funding and they have not always been very innovative», She believes. His, socially mixed, “with children of engineers who break the clues “, does not benefit from specific aid measures. Will this school profile be targeted by the experiment? To date, 62 Marseille schools have presented a project. The specifications are in the process of being drawn up.
* The first name has been changed.