And there is also the question of the shared guards

Everyone agrees: the school rhythms in France are too heavy and harmful to the learning of students. The year is one of the shortest in Europe, with 144 days of course, while students spend 864 hours on the banks of the school, against 634 in Germany! The Minister of National Education has decided to tackle the problem: Luc Chatel installs today a Conference that will look for almost a year and "no taboos" on the Organization of the day and week of the school year. An a 15 members Steering Committee, co-chaired by former Director of cabinet of Jack Lang, Christian Forestier, and Education to the European Commission, Odile Quintin, Director General, will be responsible to host this Conference in Auditions all stakeholders.

Because the issue is concern only the students and teachers. Any amendment to the school rhythms involves significant changes for the families, local communities, cultural and sports associations and the tourism industry. "He must find a balance that is satisfactory without however dream of a solution that would please everyone, because interests are very strong and can be very different on some points," recognizes Thierry Cadart, Secretary General of the SGEN-CFDT, the second Union teaching in high schools and colleges. This will not be easy both expectations or fears vary according to the.

Families

Parents of students federations welcomed the launch today of the Conference. But, at the time to discover the composition of the Steering Committee, first disappointment: "Did there we not, then it was at the origin of the request and is particularly involved as parents of students", regrets Christiane Allain, the National Secretary of the CIPF. This last advocated days five hours at the school, six hours at the College and seven hours in high school, a break from noon to at least an hour and a half, nine or even ten days of courses and respect for the "7/2", i.e. alternating between seven-week course and two weeks of rest. "It is fighting for the 35 hours, while our children in the schools are 40-45 hours between courses, personal work and transit time options", rebelled Cécile vines, under-Secretary-General of the PEEP. The relief of the school calendar should take into account the case of single-parent families (2 million in France), more fragile socially. "ll have to be careful so that they can always reconcile work and children", warns Brigitte Mazure, General Deputy Secretary of the Trade Union Federation of single parent families. And there is also the question of the shared guards.

Teachers

If the teachers unions agree with the idea of a debate on school rhythms involving all the actors, they are not just yet of solutions. "We wish that there be a genuine negotiation, it is not to put forward this on what we would be willing to move before seeing what was on the table", explains Thierry Cadart. But the unions do not hide their concern. "If the debate on the rhythms has for objective to seek budgetary savings, is not the issue." "The issue is the rhythms of life of the child", stresses Christian Chevalier, Secretary General of SE-Unsa, Union bringing together teachers from kindergarten to high school. And "it won't accept that teachers are the only ones to make the necessary efforts," he warned.

Local communities

The common and to a lesser extent the departments and regions would be affected in the first place by a change in school rhythms. Commons indeed manage a large part of extra-curricular activities: canteen, school support, sports equipment, leisure centres... However, if national Education eases the school days, they will probably be more supported in support workshops or sporting and cultural activities.

"Extra-curricular time shall not be compulsory, it must put in place a free accompanying device for all and everywhere," said Gilles Moindrot, Secretary General of SNUIpp-FSU, first Union in the primary.

"We support a change in the rhythms, but this will necessarily have a huge impact on the Organization and may result in an increase in charges," recognizes Dove Brossel, PS Deputy education at the City Hall of Paris. The capital employs some 700 specialized teachers (arts...) and spends at least EUR 2 million for its blue workshops (study, academic support).

The Association of mayors of France, deceived by the unfortunate experience of the deletion of Saturday morning, for which the Commons had to organize at the last minute, argues also to the Ministry "will consult further" with communities.

The tourism sector

The shortening of the summer holidays and changing areas are two major concerns of the tourism industry.

"It would be focused on four to six weeks summer, which would complicate things for the operators who need to turn their hotels or complete their charters throughout a season", explains Jean-Marc Rozé, Secretary General of the national Union of travel (United) agencies. "And consumers would also lose, because the shortening of the high season would automatically increase prices," he says.

The National Association of the mayors of classified sites and tourist Commons recalls it, by the voice of its Director, Géraldine Leduc, his "commitment to the full of holiday (from Saturday to Saturday) weeks and cutting into three zones, which allows to spread the home of tourists for several weeks."