(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #232 - Public School: A beautiful bonanza to share (fr)

The return in 2013 just scored a great leap forward towards the privatization of National 
Education. Reform school timetables has beautiful pass quietly, she hides significant 
challenges. ---- Instead of simply adding a half-day class in primary school (which had 
been suppressed during the reign of Sarkozy in 2008, on an entire school, the equivalent 
of half a year less), the children "have" an hour of various activities from 15:30 to 
16:30, the responsibility (and budget) of Commons. In the few cities that have wanted to 
apply this reform in 2013, it is usually a mess unnamed: children without activity for 1 
hour, children moved from one place to another (without the parents informed...) etc..[1] 
--- To cut down on labor costs, no training is required for staff supervising the 
children, volunteers, parents, retirees, staff town hall, etc..

The sinews of war
And then there are "patrons" on the lookout: Total flagship Cac40, kindly granted four 
million euros to finance the reform (in addition to the 12.7 million donated to help the 
training and youth mobility). I must say that Total is one of those companies seeking for 
some years to act on youth:

- 50 million for the experimental youth which funds innovative projects (employability, 
school dropout, ...) Fund.

- Financing of the association Sport City which aims to integrate young people through sport.

- Distribution of books paid by the Total Foundation schools in certain departments 
(Letters from my mill to a cartoon on energy).

Open door
Mayors responsible for implementing this reform drowning in mails offering support these 4 
hours per week, of course, with a profitable Pay: tutoring companies, sports clubs, 
churches, association of public education (which, after lost most of their subsidies, see 
this as a way to survive). The Archbishop of Paris dream comeback as sponsorships asked 
parishes to expand their offer catechism (with children collected and integrated sample) 
to benefit from this reform.

And of course, the teachers are asked to leave their classrooms available for some of 
these activities to strengthen the private entrance in the public school, you could not do 
much better, especially since it is perfectly possible to charge parents for these 
activities! Bonanza we imagine that some hope to get. But the challenge, especially in 
Paris, and many common limited finances may well cool the ardor of these raptors.

Gaby (AL Alsace)

[ 1 ] See the detailed report on the Bondy Blog Anarchist Communists 93 story: 
www.libertaires93.org