- Join the France 24 community here
- Log in
Latest update: 06/09/2012
- education - France - schools - secularism
French minister in unholy row over morality classes
France’s education minister Vincent Peillon has called for “secular morality” classes to be introduced in schools, leading to a stinging accusation from his predecessor that his announcement echoes an appeal by disgraced Vichy leader Marshal Pétain.
By Ben MCPARTLAND (text)
France’s Education Minister Vincent Peillon was embroiled in an unholy row on Tuesday over the matter of “secular morality” in state schools.
Peillon’s announcement that he wants the subject to be taught in schools from 2013 has been criticised by his predecessor who accused him of harking back to a dark period of the country’s history.
|
Luc Chatel, the rightwing education minister in former president Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP government, said Peillon’s call for “secular morality” echoed the words of Marshal Pétain, who led the Nazi-allied regime, known as Vichy France, during World War II.
After France fell to Germany, Pétain vowed to rid the country of its “moral decadence”.
Describing Peillon’s words as “frightening”, Chatel said that seeking the “intellectual and moral reeducation” of France’s young people echoed “word for word the call of Marshal Pétain on June 25, 1940”.
His attack on Peillon may need to be taken with a pinch of salt given the fact that he himself, back in 2011, announced the introduction of morality classes for primary school children.
Children need to be taught how to ‘live together’
Referencing Vichy to slur rivals has been a common trait in French politics over the years, as is the debate surrounding the country’s deep-rooted secular values, known as laïcité in French.
Peillon’s latest bid to introduce a secular moral code for France’s youngsters is aimed, he says, at helping them “live together”.
In an interview with the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, Peillon said there were certain core values of the republic that he wanted children to learn and understand.
According to Peillon, secular morality is to “understand what is right and to distinguish good from evil. It is also about knowing your duties as much as your rights - and above all it's about values,” Peillon said.
“Secularism is not about simple tolerance, it’s not about ‘anything goes’. It is a set of values that we have to share,” he added. “To be shared, these values need to be taught and learned and we need to rebuild them among France’s children.”
Teaching French children Republican values will not require them to salute the tricolour flag, Peillon says, but he is in favour of them learning the Marseillaise, the French national anthem.
His proposal, which will be formulated over the coming months, has received a rather lukewarm reception among France’s legion of teachers.
“Children need to express themselves”
For primary school teacher Daniel Labaquere, who represents the union SNUipp, there are better ways of educating children than teaching strict moral codes.
“In France we talk a lot about values like liberté, egalité and fraternité,” Labaquere told FRANCE 24. “But these values can be achieved by a school helping children to grow and develop their personalities and by allowing them to express themselves."
"It shouldn’t be done simply be writing a set of moral codes on the blackboard and forcing pupils to learn them off by heart.”
Philosopher and specialist in secularism, Henri Pena Ruiz is also concerned that teaching secular morality in schools may well undermine the fundamental principal of laïcité and the reasons why France chose to separate its church from the state.
“We can’t just replace Christian instruction with Republican instruction for there is no point just aping religious indoctrination with secularist indoctrination,” Ruiz told Le Journal du Dimanche.
Parent groups have also expressed reservations about schools taking on the task of teaching morality to pupils.
“This should not encroach upon the role of the parents,” warned Valérie Marty of the Federation of State School Parents (PEEP). “Researchers looking into this must clearly define the roles of each side.”
Peillon did however earn the backing of his president boss François Hollande this week.
Hollande had pledged to strenthen France’s strict secular values during his presidential campaign. He also vowed to make young people, and in particular schools, the focal point of his mandate. He has promised to create 60,000 jobs in education over the next five years.
“A good school,” Hollande said, is one that teaches “dignity, respect, consideration and personal reflection.”
Read more
‘Darth Vader’ demands free land from Ukrainian government
Browse all editions
React to the article
(5) Reactions
Children at tender age can
Children at tender age can learn better through the acts and deeds of the parents, elders and teachers. The master Greek Philosopher, having a deep dive in the well of 'moral inquiry', came out saying you know what? He said, "I know that I know nothing". And while being persistent on morality he was ultimately executed by the Athenians.For ready reference there is a statue in front of the Bank of Greece, in Athens, with this inscription:- "The martyr of moral inquiry". My point is teaching morality to is like teaching a mini elephant to fly.Let them be infused with a sense of learning by doing, learning the modern technology and getting the requisite skills to be current with the times; and they will learn moral lessons automatically with the passage of time.The most important aspects of modern teaching and educating needs are (i0 the case study method, (ii) pictorial presentations, (iii)workshops,(brain storming), learning by doing and field visits to museums, places of entertainment and debates/discussions/negotiations etc etc.On real ground working, they must be able to make trials and errors ultimately to deliver in practice what they learned in school/college. In this connection loving care of parents, teachers and elders, and discipline/decorum/unity will follow. As the wise Chinese say, if you want to grow something for a season- grow mangoes, if it is for a year grow rice; but if you want to grow something for ever, grow the man/woman power.
However, Socrates comes to mind while he said,' By means of beauty all beautiful things become beautiful'. And you know children are the flowers beautifying our garden- the society as a whole.
Expressing themselves?!
Are you sure this is not an American teacher? When apes throw feces at you in the zoo they are "expressing themselves" too.
When a nation no longer follow the rules of society the society collapses and dies. Look at America if you need any more proof. I think our poison is spreading around the world and I am truly sorry for that.
Morality
Rich coming from the immoral
Morality Classes
Since when were moral values related to a political party? - Only when you identify those values as belonging to that party.
Therefore no one can dismiss moral values, or agree those values until they are identified.
I would think that there is a consensus that there is a need for a set of moral values to be agreed upon and delivered in this day and age.
How far back into the past do you go to rubbish an idea or a person?
All nations have periods in there past that are now undesirable, but we live in the present and we learn from the past and put the undesirable behind us, You are only playing politics if you dredge up the undesirable of the past in order to condemn the present.
Explore what is needed and come to a consensus of the desirable then try to implement it.
Call it as you please...
...we have always had classes about "living together" and about the French republic etc. only so far it has been known as "éducation civique".