Speech by Emmanuel Macron: theater, civic education, uniform… these new features planned for school from the start of the school year: Femme Actuelle Le MAG

Emmanuel Macron gave a press conference on Tuesday January 16, 2024, broadcast live on YouTube and on television channels. From the Élysée Palace, the Head of State presented his main projects in terms of education. And for the start of the school year, the President wants to put art at the heart of education. “School, where everyone’s talents are forged, must leave room for culture and sport”, he estimated. So, Emmanuel Macron announced his ambition to make theater a “obligatory passage” in September 2024. “As with music and the visual arts, I hope that theater will become a compulsory part of middle school from the next school year”he argued. “Because it gives confidence, it teaches orality, contact with great texts, but also because France is a history and a heritage which is transmitted, which unites, art history will find its place at the next school year in middle and high school“he justified to members of his government and an audience of journalists.

His ambition for “civic rearmament”

Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his desire to open access to culture “wherever we come from, whether we come from working-class, urban neighborhoods, or in our rural areas”. Another measure: the establishment of a college check and a high school check and a graduation ceremony “from the end of this year, republican rite of unity, pride and recognition”. Emmanuel Macron, who wants one “civic rearmament”announced guidance support from the 5th grade and recalled the importance of practicing sport at school as well as teaching the anthem of La Marseillaise. “From the start of the 2024 school year, civic education will be overhauled. Its hourly volume will be doubled, one hour per week from the 5th, with support from the great founding texts of the nation”, he presented. Brigitte Macron’s husband has finally returned to wearing the uniform. “The unique outfit, which erases inequalities between families while providing the conditions for respect, will be tested this year in around a hundred voluntary establishments”he pleaded.

The widespread uniform and the Marseillaise at school provoke a reaction

Wearing the uniform will therefore be well tested in several schools in France at the start of the 2024 school year, in middle and high schools, as already announced on December 11, 2023, the then Minister of Education, Gabriel Attal. After its experimentation in around a hundred establishments in France, the measure will be generalized “based on results” in 2026, he announced. Announcements that made internet users react, rather skeptically: “I would like French and maths, sport and the like are good, but the kids don’t know how to write anymore”, “How many hours are the kids going to be at school? Theater, more drawing, etc.? Is it going to be 40 hours a week?”, “We are all poor, in depression, the climate is collapsing but the guy talks to us about compulsory theater at school, about uniforms”, “Compulsory theater, the Marseillaise, uniforms, simplification… Macron, the young president with old ideas“, “The unique outfit at school soon to be tested. Regain control of the screens. Graduation at college. Return of the History of art. Thank you Mr. President”, we can read on Twitter. A speech which was probably not unanimous among everyone.