The Ile-de-France region ends its subsidy to the League de l’enseignement after the announcements.contradicts the values of secularism and the republicheld by seven students, supervised by this association, during an elocution contest on secularism, on Thursday, June 23, the region told AFP.
“The comments of high school students during the competition are unacceptable, contradicting the values of secularism and the Republic.An entourage of Valerie Pecres, president of the Ile-de-France region, told AFP, confirming Charlie Hebdo’s information. “Seven of the nine semi-finalists made these statements, and seven were coached by the Education League. Teaching League grant suspended, internal audit of Teaching League to begin“, we added. According to the Education League, the annual subsidy for the elocution competition is €10,000.
“Lack of Control”
According to Charlie Hebdo, statements such as “worldliness is the coffin of women” or “secularism is a form of dictatorship– said these high school students. The region criticizes the Ligue de l’enseignement, which brings together local associations that offer educational, cultural, sports and leisure activities and presents itself as a secular movement for popular education;lack of control over competition and subject preparation“.
For Stéphane Alexander, chief delegate of the Paris Federation of the Education League, contacted by AFP, these considerations “are clearly questionable and show a total misunderstanding of secularism“. “A high school student decides to express her beliefs, which are certainly not ours, and it is our job as educators to explain them to these young minors.“, he added. The semi-finals took place in mid-May in Paris, and the final is scheduled for July 2 in the Senate. Launched by a call for projects by the region, this elocution competition is run by two selected associations: La Ligue de l’Éducation and Expressions de France. :
“How is it that the candidates trained by Expressions de France did not make such comments, but the seven trained by the League of Education did?“, we wonder around Valery Pekrese. “Secularism must continue, but not with the Education League, which has failed in this partnership.“, we add. Paris Branch of the Educational Leaguesuggested the regional council to strengthen support for teachers who train and prepare students for this competition“, noted the League, which reaffirms itsunwavering commitment“in”teaching about secularism and the values of the Republic“.
Source: Le Figaro
