“All emotions are good to live”, recalls Léa, professor of mathematics at the college Click from Lyon. This Monday morning there, a dozen students of 4th and 3rd are in the course of “non-violent communication”, in this college of the 8th arrondissement. Sitting on a chair, arranged in a circle, everyone takes the floor to express their feelings. “These three-quarters of an hour are an opportunity, when there are any, to settle conflicts and learn to speak in feelings”, adds Jean-Armand Barone, co-founder of this “alternative and republican” establishment in 2019.
“With Anne Durand-Reboul, we realized that, in National Education, things were going badly in college,” he explains. It is from this period, for example, that we begin to see harassment. We wanted to do things differently and demonstrate that this method can work, as is the case in Quebec or in Finland. »
After the non-violent communication, the children are in “personal work”, a “time of cooperation”. They are then shuffled between all levels. Justine, in 6th grade, sat down at the table of Zélie and Joséphine, both in 5th grade. One is doing research for a French course, the other two are doing math. They explain: “Each week, we have work to do depending on the materials. This time is given to us to do so. We can help each other and move forward together. »
“Real diversity of social background and nationality”
For Zélie, who was in a classical school before, this way of working is a real “happiness”. “I like this autonomy. You may feel like you’re working less, but that’s not the case. In this way, we don’t have homework to do in the evening, explains the young girl. Before, it was a real nightmare for me. »
Most of the 57 students enrolled come from primary education that followed the Montessori, Freinet or Steiner methods. Others are there after “school phobias”. “The first criterion for joining Déclic is desire. We want the child to have stars in their eyes when they go to college”, launches the co-founder who specifies that here, “we pay the year according to his income”. “We have a real diversity of social background and nationality among our students and that’s what makes the strength and open-mindedness of these future adults,” he says.
A 1h30 lesson per day
Without being the continuation of the alternative primaries, this non-contract college wants to be “different from the system” while fitting into “this classic world”. Thus, all subjects are taught and the common base of knowledge and skills of National Education is respected, with the certificate at the end of the year. To prepare for it? One and a half hour lesson per day. The afternoon is devoted to other activities such as theatre, board games, permaculture or team sports. All this without homework.
“We use the same textbooks and we manage to complete the requested program”, confirms Léa, the teacher of mathematics but also of artistic and theater workshops. Graduated with a master’s degree in social sciences in gender, she also teaches affective, relational and sexual education courses. In the establishment, each teacher has his “specialty”. Thus, whoever does SVT also gives zetetic lessons. “We give them responsibilities and we build things together,” continues Léa. It gives them ways to face the world. »
A method that can be perplexing from the outside. “It is often the first anxiety of parents. Will their children be late with so few hours of lessons? Will they be able to fit in afterwards? “says Jean-Armand Barone. He replies with a big smile: “In four years, we have never had any failures. »