School, the subject that seems to have everything right

The evil spirit loves coincidences of time. On June 9 in Bordeaux, Edouard Philippe made school the “most important and most urgent” subject. He evokes an “organization of rhythms over the year”, calling into question the summer break. The goal? Respond to the reproduction of inequalities, the most “abominable” characteristic of the French system. Twenty days later, in Marseilles, Emmanuel Macron goes to school his number one topic. We must “rethink” school time, he says, “because when we have a three-month vacation, inequality returns”. True copies.

What better way to counter an ambitious man than to devitalize him from within? Emmanuel Macron still has little taste for the presidential intentions of his former Prime Minister, testify his relatives, to the point that the Jean Castex hypothesis for 2027 begins to flourish again in the press, fueled by relatives precisely. Edouard Philippe must publish a book devoted to the school at the start of the school year in September. Macron on the ground of Philippe. The return of the controversial subject has at least this advantage.

Learning holidays

There are many more. At the end of his hundred days post-retirement, the Head of State wants to show that he has lost neither his courage (any revision of school rhythms in demand) nor his DNA (the fight against inequalities of destiny) . It seeks reforms that do not require ping through the National embly , absence of an absolute majority obliges. The school and its rhythms offer all this. Enough to have a visible impact on people’s lives, and simple decrees as a way of page.

Add to that the budgetary dimension, and the loop seems perfect. A measure that does not cost, or infinitely less than all those deployed these days, what could be better? Nevertheless, there remain as many questions as there are advantages. What to do concretely? Reinvent a “real popular education”, as Jean-Michel Blanquer would have envisaged, during the first 15 days of July and the last 15 of August? Institute German rhythms throughout the year when this system is questioned by the interested parties themselves? Nothing in the boxes of the Elysée, the president improvises.

And who rue de Grenelle to carry out such a reform? The few advisers still defending Pap Ndiaye ure that Emmanuel Macron recognizes him for having established “a peaceful relationship with the teachers”. But can they stay calm if they understand that the summer vacation is over? With their minister or another.