In his anti-government crusade, the Mayor of Nice has found a new subject of opposition: the controversial reform of school rhythms, whose implementation is causing some upheaval in various city halls.
Christian Estrosi, after the anti-traveler vademecum freely distributed to all his mayoral colleagues, has found a new role as the protest ideologue that well serves his political positioning.
Never short of ideas, his new initiative is to request the establishment of an information mission (see below), even if in reality the goal is to stop the law before all city halls are obliged to implement it starting from the 2014-2015 school year.
To give strength and vigor to this initiative, the Mayor of Nice asked his municipal majority and the opposition to approve this desire in the form of a proposal.
To everyone’s surprise, the Communist/Left Front group, also clearly in opposition to the Ayrault government, joined forces with the right after the Mayor of Nice recognized certain amendments proposed by them!
A vote for a wish that will not change the real situation by an iota but represents a nice “scalp” even if acquired more through Christian Estrosi’s sneakiness and quick intuition than through genuine adherence by the communist elected officials. But in reality and on paper, the facts are there!
Moreover, if we doubt their real intention, it must be noted that the traditional UMPS, a slogan that is the subject of accusation from the extreme right, should be replaced, in this case, by a more convincing UMPC.
It was not said that politics in Nice is less than the applied and concrete version of its famous salad: the opposition voting for the majority, we hadn’t seen that for a long time on rue de l’Hôtel de Ville!
Christian Estrosi can indeed congratulate himself for getting some of his opponents in his pocket!
Declaration of Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice
“I have decided to appeal by mail to Claude Bartolone – President of the National Assembly – and Jean-Marc Ayrault – Prime Minister – so that an information mission of the National Assembly on the school rhythm reform is set up as soon as possible.
This reform launched by the Government without any consultation and implemented in a hasty manner has led to numerous protests from elected officials, parents of students, teachers, animators, and participants.
I wish that Vincent PEILLON – Minister of National Education – prioritizes the interests of children in the reform of school rhythms. Today, students have lost all reference points and are totally disoriented by this reform.
The information mission of the National Assembly that I am requesting in an official letter would allow for evaluating the impact of this reform on all the municipalities that have implemented it since the start, notably in pedagogical, organizational, and financial terms.
At the end of this information mission, equally composed of deputies from the majority and the opposition, a report will be drawn and will recommend, I am sure, the indefinite modification of the reform.
Moreover, the cost of this reform for the Communes of France is around 600 million euros, and the State, which has not planned any fund for the reform’s application in the 2014 school year, will not compensate for this cost and will lead to families paying, while the French are already suffocated by a heavy tax increase.
I invite all the mayors and elected officials of the department as well as representatives of the educational community to come with me on Monday, October 14, 2013, at 3:45 PM to deliver this letter to the rector of the Nice-Toulon academy.
However, as an Elected Representative of the Republic, I must apply the law, therefore after seeking the advice of the people of Nice who responded that 80.66% did not wish for a modification of the school day, I continue the work schedule that I have put in place to give us time for reflection, consultation, and organization.
Based on the report of the Steering Committee set up for consultation on school rhythms, I have proposed a new organization of school days. I asked school councils to extend the debate and give me their opinions on this proposal.
In this context, to offer the smoothest possible start for the 2014 school year, I have put in place a schedule that will guarantee the people of Nice an ambitious school reorganization.”
