The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, gave the first civic education lesson to students at Jules Ferry School in Nice on Thursday, January 22. This initiative is part of the new measures implemented by the mayor following the attacks in Paris. The goal is to make children aware of the values of the Republic.
The first civic education lesson was exceptionally taught by the deputy mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, at Jules Ferry School, one of the founding fathers of republican identity. From now on, this workshop will take place once a week as part of the Educational Greeting Time*. It will involve students from CP to CM2. “It is everyone’s responsibility to pass on the values of our country, elected officials, teachers, and parents have this responsibility,” said the mayor. In this respect, teachers will address the following topics: secularism, the articulation of rights and duties, discrimination, risks related to internet use, symbols of the Republic…
Before moving on to middle school, children will receive a citizen diploma.
Yesterday, for 45 minutes, the students were attentive to the remarks and questions of Christian Estrosi. Together, they interacted and exchanged around the symbols of the French Republic. The tricolor flag, the republic, and the French motto were on the agenda. For Sacha, a first-grade student, “The Republic symbolizes France. Those who live in France must respect France.”
Liberty
Loïc explains that “France is a free country because we have the right to do things that in other countries we don’t have the right to do.”
When the question of freedom of expression was raised, little Sheima moved Christian Estrosi by responding: “They killed cartoonists because, for fun, they drew the prophet Muhammad. They pretended to be Muslims but they were not.”
“The strength of France is to have the freedom to express oneself. Sheima is right. When we believe in God, we learn to do good and not harm,” concluded C. Estrosi.
Equality
For children, equality means that French citizens all have the same rights. “Men and women have the right to do the same thing,” says little Sanad.
Fraternity
“Even if we are not of the same religion or the same origin, we are all brothers and sisters,” says Jade timidly.
Christian Estrosi and Marie Quimbel, Director of Jules Ferry School, agree that it is necessary to act with strength. Children who attend the school of the Republic must understand that nothing can justify the murder of citizens. “What gives strength to a country like ours is to pass on these important values, so that France retains these strengths in the years to come.”
