They had hung up a few years ago, but a few weeks ago they found their way back to school! In Indre-et-Loire, four retired professors have agreed to join to lend a hand to their colleagues in nursery and elementary schools overwhelmed by the health crisis.
In total, National Education called on 19 contract workers (including these four retirees), mostly young graduates, as part of the call for reinforcements launched at the beginning of January by the Minister. Jean-Michel Blanquer then announced a reinforcement of 3,300 contract teachers to deal with teacher absences due to the Covid.
Valérie Pinaud returns to school, ten years later
Among these retired teachers, Valérie Pinaud. At 58, it had been ten years since she had set foot in a school following a retraining with the elderly. She is today part-time contract worker in a CM2 class at the Villedômer school, near Château-Renault. As soon as she heard the call from the ministry, she immediately sent her CV. She was then contacted very quickly.
We never completely cut
School, she left it ten years ago but she had never forgotten it. “When we leave National Education, we think about it all the time, when we have good memories or when it went well. We never cut completely”.
It comes right back
Which means that she has resumed her habits as a mistress, a bit as if nothing had happened. In this, she was helped by her current colleagues, as well as the teacher she replaces and who had prepared the ground for him. “It comes back right away. I had the reflexes, both in the approach to the students and in the learning. It went really well. I’m delighted”.
A particular context due to the Covid
Ten years after closing the door to her class, Valérie Pinaud can’t really say if the school has changed that much. Even if she recognizes him, the health crisis makes the situation very special. “You have to be reactive, because there are absentees, there are others who arrive, among the students, among the staff. You have to be very reactive and the fact of being several in the school, it helps”.
We adapt, we have no choice
The children, on the other hand, have not changed. Apart of course, the fact that their smiles are masked today. “It’s a big first. It’s certainly more difficult for them, as it is for us too, but we adapt. Finally, I try to adapt. We have no choice” .
It’s useful for everyone
Valérie Pinaud retains especially the feeling of being useful. To his former colleagues, but also to the children and their parents. “I feel that it is useful for everyone. A class that is not closed, it brings the rest of the school to life. It changes the whole atmosphere. For the parents, it is a real relief. For the colleagues too, because it avoids having overcrowded classes. And above all, for the students who continue to acquire the knowledge they will need, especially when entering 6th grade next year”.