“We are going to introduce you to the Mercure lounge” begins Oumou, 11 years old. Clinging to her notes, she turns to a group of CM2 from the Saint-Lambert school: “This chamber was mainly used as an antechamber and parade chamber. What do you think this is?”. During a visit, this 5th grade student from Buffon College becomes a guide, as part of the “child lecturers” system.
This device, initiated in 2012 by the Academy of Paris aims to make students actors. “Children come to the museum for the first time. They are presented with several works, then they come back a few months later to present these works to other students, rarely at the same level” explains Christophe Blanc, educational adviser behind the project.
Passing of the torch
The objectives of this exercise are multiple: “establishing knowledge, adapting to its audience, appropriating the museum”, he specifies. By returning at least twice to one of the fifteen partner museums or cultural venues, children feel at home here.
This Monday, January 31, about twenty college students are in charge of the visits. They spent two months preparing their presentation. “I was not stressed but rather impatient” Oumou says. His classmate Sasha approves. “It’s important to pass on this information that we ourselves have received from students”.
CM2 students are also delighted. Clarisse has learned a lot. “More than when I came with my family” she specifies. Soon, it will be the turn of his class to carry out the visit of the places for other children.
Lucie Manin, head of the educational sector of the castle is delighted with this day: “It’s a real passing of the torch between the child spectators and actors. We observe very beautiful exchanges between the young people”. This year, 300 students from ten classes in Île-de-France are hosted at the Palace of Versailles.