The Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) Succession Commission is meeting in Saint-Hyacinthe, in Montérégie, on Saturday to propose the return of a “culture of civic-mindedness” to schools.
The young caquists want to generalize the wearing of uniforms in secondary schools and impose the use of the formal “vous” from the 5th gradee primary school year.
“All young people in Quebec have the right to education. But this right cannot be respected without respect for other students and teachers,” said the president of the CAQ’s Commission de la relève, Aurélie Diep, in a speech Saturday morning.
She denounces the violence that takes place in schools against other students and teachers.
“Until we resolve this problem, it’s clear that there are teachers who will continue to leave,” continued Mr.me Diep, who is studying to become a teacher herself. The school we love is impossible without discipline, respect and civic-mindedness.
Young CAQ members want students guilty of violence and bullying, as well as their parents, to be required to attend training aimed at changing their behaviour.
“School is not a collection of individuals who do what they want. It is a community […] where all students are respected and where everyone participates in a climate that makes them want to learn,” said Mr.me Diep.
The party’s youth are discussing the theme of “The School We Love” on Saturday. The organization has planned three panels on education.
Minister of Higher Education Pascale Déry spoke on Saturday morning, welcoming the involvement of young people and showing herself open to their proposals. Minister of Education Bernard Drainville did the same in a pre-recorded video.
In the afternoon, Quebec Premier François Legault will address young CAQ members in a speech and then answer their questions.
In her speech, Aurélie Diep praised Quebec’s “three-speed” school system, which she considers beneficial. “It annoys me a little when I hear politicians denounce the three-speed school system, as if it were desirable or possible to impose the same speed on all students.”
She said the mix of private schools, public schools and special programs has resulted in the school system’s “greatest successes.”
“When I see that, I tell myself that we need a school with 10, 15 or even 100 speeds,” she added, adding in passing that Minister Drainville shares this vision.
The young caquistes also want to allow students to complete their secondary education in four, five or six years, and propose developing recreational extracurricular sports in schools.
The CAQ’s next generation convention comes at the end of a hectic week for the party. The CAQ had to deal with the resignation of superminister Pierre Fitzgibbon a few days before the parliamentary session.