Stanislas students respond to accusations in the report pinning their establishment

According to a National Education report, the private Stanislas group, where Amélie Oudéa-Castéra’s children are educated, is not respecting its contract with the State and flirting with Catholic fundamentalism. Franceinfo gave the students a voice.

The very chic Stanislas Catholic establishment in Paris has been at the heart of controversy in recent days, since the new Minister of Education, Amélie Oudéa-Castera, indicated that she would educate her three children there. Since, above all, the publication of a very critical report from the General Inspectorate of National Education. This document, revealed by Mediapart and of which franceinfo has become aware, which points to “homophobic and sexist excesses” within the school group. The establishment is also accused of not respecting certain conditions of the contract binding it with the State. Have the students also observed these deviations? Franceinfo went to the site.

Compulsory catechism classes, no homophobia according to students

In France, no private establishment under contract can force its students to attend religion classes. They must remain optional. However, according to the National Education report, catechism is compulsory at Stanislas middle school and high school.“Yes, it’s obligatory, confirms a schoolgirl, it’s in our schedule, we have one hour per week. There are people in my class who are atheists, they either don’t listen because they’re not interested, or they debate.”

“Even sometimes we are interested in other religions. We are not only fixated on ourselves.”

A schoolgirl of Stanislas

at franceinfo

Catechism classes are therefore rather open to discussion, according to this schoolgirl. However, it was during one of these courses that a speaker made homophobic remarks, according to the report. The man has since been removed from the establishment. For the students, this episode relates to “skid” staff. “In my experience of three years in high school, I have never witnessed this. I have not seen this homophobia at all. I think that these are isolated cases and that in any case it is not a general overview of the speakers”, assures a high school student. The National Education report still recommends better supervision of speakers during catechism classes.

An example of sexist discrimination

Another recommendation: end what inspectors call “a sexist climate within the establishment”. Marie, in her final year, remembers an episode during a school trip. “We girls had activities like cooking and dancing while the boys did go-karts and orienteering. So we felt a bit like, there you go…”, says Marie. The high school student adds: “But we brought it back up, we talked about it, we were a little revolted at not having done karts because we wanted to do karts!”

Apart from this concrete example, the twenty students interviewed did not report any other discrimination based on gender. Finally, the report points out the few hours of lessons devoted to sex education and methods of contraception. Effectively, “we had two hours, I think, throughout college, that’s still pretty little”, supports a student. Three sexuality education sessions must normally be held each year in middle and high schools. But this is not respected in the majority of educational establishments in France, public and private alike.