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New school rhythms
The new organization of school time was put in place by the decree of January 24, 2013, in order to better distribute class hours over the week. In all, three hours have been freed up to allow children whose parents so wish to participate in the NAPs. In the facts, if some parents are satisfied with these new rhythms, others hammer out loud and clear that their children would be much more tired than before. Explanations.
“New rhythms necessary” according to the chronopsychologist François Testu
The reform of school rhythms has existed in all municipalities since September 2014. The 24-hour week of lessons has been rearranged over five mornings to allow the child to be in the best possible conditions for his learning. François Testu, chronopsychologist and great specialist in children’s rhythms, specifies that “The reorganization of school time was thought out along two lines. The first, the main, is to better respect the rhythm of the child’s life between the time of sleep, leisure and learning at school.. The second axis is the importance of theeducational complementarity between classroom learning and freed up time, where living together must be a priority ”. He also explains that “ Waking a child up at the regular time five days in a row will tire him less than if he has weeks when he does not wake up at the same time. This is what desynchronizes his rhythm. “François Testu adds:” pfor the little ones, in kindergarten, it’s different. In the idea, we should let them wake up on their own in the morning, without imposing a schedule on them, so that they keep a natural rhythm. “
“More child fatigue” for many parents
Sandra finds “her son more tired” and testifies to running even more. “My son now finishes at 16:16 pm instead of 30:18 pm, so I run to get him. And since he gets up early on Wednesday morning, I had to cut back on extra-curricular activities in the afternoon, ”she says. Another mother explains to us that her child fell asleep at 30 pm, “on Wednesday evening, exhausted”. A teacher from a small section specifies: “School hours are now from 8:20 am to 15:35 pm. The TAP (Extracurricular Activities Time) last until 16 p.m. every day. Some of my little students also have an hour’s bus ride in the morning and evening. As a result, the children are very tired and I have significant absenteeism on Wednesday mornings ”.
In response to this, François Testu explains : “We cannot scientifically measure fatigue. But I know that in certain social circles, children participate in NAP at school and also go to their extracurricular activity after 17 p.m. Obviously, there is fatigue. The aim of the reform was to lighten the day and provide the child with time to rest. Sometimes the opposite happens ”.
The FCPE: “a poorly understood reform”
The Federation of Student Parents’ Councils (FCPE) felt that the reform of rhythms had been misunderstood by parents. Its president, Paul Raoult, explains that “ the organization of the new rhythms was really put in place from the school holidays of All Saints’ Day “. For him, “some big cities like Marseille or Lyon have not played along and have taken time to apply the new rhythms. Parents were even more upset “. For the FCPE, the organization of the school week over 5 mornings was long overdue. Paul Raoult also specifies: “ Specialists have shown that until noon, the child’s attention increases. Mornings should therefore be reserved for school learning. After the lunch break, around 15 pm, the child is again available to concentrate ”. For the FCPE, the reform is therefore a good thing. But this is not the opinion of all parents.
PEEP: “an impact on family life”
For its part, the Federation of Parents of Students of Public Education (PEEP) sent out a large questionnaire * to parents, after the start of the school year, in October 2014, to measure the impact of the reform on the lives of families. . The survey * showed that parents were very disappointed with the new rhythms. Especially for parents who send their child to kindergarten. They are 64% to declare “not to find interest in this new organization”. And “40% find that these new schedules tire the children”. Another point of fracture: 56% of parents “think that this reform has an impact on the organization of their professional life”. Faced with the difficulties generated by the reorganization of the new rhythms, the PEEP recalled, in November 2014, that it was asking for “the repeal of the decree of January 2013 on new school rhythms for kindergartens and a relaxation for primary schools”.
* PEEP survey carried out at national level with 4 responses from parents