• In 2019, the Collège Déclic, "alternative and republican", opened its doors in Lyon to offer a different model from the classic one.
  • The method does not follow that of Montessori, Freinet or Steiner primary schools. The college has its own pedagogy, inspired by all, but inserted in "a classical world".
  • Thus, students follow the common core of skills and knowledge of the National Education, while having free afternoons, devoted to other "less academic" activities such as theater, team sports or permaculture.

"All emotions are good to live with," says Léa, a mathematics teacher at Déclic College in Lyon. That Monday morning, a dozen students from 4th and 3rd grade are in "non-violent communication" classes in this college in the 8th arrondissement. Sitting on a chair, arranged in a circle, everyone takes the floor to express their feelings. "These three-quarters of hours are an opportunity, when there are any, to settle conflicts and learn to speak in feelings," adds Jean-Armand Barone, co-founder of this "alternative and republican" establishment in 2019.

"With Anne Durand-Reboul, we realized that, in the National Education, things were going wrong in middle school," he explains. It is from this period, for example, that we begin to see harassment. We wanted to do otherwise and demonstrate that this method can work, as is the case in Quebec or Finland. »

After non-violent communication, children are in "personal work", a "time of cooperation". They are then mixed between all levels. Justine, in 6th grade, sat at the table of Zélie and Joséphine, both in 5th grade. One does research for a French class, the other two do mathematics. They explain: "Every week, we have work to do depending on the subject. We have the time to do that. We can help each other and move forward together. »

"True diversity of social background and nationality"

For Zélie, who was in a classical school before, this way of working is a real "happiness". "I like that autonomy. We may have the impression that we work less but this is not the case. In this way, we do not have to do homework in the evening, explains the girl. Before, it was a real ordeal for me. »

Most of the 57 students enrolled come from primary education that followed the Montessori, Freinet or Steiner methods. Others are there after "school phobias". "The first criterion for joining Déclic is desire. We want the child to have stars in his eyes when he goes to college, "says the co-founder who specifies that here, "we pay the year according to his income". "We have a real diversity of social background and nationality between our students and that's what makes the strength and open-mindedness of these future adults," he says.

One h1 of lessons per day

Without being the continuation of the alternative primaries, this non-contract college wants to be "different from the system" while inserting itself into "this classic world". Thus, all subjects are taught and the common core of knowledge and skills of the National Education is respected, with the certificate at the end of the year. To prepare? An hour and a half of classes per day. The afternoon is devoted to other activities such as theater, board games, permaculture or team sports. All this, without homework to do at home.

"We use the same textbooks and we manage to complete the requested program," confirms Léa, the teacher of mathematics but also of artistic and theater workshops. She holds a master's degree in social sciences in gender and also teaches courses in affective, relational and sexual education. In the school, each teacher has his "specialty". Thus, the one who does SVT also gives zetetic lessons. "We give them responsibilities and we build things together," continues Léa. It gives them clues to face the world. »

A method that can leave perplexing from the outside. "This is often the first anxiety of parents. Will their children fall behind with so few hours of lessons? Will they be able to insert themselves afterwards? ", confides Jean-Armand Barone. He answers with a big smile: "In four years, we have never had any failures."

  • Society
  • Education
  • Lyon
  • Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
  • Rhône-Alpes
  • National education
  • College