Hope for Sarkozy in Year Two

A year ago tomorrow France elected Nicolas Sarkozy as the sixth president of its modern republic. No-one is in the mood for celebration given that Super Sarko the would-be saviour is now wallowing in lower public esteem than any of his five predecessors.

We know what went wrong and we've seen Sarko's attempt to make amends on TV 10 days ago but it's worth noting that things are not as bleak as they seem.

It's easy to make the prosecution case over the crash of the reformer who promised une rupture with France's stagnant society. The left-leaning media are full of it today, led by Libération with the front page above. All hubris and narcissism, Sarko betrayed the trust of France from the day of his election, writes Laurent Joffrin, Libé's Editor and bête-noire of the president. "As promised la rupture took place: it was une rupture with the French people."

Le Monde has devoted a whole supplement this afternoon to France's "disenchantment" with its "impossible president". "After arriving in the Elysée palace with more trump cards than most of his predecessors, the head of state wasted them with as much energy as he had spent winning them," it says.

Sarkozy certainly committed glaring errors -- mainly with his gaudy, self-indulgent style and the soap opera of his private life.

His mistakes on substance began in his campaign when he raised expectations too high. He was elected triumphantly after casting himself as that well-known figure in French history, the man of destiny. By will power and an instant tax package he would create a "shock of confidence". He would raise real income for everyone, he promised.

Since none of that has materialised and the only shock has been the unpleasant one from the global economy, it is not surprising that two out or three citizens are telling pollsters that they consider Sarko a failure. "Sarkozy asked to be judged on his results," François Hollande, the Socialist leader, said today. "One year later, his policies have turned out to have zero effect. Look no further for the explanation of his bad polls," he told le Parisien.

Maybe, but there is a poll today that shows another side to the story. It will be suspect to many because it was conducted for le Figaro, the pro-Sarko newspaper, but to me it confirms what I hear when people gripe about the president.

While 66 percent say they are dissatisfied with the results of Sarko's first year, his reforms taken individually still enjoy the support of a majority,  with a couple of exceptions, according to the Opinionway survey. For example, 59 percent approve of the scrapping last October of early retirement for public sector workers and 54 percent even support raising the retirement age for everyone. The unions and Socialists are at present drawing up battle lines against this. Majorities also support swaths of the great tax give-back which is deemed to have been Sarko's biggest blunder.

This all suggests that France still supports the president's aims, even if it is judging him a disappointment so far. The same poll threw up further confirmation. Despite his disgrace, Sarkozy would still come an easy first if the first round of last year's election was restaged now. A second round with Ségolène Royal, the Socialist runner up last May, would be too close to call, with about 50 percent each.

In other words, Sarkozy has not been written off yet. The country is impatient, gloomy and has fallen out of love with the showman who charmed it a year ago. But it is still ready to take his medicine, even of the unpleasant kind that brings more years at work and fewer welfare benefits. And however much people say they are sick of Sarko, the fascination with his outsize character persists. The subject of two dozen books, he has become the hero of a national novel, le Monde says today. "No French politician has inspired writers to this extent, with the exception of Napoleon Bonaparte."

Everyone is dishing out advice for l'An II of the new regime. The Socialist opposition and the leftwing media -- who of course do not want him to succeed -- are urging Sarko to stop shrinking the welfare state and heed the needs of the poorer orders. Worried parliamentarians in his own Union for a Popular Movement are more quietly saying the same. But hardline Sarkophiles and the business world want him to stay the course and enact the bold reforms from which he has so far shied away -- to the labour laws, the tax burden and to public spending. 

And some in the Sarko camp are unrealistically pinning their hopes on the "Carla effect". This is the calming influence that Carla Bruni, the supermodel-singer, has been exerting on the excitable president since they married in February. Jean-Luc Parodi, a veteran pollster and political scientist, warned people today not to get carried away by the magic of the new première dame.

"She has very cleverly chosen a strategy of discretion and modesty, but you should not expect that that will rebuild overnight everything that has been so spectacularly destroyed over the past six months."

Comments

[Maggie]

Well, good!

Nice to hear that a few people still back the president, and that CB has not entirely given up on him after all.

[richard jones]

I don't think we can give up on him untril he's served his 5 years porridge.
I would suggest that he needs a more systematic approach to a large and pretty profound set of internal/EU econo-socio reforms coupled wth one or two foreign policy decisions.
He needs to lay these out - bullet content - with an end date.(Spring 2009)RIGHT NOW and not ascribe them to some farfalue like Attali.
He has done himself no good so far with his household affairs but it would appear that Mme Sarkosy could be a great asset and become most popular.
His biggest danger right now is an over involvement with unnecessary fireworks in EU affairs resulting from theFrench presidency starting in July. Better he drives an overall strategy which he ensures is implemented by as wide ranging a set of other EU countries.

[Daniel Strohl]

"The Socialist opposition and the leftwing media -- who of course do not want him to succeed" (Charles)

Very true. Et ces bons patriotes défenseurs de la veuve et de l'orphelin continuent de scier avec méthode et application la branche sur laquelle nous sommes tous assis. Et si elle devait tomber, ils pensent qu'ils arriveraient à se raccrocher à d'autres branches.
Grave erreur!

Maggie,

Many people still back the president, even if they do not like him. There is still no credible opposition - all what they are able to do is to unite in critics, but not in construction and risk taking.

[azloon]

i will read this story presently, but first want to quickly wish Feliz Cinco de Mayo to MF.

Vive Jose Quervo.

y

Vive meh --hee--ko !!!!!

[richard jones]

Can I, as an Argentinian, presume happiness in celebrating my national day too!

[GAC]

Maybe you would trade for slightly used, pathetic world leader of former world consumerist superpower?

[azloon]

Richard, bottoms up !!

[Elise]

Some truths in this article...but used in the opposite direction of what good sense would dictate. Where are unbiased people all gone?

[starowonder]

I just started drinking French wines again because of this guy and the commie-french are trying to get rid of him! They finally get a guy that can govern responsibly and they're trying to cut off his head already! Give the guy more than a year mon ami's! France needs someone to make it competitive with the rest of the world again! Sarkozy is the man to do it!

[Joan Arles]

With reference to the comment from Elise on this string. Fair enough to criticise, but you've got to explain... It's easy to make cracks like "Some truths in this article... but used in the opposite directon of what good sense would dictate." What on earth does that mean?

[Manty]

The French made a mistake no nation would ever make! A Hungarian president with an Italian wife. Les pauvres Francais!

[Daniel Strohl]

JOAN,

"What on earth does that mean?"

I am afraid that it means that Elise is not a fan of Sarkozy :)).

STAROWONDER,

We have also got some stronger stuff like cognac & armagnac, calvados, kirsch, mirabelle and so on :))

GAC,

Or should we trade for a modern, ENA trained Jeanne d'Arc?

[Mary Ann]

I actually felt sorry to see that they have Sarko as president. He does not have the character to represent the people of his country.
He is just enjoying his time and he will live France in the similar situation Bush is living US. he is a man who does not know anything about other countries. He started to play like another Toni Blair with US , but he is not smart as that cookie is.

[Monsieur le prof d'anglais]

Honestly, I think he's a bigger buffoon than Boris Johnson.

Nothing achieved by Sarko so far in his first year, apart from his lowering of public confidence.

If things don't improve for me in the next year I'm gone from this country. A country which I love so much.

[MF]

Azloon -

Gracias, mi amigo! Bottom's up!

[reginald holzclaw]

We gave Bush plenty of time.Wasn't he great?

[Romain]

Daniel

Je vote pour l'Armagnac et la Mirabelle.

[azloon]

[Jean-Luc Parodi, a veteran pollster and political scientist, warned people today not to get carried away by the magic of the new première dame.] CB

[but it's worth noting that things are not as bleak as they seem] CB

when hope hangs, even tangentially, on Carlita's supposed restorative power, perhaps things ARE as bleak as they seem. :)

[Marco]

Its a shame Joan thinks this way. Just because (Mons Sarkozy) someone has parents from different nationalities dosen't mean that there not right for the job.

Where does you Queens family come from orginally? Germany.... and Your Duke is from Greece!!!!!!

Marco Van Smith!

[Edmund Lazar]

Sarkozy has the right ideas how to reform France, but a minority (Socialist, Communists, Trade Unions) with street demonstrations and strikes try to stop him. He should do a better job in selling his long overdue reforms and prove that the majority of the French people want them.

Edmund

[Romain]

Salud amor y pesetas ! Y el tiempo por ...

[richard jones]

They all come from Germany. Phil was a Battenburg until the name changed. Greece has never had other than German kings - well Bavarian to start off with and they did strange things like fight with Austria gin Prussia in 1866.
New countries did that in the 19th century - sent a form off (in triplicate) to Gotha's Almanack and looked at the dating possibilities. Germany with all the 30 years war splintering(1618-48) and the Elector system for an Emperor had thousands on offer.
Big Otto screwed it up by welding Deutschland together.

[john o'doe]

I thought he'd stopped all that clowning around but no, there he was in Aachen last week back on centre stage with a ridiculous, pathetic, embarassing performance stealing the show in honour of Angela Merkel and hinting that he as a latin lover he was cuckolding her husband who he repeatedly and wrongly called 'Monsieur Merkel'. His advisors should have told him that Merkel is the name of her ex and that her second husband is called Joachim Sauer.
I wonder what Carlita told him when she got him home.

[Anna]

Like Monsieur le prof d'anglais, I too am reluctantly planning my departure from Paris: my home for the past 5 years which I adore, but where I am relieved of 50% of my income as an Indépendant. Next stop Geneva, where that figure is more like 30%. Even if Sarko succeeded in putting money back in people's pockets, I doubt he could ever rival UK or Swiss rates. If he does I'll be back in a flash.

[Lily]

"Next stop Geneva, where that figure is more like 30%"

Anna -

If you don't rent or buy and never eat out, best: avoid food altogether - you'll actually have left more in your pocket at the end of the month.

Geneva's quality of life is outstandingly expensive.

[Yonatan77]

Finally a French leader who does not wave his white flag.. A guy with some backbone behind him.. He really does look like the Napoleon of the modern era.. But the French are cowards and too scared to put any effort in, they want immediate results now.. Better go raise your white flags u Francos and retreat!

[qwerty]

How to "live" cheaply in Geneva - do it like someone I know (torture won't drag his/her name out of me):

For tax purposes, pretend you live in Geneva while actually living in Paris (sublet your flat in Geneva for higher than the initial rent and have your phonecalls forwarded); fly there once a month to pick up your allocations chomage while working as an independent consultant for international organisations; and have them wire your fees to an off-shore bank account. And above all, renew your card to the French communist party and generally gripe about capitalism.

[azloon]

QWERTY

you HAVE done quite well for yourself, haven't you?

i figure that's about 100E worth of advice you just dished out for free. are you hoping to represent these folks in court when this subterfuge is revealed?

oh yeah, i forgot, we're talking about europe here. no sweat. the Monster is likely to spend a few years in jail under maximum sentencing laws, so what possibly could they do to a mere tax evader. probably a weekend in an organge jump suit picking weeds in the Tuilleries.

:)

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

Scene in Wauna's Bar, Ibiza 1970:
Harry: "I think the peseta will be devalued again. Thank goodness my money is in Swiss francs. Small rate of interest but solid and safe."
Elizabeth: "My broker's a genius, so it's all in stocks and shares in London. Sound as a pound."
Denis: "Belgian francs. Safest bet in Europe,"
Wauna: "American dollars, darling. My Actors' pension goes in and so does my mother's."
"How about you, George? What's your money in?"
George Llewhellyn, the Welsh/Cockney bartender: "Oh, all my money is in pesetas."
Chorus: "PESETAS!!!"
"Yes," George reaches into his trousers' pocket, counts:
"I have sixty five."

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

Same bar, Ibiza, George is joined by Bonnie Ronnie the new help. French party arrive and order two Ricards, a whisky, a Lumumba (Cognac and Chocolate).
"Combien? La Cuenta - 'Ow much please?"
"Soixante neuf pesetas s'il vous plait."
The party leaves. George says: "Are you bleedin' mad? Can't you count? That should have been"..(he adds up) "three hundred and sixty."
"Sorry, George. It's the only French I know."

[Sue]

I love France, but what seems lacking is an entrepreneurial spirit, and Sarkozy needs to tackle this but is doing nothing. Last month we were in France and visited the bank - closed on a Monday and next day closed for two hours over lunch! This week back in England I'm trying to buy a French road cycle on the French internet sites. Can't find a single decent internet site. Try this in England and the choice is overwhelming.i shall buy in UK and take over to France instead. They must be missing out on huge amount of business.

[Chris Donovan]

Being an American, I cannot fairly express an opinion about the elected leader of France, but I will say that I'm saddened that a large portion of the European population has degenerated into a state of entitlement. I just can't understand the mentality of those who want the government to take care of them from cradle to grave.

As a man, I find it repugnant to think that there are other men who so pathetic and spiritless to want to be controlled in that manner.

Obviously, we have that here in the U.S. as well but not even close to the European level of submission.

[qwerty]

Azloon, I think the French (and maybe Swiss) tax authorities are more naive then you would even dream. The bigger the ploy, the better it works. Meanwhile I'm having nightmares about the CSG, a minimal amount (too scared to check), that I forgot to reintegrate in my income...they're sure to get me...

[Terry]

Chris:

I agree with your sentiments. Part of the difference is that the American colonies were, for the most part, self-sufficient and determined their own affairs thru local government. France and much of Europe has never really broken free of that slave mentality. The French lopped off a King's head in the name of liberty only to be ruled by an Emperor shortly thereafter. The European way is top down, while ours is more bottom up.

To the subject, the socialists will never like Sarko. He needs to have the testicular fortitude to spend political capital to push thru his programs. But, if he abandons his own agenda then his popular support will really dry up. If he wants to be loved, he will end up hated. The Carla thing tells me he will go for being loved.

Enjoy the ride down

[Julio]

It never ceases to amaze me to read Sarko's cheerleaders on this blog

""je ne crois pas à la "realpolitik" qui fait renoncer à ses valeurs sans gagner des contrats. Je n'accepte pas ce qui se passe en Tchétchénie, au Darfour. Je n'accepte pas le sort que l'on fait aux dissidents dans de nombreux pays. Je n'accepte pas la répression contre les journalistes que l'on veut bâillonner. Le silence est complice. Je ne veux être le complice d'aucune dictature à travers le monde"
(defense de rire)
and less than one year later Gaddafi is in Paris blocking traffic and few other things ...

Tout ca pour vendre nos coucous invendables ...

[richard jones]

Anna you should get a good deal this way
I did for over 30 years. I lived in France 01 - maison sécondaire - 2Km from Switzerland where I worked and where I rented a room. La Suisse était contente car je payais mes impôts sur mes gains de travail comme indépendent en Suisse et je payais mes impôts foncières et d'habitation en France. La France était contente, un peu moins ces jours-ci, car dans le département le plus pauvre de France les impôts (voir dessus) et les frais d'energie et de l'argent mise sur les caisses des fournisseurs locales étaient bien vus par les autorités, surtout les impôts eventuels declenché par la vente de la maison sécondaire.

The public transport in Geneva and the 01 surroundings Ferney-Voltaire, Prévessin are excellent. Go to the Pickwick or one of the Brit pubs in Geneva and find out all about renting a fictitious room.

[rocket]

No problem QWERTY.

I forget this kind of sh*t all of the time. Your AGL will just do a "rectification". Don't worry you won't go to jail!

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

I called you a "degree dropper" Professor Jones, but I am amazed at your confession above, as the French and Swiss tax authorities can give the "Third Degree" as well as any mean American cop. Did you have four reversable matricules on your 2CV (assume, posing as impecunious voyager, you saved on petrol and motors).
Do you have a degree in tax dodging? Beware
However, I am beginnig to think that no such person as "Christopher Jones" exists and this is a nom de plume or nom de guerre. Swiss, German, with German father and an Argentinian passport? I find that suspicious, and if I were on the Frontier, I'd feel your collar, mate.

[JJ]

"Monsieur le Prof d'Anglais" hints at a question I have always wanted to ask. We know that teachers in France have far shorter hours (18 a week), longer holidays (15 weeks) and no imposed supervisory or extra-curricular activities as compared with the UK (and what is more he will be able to get a post there without taking any further exams). I would like to know what hours teachers work in other countries in Europe or the USA.

[richard jones]

In answer to your question in Greece:-

Public schools - 6 hours a day, 14 weeks holiday.
Private schools - 5 hours a day, 15 weeks holiday.

In Switzerland - state schools (with slight cantonal variations)- 6 hours a day, 12 weeks holiday.

In Bulgaria - 6.5 hours a day, 12 weeks holiday.

In Rumania - 4 hours a day, 18 weeks holiday.

Of you go - Romanian is a Latin language :-)

[Lily]

"I'd feel your collar, mate." (Kinsley about Mr. C. Jones)

Who's this Christopher Jones?

Kinsley,

If Mr. R. Jones has sprung from your own creation ("Me and Mr Jo-hones, lah la-la la"), you'd be a true genius. I'd buy a book (no need to specify whose).

If Mr. R. Jones has created his own character, he can save the money he wants to spend on the OU creative writing course.

If Mr. R. Jones is a Nobel Prize laureate's pseudo, so what?

;)

[dot king]

MR LE PROF d'ANGLAIS
Are you a Prof ESL/EFL or a Prof des Ecoles here? That would make a difference to whether you could enter the French system, or work in the adult sector for private companies on an ad hoc basis (not an easy situation to manage and I wouldn't blame you for taking off elsewhere).
In the UK at least, if you are a qualified schoolteacher and communicate well in the language, you are quite likely to get a "foot in the door" quite quickly, perhaps on supply, or through an agency (which is an innovation since I was there) possibly even more quickly in a private school.

JJ - the best thing to do is order a TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT, published every Friday, adverts for thousands of jobs all over the world and articles on education in Anglophone and other countries.

No concours, no being posted where you don't want to go, no mutation. You will be able to apply for jobs that suit your competences and/or ambitions, in places you want to settle, or live for a while. Outside of France you will be able to choose your career path and be more in charge of what happens to you.
Go for it if that's what you want.

[dot king]

JJ:
a PS, the Times Educational Supplement (TES) can be consulted online.

[richard jones]

To Lily,

Worry not, despite Mr. Kinsley's concerns my franco-suisse life was in perfect agreement with both countries. I paid income tax where I earnt income and property taxes where I owned property. As long as you declare both honestly there is no problem between GE and Ain.

Mr. Kinsley who seems a little confused, perhap after another lunch with 'Winkle' Brown and Tirpitz time with Squadron Leader Tirpitz, clearly reads no other blog contributions but his own.

I was born in Switzerland, my father was Welsh and my mother Argentinian Welsh that's where the nationalities come from. I married a Greek lady and now live in Athens.

The education list looks long but don't forget I'm old and have held a lifelong belief in continuous education.

Finally I shall not be taking up the offer on Mr. Kinsley's website and, God willing, will do yet another OU course.

I think the discourses between Mr. James Kinsley and myself, however cognomined, should stop and we start addressing the topic Mr. Bremner would like us to discuss.

[richard jones]

To Lily,

Worry not, despite Mr. Kinsley's concerns my franco-suisse life was in perfect agreement with both countries. I paid income tax where I earnt income and property taxes where I owned property. As long as you declare both honestly there is no problem between GE and Ain.

Mr. Kinsley who seems a little confused, perhap after another lunch with 'Winkle' Brown and Tirpitz time with Squadron Leader Tirpitz, clearly reads no other blog contributions but his own.

I was born in Switzerland, my father was Welsh and my mother Argentinian Welsh that's where the nationalities come from. I married a Greek lady and now live in Athens.

The education list looks long but don't forget I'm old and have held a lifelong belief in continuous education.

Finally I shall not be taking up the offer on Mr. Kinsley's website and, God willing, will do yet another OU course.

I think the discourses between Mr. James Kinsley and myself, however cognomined, should stop and we start addressing the topic Mr. Bremner would like us to discuss.

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

The thot plickens. Publishers have heard of a book, "The Blogger" the best espionage book ever written with a character called Jones. Russian guards become suspicious of him when the Myfanwy Male Voice choir were ordered off the bus and asked to explain how 26 or the 32 singers are called "Jones" and the other six are called "Evans". Their suspicions are aroused when one Mr. Jones claims to have a Desmond in African studies at Peckham University. The driver "Smith", an Englishman who lives in France (secretly, commuting to Dover for fish and chips and M&S underwear) to avoid tax and to save money, tries to explain that 1 million people were called Jones in Wales and now there are 800,000 because some changed their name to Evans. They are known as Jones the Boat, Evans the Milk, Potato Jones, etc. The Guard slaps him in the face with the 26 Passports. "Is 'Desmond' his Controller?" he shouts in perfect English. "No, he has a degree: a 2.2. Desmond - get it?"
"You are all under arrest for extracting the urine. Now we introduce Jones and you to the 3. that's The Third Degree -- geddit?"
Read next thrilling episode....
Will "Degree" Jones change his name to Evans. Will "Chips" Smith change his name to Jones after breaking under questioning (he admits his name before he changed it was Brown, and after further blackjacking he admits is was Greenbaum but he changed it to Brown in case anyone asking him what it was before "Smith".
In a search of "Greenbaum's" pockets they find an old stub from a photo exhibition in Paris: 4 Euros to get in - 8 euros to get out!
"History? We re-write it every day!" laughs the guard.
"Art? That is only a word which rhymes with fart. And it is pronounced Putin, not Poutain.."

[Daniel Strohl]

Richard,

Thanks for the info regarding teacher working hours in various European countries.

This makes me think of another interesting info which came along with our tax form a few days ago, i.e. a short summary of the French 2008 budget. The total budget is 341,41 bill. Euros; the budget "Enseignement et recherche" is 82,3 bill. Euros, i.e 24 % of the total.

In my opinion, this is a huge budget for "Enseignement et Recherche" if one looks at the results up to now:
- pitiful ranking in the International PISA studies. Or, to say it in other words : absolutely not in accordance with the intellectual arrogance professed in some circles of our Education Nationale.
- 15 % of the children arriving in collège (around 12 years old) do not master reading or writing or, more adequately expressed, are simply not able to write or to read (even captions - Hi, Dot :)).
- no Nobel prize award since years. Pitiful ranking of the French universities in the "Chinese" ranking of universities

The standard answer of the unions to the mess : increase the number of teachers. I would say, as the president put it bluntly a few weeks ago : "Ce n'est pas un problème de quantité, mais un problème de qualité".

It is among others an organization problem. For instance, there are about TWENTY THOUSAND teachers "occupied" in various tasks other than teaching.

The government of Mr. Fillon is trying to tackle the problem; it is not simple, since bad habits are firmly entrenched for more then twenty years. And as soon as any government (socialist included - see for instance the dismissal of Mr. Claude Allègre under Mr.Jospin) tries to improve things, most of the unions call for (almost) insurrection and send the pupils on the streets as "dam busters".

JULIO,

This is one of the reasons why I voted for Sarkozy. I expect him and his cabinet to do the job, which is vital. Of course, it will take time.

[Daniel Strohl]

Dot,

"in the UK at least, if you are a qualified schoolteacher and communicate well in the language, you are quite likely ...".

Of course, not in France! You have to pass "sous les fourches caudines" de la réglementation imposée par le ministère sous la pression des syndicats - merci à l'esprit d'ouverture de M. Aschieri et de ses prédécesseurs.

PS : I don't know a proper translation of "fourches caudines"

[JJ]

No! That's just what I don't want! I like my 18 hours and not having any other obligations (when I used to organize an exchange with a UK school, certain colleagues would always try to put spokes in the wheel.)

[Lily]

Mr Jones,

Thank you.

Some people don't trust some other people because the latter don't have a degree; and some people don't trust some other people because they have TOO MANY degrees. :)

Kindly disregard my question on the 'Paris was not so bad under the Nazis, photo show' string.

It's good to be able to trust/know that "you" are real, even if it's off-topic.

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

How did my Scottish friend James Kinsley (a prolific author) get into this, and who is confused now?
I assume, Prof. Jones that as you are intent on the OU course that you intend writing a novel? Good on yer, as some Oz said about the lovely Kylie. At 90 that is commendable and ambitious; after all, Voltaire wrote Candide when he was 65 and there is a rumour that he wrote it in three days. An unlikely story.
The "threads" are getting mixed up, and we seem to have strayed. I have an idea for a novel "The Blogger" based on various nefarious characters I have met online, but if you wish to use it you may. After all, there is no copyright on a title. My first title "Three Cheers for Nothing" about a young con-man who lives in the blue whale in the Natural History Museum in London, was given to me by Andrew Oldham, who told me he was going to make a fortune in the music business(see him in THE STORYTELLER section of my website. The title, of course, comes from "Two Cheers for Democracy",by Huxley.

[dot king]

JJ - is that answer to what I said - I thought you were looking to broaden you horizons - you disappoint me. Are you satisfied then with being moved around like a piece on a chess-board at the will of people in offices, and no career choices or control?
You wouldn't belong in teaching in the UK then, if that's what you mean, sorry I spoke. :)

[dot king]

JJ - is that answer to what I said - I thought you were looking to broaden you horizons - you disappoint me. Are you satisfied then with being moved around like a piece on a chess-board at the will of people in offices, and no career choices or control?
You wouldn't belong in teaching in the UK then, if that's what you mean, sorry I spoke. :)

[dot king]

It seems to me that all the threads are being used to publicise Peter Kinsley's literary oeuvre!

[lechatnoir]

I am so happy I didn't vote for him , I never wanted. and NO he has no been "pushed" this far up he has been working in the legal system as a former minister and a lawyer before he became a president. This isn't la Star academie where you speculate on whether or not you keep your job because people "like you".

I guess he will be ready for the job in 3 years lol!

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

I do apologise for mentioning my website but it is on display on every Comment. Today I am giving a helping hand to photogaphers. For years I have thought their names are too small on the photos, but Jilly Cooper beat me to it in The Times letters to the Editor on Wed. and Thurs this week, followed by a mention in http://www.gentlemenranters.com/ which has two amusing stories about photographer Lord a Snowdon and English snobbery.

[JJ]

To Dot King,

No need to be sorry for speaking! I have taught in both systems: for my first post in France I was sent up east of Verdun - 750 km from home. But, as a "conseiller d'orientation" said: "Si vous voulez les avantages du métier il faut accepter les inconvénients." (He had always worked in his own 'département'.) Some people, naturally, got nominated in thier home town first time. I was also turned down for an IUT post as being "too old" at barely 40. So my previous remarks were not without a tinge of irony in intent.

[dot king]

"To Dot King,

No need to be sorry for speaking!" (JJ)

Thank goodness for that!
I can quite see how the rigidity of the French system could make anyone working in it just give up and accept the lot dished out to them.
It seems (to me) most unreasonable to expect people first to be qualified, then to jump though several sets of hoops (concours) getting smaller and smaller, and the last lot are on fire, then take away from them any security in their future apart from maybe becoming one day, "titulaire d'un poste".
(sits back and waits for Dominique in fierce defence of brilliant French educational system's organisation - no criticism of French teachers' competences intended, just the system they're trapped in.)

DANIEL "15 % of the children arriving in collège (around 12 years old) do not master reading or writing or, more adequately expressed, are simply not able to write or to read (even captions - Hi, Dot :))."

Are you rattling the bars of my cage?? :)
Nothing to do with me this time, but please, when it comes to education, don't always be convinced by statistics - especially in France, measurement methods are very narrow and restrictive. Like any set of statistics, they can be made to say whatever's needed in whoever's interests. No better way to create a diversion than by blaming the teachers.
Usual story, but not mine for once :)

[JJ]

Perhaps one shouldn't change the subject - besides which, the nominating of teachers has improved slightly - but the Ministry of Education was by no means entirely to blame: the computer is "fed" under the watchful eye of the unions and the most powerful of these, and the most resistant to change is...no prizes for guessing: the Communist SNES.

[Daniel Strohl]

Dot,

I am not "blaming the teachers" - I am blaming the system and more precisely the narrow minded unions and union leaders.

I think that a great part of the teachers try to do their best, in a difficult environment. But the system is organized in such a manner that the best teacher (i.e also the most engaged or dedicated) is not better paid than the worst ("qui s'en fout").

In other words, "nivellement par le bas", i.e "avancement à l'ancienneté" is encouraged and fostered by the unions (or at least a majority of them). The idea behind this is that it is more profitable for the unions to have a great number of members, even scarcely paid, than a smaller number correctly paid.

The well being of the pupils or students plays a secondary role only. Of course, this is not the official credo of the said unions ...

Regarding statistics, you are right, it is not so difficult to twist them more or less to fit one's own purposes. Nevertheless, the PISA criteria allow for more or less objective comparisons. I don't think that PISA was designed by "les méchants Anglo-Saxons pour enfoncer les pauvres Français sans défense".

My opinion is that the French school system was much better 50 years ago.

Meanwhile, the environment has changed (it has changed also elsewhere). One of the major changes in the French society occured in 1968, followed by 1981. The teachers now have to battle with the children and grand'children of these generations (and they belong themselves to these generations), for which it was or still is fashionable to be against any authority and to be, simply put, against everything except, of course, their own "avantages acquis" (vested interests ?).

When I was a young boy, if somebody got his ass kicked by an exasperated teacher (this happened occasionally), the "somebody" forgot systematically to inform his parents, out of fear to get "une bonne correction par les parents en supplément".

Maintenant, les moutards vont se plaindre auprès des parents, qui déposent plainte en justice contre les enseignants assez téméraires et inconscients pour avoir osé lever la main (ou le pied :)) sur leur sacro-sainte progéniture. Crazy!

[Daniel Strohl]

JJ,

".no prizes for guessing: the Communist SNES.

I am absolutely unable to imagine that this could be true :))

[JJ]

I didn't imagine or invent this. It was first mentioned by Alain Peyrfitte ("Le Mal Français") and has been confirmed by my own experience. The SNES has always opposed any form of decentralisation as well as autonomy for schools or universities.

[JJ]

The proportion of teachers who pay an annual union membership fee is in fact surprisingly small: under 20%.

[Daniel Strohl]

JJ,

When I wrote "I am absolutely unable to imagine that this could be true :))", it was ironically meant!

The PC and their former "bras armé", la CGT, have still a strong influence, not only within "les services publics", but also for instance in the printing business (CGT du Livre), or in the harbours (dockers). Thanks to the broad mindedness of these gentlemen, big parts of the associated business are made abroad. But they continue to hold adamantly their monopoles. The most educated of them know probably the quote attributed to Louis XV : "Après moi, le déluge!" (After me, the Great Flood!).

"The proportion of teachers who pay an annual union membership fee is in fact surprisingly small: under 20%".

If these 20% follow "les consignes" of their unions, this percentage is high enough to block any intelligent although long overdue reform of our Education Nationale. En attendant, les élèves et étudiants paient les pots cassés en se lançant dans la vie active avec des diplômes dévalués et les connaissances approximatives correspondantes, et les contribuables paient la facture (24% du budget de la nation en 2008!).

[marc millier]

this year with SARKO prtesident was a true nightmare for FRANCE..
its pity for my country.
But it will be too late to realize what this man could do in france.

the second year will be worst.
I'm sure 100% La politique exterieure c'est un" grand n'importe quoi".

La nullité dans toute son expression.
un gourvernement d'amateur!!!!!!!!!!!