Clovis Slowly Disappears

Here is a brief article from Le Salon Beige on a change in the curriculum of 8th graders in France. While this change has aroused anger and consternation among some, others insist that it is not the disaster one may think:

The Official Instructions for the teaching of History and Geography indicate the following:

In the domain of History, the Merovingian period is completely ignored both in 7th and 8th grades. Clovis is gone with it! The baptism of Clovis is gone and will not be mentioned officially at any time in middle school! On the other hand, they will study the India of the Gupta and the China of the Han Dynasty, as well as the empires of Ghana or Mali or the empires of Songhaï or Monomotapa.

Note: The above named topics (with links to Wikipedia) may be of great interest, and worth studying. The question is not if they are worthy of study, but whether or not something more urgent is being sacrificed in their favor.

As for Geography, you would think you're in a Nicolas Hulot TV show, or in a Life and Earth Science class (...) where durable development is also part of the program (See note).

During this period of so-called debate on national identity, we should not be surprised that children no longer know who Clovis and Charlemagne are.

Note: Nicolas Hulot is a writer, ecologist, and activist who urged politicians, including Sarkozy, to make environmental issues a government priority.

French schools teach what they call Life and Earth Sciences or SVT. Originally called Biology, the new terminology went into effect in 1994, and now includes Geology. The objectives of SVT are: 1) to teach biology and geology 2) to teach health related issues, such as infectious diseases, contraception, sexuality 3) to teach about the environment and the impact of humans on it, and biodiversity.

SVT is taught both in middle schools and high schools with different priorities at each level. (Source: Wikipedia)

A very long discussion ensues at Le Salon Beige on the watering down of the curriculum, the fears that the Merovingian chapter of French history (which IS still taught at the elementary level) will disappear entirely, the competition between public schools and private schools with some accusations hurled at Le Salon Beige for being elitist in its preference for unsubsidized education, the fact that teachers can sometimes teach outside of the Official Instructions (others say one cannot do this), and much else, and the French readers may find it of interest.

In addition to this curriculum modification, it was announced last November by Minister of Education Luc Chatel that History and Geography would be eliminated as requirements in the final year of the Scientific curriculum in high schools. The news aroused a great deal of discussion with most denouncing the measure as one more nail in the coffin of national education. Some said it didn't matter since History was so poorly taught anyway that it was just as well. Others said that the Science teachers had wanted the change so that students could devote their entire senior year to their major, without the interference of History. More than 50% of high school students are in the Scientific curriculum. (Source: Le Salon Beige)

It is clear that these two changes have one thing in common - the gradual decline in the teaching of History. Therefore, one cannot help but wonder if it isn't all part of the government's long-term strategy to cut the French people off from their past, from their heritage, in order to re-make them according to a new mold and to give them a new... "national identity".

The Baptism of Clovis
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Artist: Anonymous, referred to as The Master of Saint Giles

There aren't many songs about Clovis. Are there any? This old song by Leny Escudero was popular when I first went to France in the 1960's. He doesn't have much of a voice, and the video shows the singer over-emoting, though I can't be sure, never having seen him. And the Clovis in the song is not the King we would like to see return to the curriculum, but at least he returns...

Long ago
After many sleepless nights
He left to seek other Sundays
But frost came and clung to his branches
And because his days are dwindling,
Clovis has returned.

He brings nothing
Worth losing or keeping
The morning star
Belongs to anyone
He neither won nor lost
But there is the Camargue
Shivering in his rags
Clovis has returned.

He walks hugging the wall
The gray December wall
Frightened, he is not sure
If they will take him back
But they recognize him
Already they rush to him
A hand takes hold of his
Clovis has returned.

Today is Christmas
Clovis, you are one of us
I thank Christmas
It's sweet to be back with you
We thought you were lost
Listen to them laugh
They are happy to say
Clovis has returned.

He lowered his head
To hide a tear
But it's good to cry
When your soul is full of warmth
His feels he's in heaven
Friendship is good
That night a man fell
asleep happy.



For the French lyrics click here.