Several hundred children from public schools will be dressed in blue, this Monday morning in Provins (Seine-et-Marne) with the republican motto embroidered on the chest. An idea of ​​the mayor, shared by some of the inhabitants.

After a fortnight of All Saints' holidays, the children return to school Monday morning. At the heart of the medieval city of Provins in Seine-et-Marne, in six public elementary schools, some 340 volunteer students (out of 700) will only see blue ... The color of the uniform they will wear from now on in the evening.

Navy blue ankle-length neck for these boys and girls, with straight cut trousers or skirt, polo and jacket. Only touch of fantasy: a blue sky sweater. And sewn on these new clothes, an embroidered badge with the motto freedom-equality-fraternity.

The keychain - four polos, two sweaters, a jacket, two pants, a bermuda and a skirt - is entirely the responsibility of the parents. It is sold 137 €. Payment facilities, in several installments, have been put in place. An amount divided by two from the second child. Modest families benefit from a free trousseau, thanks to the help of the central fund of social activities.

62% of parents "for"

Provins (12,000 inhabitants) is the first city to institutionalize (or almost) the identical clothing, recalls the website The educational café. "French schoolchildren have never had a uniform in France. They often wore gowns. They were needed against ink splashes. The ballpoint arrived, they became totally useless. "

It is the mayor Olivier Lavenka (The Republicans) who had this idea of ​​uniform in January. At the time, Jean-Michel Blanquer, Minister of Education, was favorable to the schools that wanted it. During the 2017 presidential campaign, François Fillon and Marine Le Pen also put this proposal forward.

Olivier Lavenka did not decide alone. He launched a public consultation before the summer break, both on the initiative, the color of the clothes and the presence or not of the republican motto on the crest. Result: 62% of voting parents were in favor of creating a uniform.

An experiment

"Wherever this unique outfit has been put in place, it has created an environment conducive to learning, " said the mayor. It also avoids discrimination, with each student dressed the same. But beware, everyone is free to wear this uniform or not. This is an experiment that we will take stock in a few years. "

An enthusiasm that is not shared by all. On social networks, people denounce the myth of standardization. " Distinctions will always exist, between those wearing designer shoes and others". Others are ironic: "Thanks to the uniform, no more problem of deciphering, understanding, dyslexia ...".