Louise Salle 12:00 p.m., October 26, 2022
Brice Parinet leads a double life: a history-geography teacher during the week, he swaps his teacher's uniform for the assistant referee's whistle at the weekend in Ligue 1. And in his 4th grade class, he also teaches arbitration, two hours per week.
A "pretext" to do moral and civic education, and to transmit values: parity, equity, justice and self-confidence.
REPORTAGE
Arbitration days are currently taking place in all sports federations, until October 30.
The opportunity to talk about an atypical referee.
Professor of history-geography during the week in Les Mureaux, in the Yvelines, at the Jules Verne college, Brice Parinet runs in the field on weekends as an assistant referee in league 1. He leads, at 34, a double life .
In his 4th grade, he also teaches refereeing.
A "pretext", he says, to make civic education in this establishment classified REP+, the maximum level of priority education.
The students are selected according to their motivation: 12 girls and 12 boys, who learn to respect the rules and each other, justice, listening or even self-confidence.
Improvisation lesson, in the shoes of a referee
When the lesson begins, not a sound, except the voice of Brice Parinet.
The students listen to him speechless, wide-eyed, fascinated by this teacher who speaks the language of football to them.
“We are going to play a little game, we are going to put ourselves in the situation of a referee”, announces the professor.
In the middle of the room, each in turn, the students improvise the role of referee.
The interest: wondering what to say when you arrive at the stadium.
Mamoudou is the first student to start.
“Hello, my name is Mamoudou”, he begins, advancing towards Brice Parinet, who fictitiously welcomes him on a football field.
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“Hello, Mr referee, I am Brice Parinet”, replies the teacher.
"I hope the meeting will go well. Can I know the position of my locker room?" Asks the student.
"So, what's wrong?" continues Brice Parinet, this time turning to the whole class.
"He does not look in the eyes!", Answers a schoolboy.
“Yes!” exclaims the professor.
“We learn to respect each other”
Bruce Parinet's advice is far from being limited to sport: "Imagine that when you referee, you are a bit of an ambassador for Yvelines", advises the professor.
"And remember one thing, which will serve you all the time: you will only have one good opportunity to make a good first impression," he insists.
In a few months, the teenagers will participate in a departmental arbitration competition.
They are very motivated… Aware that this experience makes them grow.
"It's a bit of a change from class, it's nice to spend time at school, and talk about something you love," enthuses a boy.
“It teaches us to be more respectful, and to respect each other,” adds another.
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"And above all, we learn that it is not because we are a girl that we cannot arbitrate or play football", insists a student.
At the back of the class, next to a football poster and between two planispheres, a large portrait of Samuel Paty.
Proof that many values are transmitted during these courses.