JP Raud Dugal

As an history and geography teacher from France I have known Richard for four years. I met him twice at the IST, once for the E Help project. Everytime he received me as a special guest, very kindly and was always available. Thanks to him I improved my way of teaching in European Section (teaching H & Geography in English). What a surprise for me hearing, thanks to John, that Richard was sacked from the IST. If a teacher has to be respected for his high sense of probity THIS IS HIM. I'm with him, and if he needs any help for action I Will be there. More, I'm ever more surprise that Les did that. I remember his full confidence in what Richard did for the recognition of IST and the passion he puts into his teaching practice. Things changed apparently... I hope that the board of directors will change its mind. If not by heart but by reason. For the students, the school, the european project best interests. And for a man who deserves it more than the entire people present in this forum. Jean Philippe Raud Dugal

Well, if I didn't know what I am, John's post wake me up... As a french teacher I can't agree less on what he wrote. I think that the state can do a lot (and not little). When the state is absent, only the well educated and the richest can go out of this hell. It is up to the citizens to improve the way of life by going to the polls and strikes (we had one yesterday on wages and employement). Who are the talented? Those who had an opportunity one day...free market can't do that. Education and equity (not equality) can do better. Impersonal taxes are necessary to have public services. I'm not always happy with that but, in my opinion, you don't have other issue. We hae a great chance in France (till today): we know what welfare state is...for how many time? In addition to that, let me say that socialism sis not exist anymore...unfortunetly...the socialist party in France is not socialist anymore while the communists are discredited. Very difficult to have an ideology in these conditions. We have to be pragmatic and use ideologies to improve our way of life. Hope it maches with the debate...

Hi, I'm Jean Philippe Raud Dugal. I teach history and geography with english as a second language in France. It's so challenging to teach in what we call european section. I did many things (but everybody here did marvellous things too!) over the last 6 years. I was, together with John and Juan Carlos a member of the spring day team in 2002. I tried to create. many activities linked to what I read in this forum or in scholhistory and sln geography. I believe, like John, that sometimes the students have to become the teacher, like Richard, that students can create new things by themselves(videos, ppt...). I'm using a lot the decision making as a tool to make them speak which is the main goal of european section. Have a look to what I did: http://apella.ac-limoges.fr/lyc-perrier-tulle/europ/ http://apella.ac-limoges.fr/lyc-perrier-tu...ons/lessons.htm I have just created a blog one week ago on the GO issue next month. This is summer work for my students.... Hope to see you soon Jean Philippe

Teaching History (and geography) in english is a big challenge in France. Students are not used to talk in english and also not used to think by themselves. The system is sometimes narrow minded. I tried during the last six years to develop their ability to communicate in english through these two subjects: role plays of course Look at these two activities http://apella.ac-limoges.fr/lyc-perrier-tu...water/index.htm http://apella.ac-limoges.fr/lyc-perrier-tu...rs/judging1.htm Inspired by Richard's work on films this activity was a great challenge. http://apella.ac-limoges.fr/lyc-perrier-tu.../barricades.htm The most important thing is to make (sometimes not everytime) the students being the teacher (see John's presentation on that) Another thing, I have been inspected in european section one month ago what is quite rare in France. I would like to present this lesson to you during our meeting and explain the specificity of teaching these subjects in France. Hope to see you soon Jean Philippe

C'est en effet quelque chose de très intéressant. Je le fais régulièrement et je crois que la Première Guerre Mondiale à travers les batailles (Verdun ou La Somme ne sont pas vues pareil par les natifs d'un pays à l'autre) et aussi comme l'a montré Mosse voire Antoine Prost sur les monuments aux morts commémorant ce conflit. Pour l'occupation en particulier si vous le souhaitez je peux tenter de vous aider si vous avez un projet de ce point de vue là. Je précise que j'ai des élèves qui sont en section européenne anglais et que la ville où j'enseigne est connue pour son massacre juste avant Ouradour sur Glane en juin 44.

That's such an issue in France. Does Le Pen shoul be allowed to speak... The man is racist obviously. He said some years ago that the gaz chambers were 'details' of History. He behave like a bulldog....You can add everything you want... But, his party is recognized. As far as the freedom of speach is concerned, some are saying that banning him, or trying to stop him speaking is not an option in our democracies. Some are considering that it is not enough and if justice can't do anything, they have to prevent our country against this threat... Ras Le Front, an anti-Le Pen association, is thinking so. They try to stop him in every occasion. Doing so, they are considered by many as using the same methods which could be used by Le Pen... The debate is quite hard to solve....I think that politicians have to say the truth and do the best they can to avoid such parties to be as strong as they are (I know I can be naive sometimes ) Jean Philippe

Some more information, and a speech about the Marshall plan http://apella.ac-limoges.fr/lyc-perrier-tu.../cold/texts.htm Hope this may help Jean Philippe

Try this website http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/coldwar/G3/default.htm Jean Philippe

Integration/Exclusion...very hard to debate on that Rowena. Our country is based on a principle. The school system has been separated from the Church in 1905 (almost 100 years...) This is not about beliefs but a way of life we are talking about, about public sphere and not private. The French politicians (not only the gvt, and Laurent explained it very well) are struggling for this principle. An old one but which is the very basis, as far as I'm concerned, of our nation. That's why, for example, that we had some problems the Polish and Spanish gvts with a reference about religion in the European Constitution (it was not the only matter...). Impossible to judge if you don't understand that. Jean Philippe

About 'Integrated Schools' I had a look to the website you gave. In 'Histroy' I read that: "There is segregation in housing, sport, the media and education. The reality of segregated education is that, in the main, Catholic and Protestant children do not meet each other. Catholic children attend Catholic schools and Protestant children attend state schools which are mainly Protestant. In Northern Ireland over 90% of all schools are either Catholic or Protestant in ethos and practice. We believe that, irrespective of shifts in power base or political compromise, unless the children in Northern Ireland meet and learn about each other's traditions at school, the odds are against a peaceful and secure future in their own country." Do you have any example, forum etc where people are speaking together about the segregation and attempt to overthrow it? BTW, I understood that you were found of Ireland

I read recently the 'last Diaries' of Alan Clark and saw the role Murdoch played on the UK's political life seeing by a conservative MP. Then, I can understand what you're saying. But, why Murdoch can change his mind? Even if he did huge mistakes, Blair will surely win the general election (french Newspapers are sayind so all the time...) Jean Philippe

Thanks John. If you want to open it to the students, mine are very concerned about this issue. They all worked on the events in Tulle 60 years ago. Some created plays, exhibitions, made interviews, etc etc...they could explain what they know to others and the others could explain what happened in their area. But we finish June 4th...perhaps too late...? Jean Philippe

Thank you so much Graham for these precisions. I found somewhere some statistics about differences between Catholics and Protestants: unemployement, birth rate, vote rate etc etc I don't remember where...(if somebody knows....could be great ) I was thinking, seeing at these statistics, that the gap between the communities are in a way too important to fulfill... But, reading your post make me sligthly change my mind. I have to find some ressources for my students to avoid this vision of a total division between the communities. Perhpas a forum with students from Ulster? Jean Philippe

Thanks very much for these explanations. Very interesting. Do you mean that young teachers prefer to work in the UK rather than teaching in places they are sent to? You said in a previous post that you taught in the UK. Did it happen to you? (or perhaps it was a personnel choice?) Jean Philippe

Not at all Graham. Being French, every single testimony on Ulster is just great. What I now about Belfast today is related to the visit my wife did three years ago. She described the same thing for the city centre but not for the area around. Moreover, I worked also on spatial segregation today on Stephen Roulston website Geographyinaction Have a look at 'Ethnic diversity' and 'Urban Structure'. It is quite interesting. Cain also is such a great website. I read something about Peter Taylor's interview after his documentary on Ulster and his book 'The Provos'. He was (in 1999) very pessimistic about what could happen in Ulster...the culture of war seems not to be over for many IRA's members. It may be the same for the Loyalists... Have a look (in french or in german) to his interview. One question: What are the examples of mutual relationships in Belfast today? Thank you also for the film. I ordered it just after your post Jean Philippe

I just heard on the radio In French: France Inter I would like to know if there are some websites on M. Thatcher policy in Nothern Ireland and most of all, the Channel 4 reports on Ulster and the help of secret services to the Loyalist. This is a hot issue and I can't find any good website... Any idea? Jean Philippe

Jay, Can you be fired easily from the public system? You talk about the difficulty to change from one school tp another. In France, when we want to move from one school to another we have to apply for it and after we have to count our 'points' (difficult system: 10 pts per year + various factors...) and the one who have more points can have the job. How does it work in Australia?

For 'Z', I'm really a big fan. Costa Gavras did some other films on the same backgroung: cold war, communism, struggle for liberty mainly with Yves Montand. I just can recommend it! I agree with you for Fog of war. It's such an interesting film! I didn't know that much about Mc Namara and this 'film' just enlighted some visions I had on this period. I went to see it with students and they loved it. Another film I can think of is 'Bloody Sunday' by Peter Greengrass. Honestly, it's one of the best film I have ever seen. (if one can consider it as a political film?) But I just like Ken Loach films

John, When do you want to launch this activity? Just a question of timing. Jean Philippe

I heard yesterdy on a radio channel that a MP of the Labour Party in Israel was happy with that, saying that it is a first step for a global agreement between the two... It didn't talk about the wall.... Jean Philippe

My pleasure

Perhaps too late.... I put in my website some links about webquest I used once in my classroom. Most of them were successful http://apella.ac-limoges.fr/lyc-perrier-tu...europ/index.htm Click on History and Geography. For each level (seconde, première, terminale) you have a webquest section. I tried to create one this year...on the Three Gorges Dam...if you are interested in that one you should have a look here! Hope that helps...not too late... Jean Philippe

John, This is a great idea. The main problem is on the language. For example, my father was 18 when Das Reich went in Tulle 2 days before Ouradour sur Glane. They hanged 99 persons and deported more than that. It's such a big issue in this city (where I teach). I can find some people that I know for this project but they are a bit old, have difficulties with technology and don't know a word of english.... one link in english: http://www.dasreich.ca/oradour.html In french http://www.europe-memoire.org/dossier/dossier4.html Don't know how to handle with that... Jean Philippe

In France, nearly all teachers are civil servants. As far as we are concerned we can't be fired from our job except if we do huge mistakes. What are the different situation for teachers in other countries? Do you think that the french system is the best on that point? If not, what is the best system for you? Could be interested to confront our different situations. Jean Philippe

15-18 yo students, because they need some thoughts and skills they don't have before. Time is a big issue. I could give them 4 hours to prepare. I think that's enough and they can finish it as homework (if you let them 10 to 15 days more). Presentation is between 2 and 3 hours. I did it once as a conference this year and it works. The work was on the european enlargement click here If not the risk is to bother them. If you think in a different way please tell. Jean Philippe