On the staircase of honor of the Senate, the twenty-six teenagers chain the selfies. The majority of these young people, in 1re at the vocational high school of Vexin in Chars (Val-d’Oise), come from Cergy-Pontoise or the surrounding area. After two hours of transport to get to the 6e arrondissement of Paris, Friday, December 2, high school students can marvel at the gilding of the large conference room or gather around the text of the Constitution of the Ve Republic.
The meeting between these two worlds was made possible by Cité des chances. The association, founded in 2018, campaigns to promote the civic engagement of young people from the suburbs by supporting them in the discovery of political life through various initiatives. This social action has, moreover, been hailed by numerous prizes in recent months, in particular the first Olivier Ferrand prize from the think tank Terra Nova, in September. Because, more than a photo session in the corridors of the Senate and a few minutes spent in the boxes of the Hemicycle in full debate, the association offered these young people from Val-d’Oise to take part in a parliamentary simulation, prepared for eight weeks in class. The fictitious debate of the day: a bill framing identity checks to put an end to facies checks. A promising subject among these young people in baccalaureate pro trades in civil security.
In room 263, everyone knows where to sit. Five students play the role of opposition deputies, defending their bill, against five majority deputies. Behind them, other high school students form the law commission, pretend to be journalists or members of the SOS Racisme association. All then embark on a simulation of parliamentary debate in front of a jury composed of Yan Chantrel, socialist senator representing the French living outside France, Anissa Souaber, member of Cité des chances, Elise Fontcuberta, president of the French Federation of debate and eloquence, Jeanne Goutel, lawyer with the Defender of Rights, and Thierry Charlier, headmaster of the Vexin vocational school.
” It’s no use “
Each article of law is the subject of discussions, sometimes fiery, between the students, who get caught up in the game. We have fun with the more real-than-life punchlines thrown around by some. “This law is futile. Next time, dear colleagues, work smarter”loose a member of the majority to his comrades.
This joyful performance was not easy to put in place, however. “The students were quite refractory the first few weeks”, confides Catherine Dhouailly, professor of economics and management for more than thirty years at the vocational high school of Vexin. A majority of teenagers are not convinced by the initiative, or even do not want to take part. Politics ? Very little for them. ” It’s no use “, “all rotten”, “nobody listens to us anyway”relays the professor. “The tipping point was the visit of the deputy [Renaissance] from our riding, Emilie Chandler, says Catherine Dhouailly. She came to explain her role as an MP, her daily life. The simple fact that she travels to see them has remobilized them. »
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