A new establishment in the Alpes-Maritimes adopts the unique uniform. The Alphonse Daudet Middle School in Nice is one of five institutions in the department testing the experience.
This morning, Charles Ange Ginésy, President of the department, attended the start of the school year for students at Alphonse Daudet Middle School. It is one of the five pilot institutions for the “common school uniform” experiment. This initiative is supported by many elected officials, including Éric Ciotti, Joëlle Arini, vice-president delegated to education, colleges and access to knowledge, Valérie Sergi, vice-president in charge of disabilities, Auguste Verola, vice-president responsible for children and culture, Pierrette Alberici, departmental councillor. They were accompanied by the academic inspector Laurent Le Mercier and Céline Bartoletti, the school principal.
A day seen as a “symbol of the resolve of the Alpes-Maritimes department in terms of education and the future of youth”. The department’s President hopes to see numerous benefits from this experiment, such as “reducing social differences and inequalities, combating bullying, reinforcing republican principles and safety, and creating a virtuous dynamic in terms of discipline and concentration”.
These ideas are also shared by the school’s principal, Céline Bartoletti: “We bet that this experience of the common school uniform, by displaying unity among all students, would promote peer connections, cohesiveness among them, and could potentially create more bonds and greater collective engagement. In reality, we hope that this common identity will contribute to creating an atmosphere of equality and involvement within our institution. We are betting together that our students, feeling valued, will in turn value the image of Alphonse Daudet public middle school.”
The unique school uniform gains momentum in the Alpes-Maritimes
The Alpes-Maritimes department quickly agreed to participate in the experiment proposed by the Ministry of Education. Since the start of the 2024 school year, 1,700 students are spread across five establishments in the department: Alphonse Daudet in Nice, Les Mimosas in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, Jean Franco in Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, Jean-Baptiste Rusca in Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende, and L’Eau Vive in Breil-sur-Roya.
The objective is to improve the school climate. This measure also aims to promote attire suitable for school requirements, avoiding clothes deemed inappropriate. For Eric Ciotti, “the school uniform embodies the values of the Republic: equality, respect, and living together. This symbol brings our youth closer around a shared future and reinforces the spirit of our republican school.”
The kit includes nine white and blue pieces. It consists of two short-sleeved polos, one long-sleeved polo, three T-shirts, a zipped jacket, and two sweatshirts. Its cost is 240 euros, fully funded by the Alpes-Maritimes department, with partial state support. The creation of the uniforms has been entrusted to the French company Fil Rouge. This workshop manufactures eco-responsible clothing while supporting the local economy by employing people distanced from the workforce.