‘The educational style of Saint Jeanne-Antide is human-spiritual, based on Jesus Christ, Master and formator of the apostles’, Sr Clerici told the teachers from the 5 schools in the Thouret network in Lebanon.
11 September was the date chosen by those in charge of the Charité (Besançon) schools to inaugurate the school year. Around three hundred teachers from the five schools took part in this morning of formation, which began with the celebration of the Eucharist.
The Provincial, Sr Mary Stephanos, thanked the sisters and the teaching staff for their tenacity in facing together the socio-political crisis that is profoundly destabilising Lebanese society and families.
The Provincial, Sr Mary Stephanos, thanked the sisters and the teaching staff for their tenacity in facing together the socio-political crisis that is profoundly destabilising Lebanese society and families.
Then Sr Wandamaria, referent of the International Educational Bureau (UIPE), presented her reflection entitled ‘The educational style of Saint Jeanne-Antide between yesterday and today’.
This style is characterised by tenderness, vigilant love, attention to the little ones and the marginalised, gentleness and firmness. The Charité style has proved its worth over 225 years of educational practice, perfecting an appropriate methodology of proximity and inclusion in quite different contexts.
Then Sr Mirna Farah, coordinator of the UIPE office, led the assembly by proposing group work to find analogies between current practices and the educational style of Jeanne-Antide. The morning ended with a group photo taken on the fabulous staircase of sainte-Anne.
The next day, the tour of the five schools (Baskinta, Beirut, Baabdath, Kfour and Baabda) began in the same rhythm: meeting with the administrative team, with representatives of the teachers, parents, pupils and former pupils, before concluding the morning with a fraternal meeting with the sisters.
Everywhere, we marvel at the audacity of charity and the courage of those in charge. Religious and lay people are working tirelessly to ensure a climate of fraternity and solidarity in a society torn apart by denominational and political tendencies.
The economic crisis that has ravaged the country for the past four years has not altered the internal dynamic of the 5 institutions, thanks to the efforts, generosity and personal commitment of everyone involved.
The Lebanese State is bankrupt, public services are non-existent, the Ministry of Education provides no material or teaching aid, and yet the vitality of the management teams is making up for this by training teachers, involving civil society and parents, and forging partnerships with other French or English-speaking establishments. The seeds of resurrection have been sown in this land, which is destined to yield honey and milk!
The pupils conveyed to us the cry and the hope of Lebanese youth. In their eyes shone a determination to continue their university education, at home or abroad. These young people, with their broken but outstretched wings, will fly away to other climes if their horizons remain bleak in the land of the cedars.
At the end of our tour, a breath of hope and confidence caressed our minds and dwelt in our hearts. Isn’t it true that ‘only he who loves educates’ and invents the future?
