Why do we always think that "ELSEWHERE" is better than our own country? (page 19 of 23)

Total collapse of education, depression and resignations at every level, to the point that if this continues, we’ll have to stop classes on Thursday evenings due to a lack of staff to make it through the week.

As I’ve already told you—but apparently you’re blind—all civil servants are in the same boat, yet they’re not all quitting or depressed.

The malaise among teachers must be coming from somewhere other than the centralization of exams. Besides, when they leave the national education system, they don’t hesitate to take other civil service exams... 😄

I said that the idea of enlisting people with quasi-military status to parachute them anywhere, then moving them around like pawns under the pretext of unifying the nation was an outdated idea

Equality. That’s the foundation the system rests on.

The same exam across the entire country to give everyone the same opportunities.

Besides, unless you’re completely clueless, you know in advance where you might be transferred when you take an exam.

Exams help less attractive regions. A kind of compensation for those areas.

Someone from the Paris region will likely stay in their childhood homeland. But strangely, they don’t want to...

She tells me I cry all the time, That I’m like a little child Who no longer loves his games, his life, his mom. She says I cry all the time, That I’m downright mean, never happy, Downright mean, never happy.

Alain Souchon...

Few people can place Auvergne on a map, though

Alégia, never heard of it! 😇

As I’ve already told you, but apparently you’re blind, all civil servants are in the same boat and aren’t all resigning or depressed.

That’s not at all what teachers’ testimonies show—they highlight huge differences in how staff are managed between the National Education system and other public sectors.

So, teachers’ distress must be due to something other than the centralization of competitive exams. Besides, when they leave the National Education system, they don’t hesitate to take other civil service exams... 😄

They have little choice—it’s a highly stigmatized status, and they often can’t do anything else. That said, they’re often victims of their own aspirations and the illusions of those around them, trapped by long-standing family influences. So they do what they can.

Equality. That’s the foundation the system rests on.

In Germany, is the system collapsing because these things are handled at the state level? Which modern country confuses equality with equity like this? I don’t know of any.

Michel

Alégia, no idea what that is! 😇

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Michel

What to do? Territorial competitions?

- I don’t know... Maybe understanding that most of the positions in question shouldn’t fall under a state-run civil service managed like the military? Recruiting by region, obviously, would be the least they could do. The French’s wild passion for the State, for civil service, for being taken care of and put to work for a lifelong mission. Honestly, I don’t really get the plan.

Michel

France is one of the few countries with such a recruitment system for teachers. It completely demotivated me—I preferred not to go into that world (for other reasons too), even though my studies were really suited for it.

Hi there,

You know, honestly, I think this system is in its final, painful throes, and it’s certain that in a few years, we won’t be recruiting teachers this way anymore. The shift has already begun.

Michel

What to do? Regional competitive exams?

- I don’t know... Maybe understand that most of these positions don’t need to fall under a state-run civil service managed like the military? Recruiting by region, obviously, is the least we could do. The French obsession with the state, with civil service, with being taken care of and assigned a lifelong mission. Honestly, I don’t really get the plan.

Michel

France is one of the few countries with such a recruitment system for teachers. It completely demotivated me—I preferred not to go into that world (for other reasons too), even though my studies were really suited for it.

I hope so, for the sake of future generations. As for me, teaching in France no longer interests me at all.

This is not at all what emerges from teachers' testimonies, which highlight huge differences in staff management between the National Education system and other sectors of the civil service.

I know both sides... :)

it’s a very stigmatizing status

Being a teacher and Breton is a real ordeal...

In Germany, the system is collapsing because these things are handled at the state level?

Even in Germany, there must be "Bretons" who whine because they voluntarily moved to Bavaria when they didn’t want to leave their native Berlin...

All that's left is disparagement when the arguments are flimsy. The overbearing centralism and state control is an indefensible stance, incompatible with the aspirations of today's European citizens. It's already isolated and exotic, and it will succumb to a Europe of nations. It's quite ironic to note that the supporters of this centralist model are incapable of envisioning Europe, terrified as they are of not being able to imagine anything other than a star-shaped structure, where they would no longer inevitably be the center.

Michel

This is not at all what emerges from teachers' testimonies, which highlight enormous differences in staff management between the National Education system and other sectors of the civil service.

I know both sides...🙂

it's a very stigmatizing status

Being a teacher and Breton is a real ordeal...😇

In Germany, the system is collapsing because these things are handled at the state level?

Even in Germany, there must be "Bretons" who whine because they voluntarily moved to Bavaria when they didn't want to leave their native Berlin...

Hi Catherine, you’re in a good position to know what they say in Italy: France climbs onto Germany’s shoulders to look taller.

Hello,

To refocus the discussion on the topic and accommodate everyone’s rainy constraints during this dreary, damp winter, I suggest clarifying the question:

Why is this tendency to see the grass as greener elsewhere so distinctly French? What does it stem from? A cultural trait, a worldview, a type of society?...

Hi,

Well... I’ll answer... since I’m one of those who went off to wander elsewhere. 🙂

What I found almost unbearable when I lived in France was the tendency there to spin stories about itself. Here’s a very concrete example, taken from this morning’s press: "Macron, the lonely leader of a convalescent Europe" (Le Monde). Oh, how beautiful solitary heroes are! France is a country that constantly generates its own myth. And I don’t like grandiose myths. The wry fatalism of my adopted country suits me much better.

Cold, dry Sunday wishes.

Catherine

Mick, no aggression intended—I know you love Italy a lot. Have you ever thought about moving there? (We’re still on the topic of "elsewhere" being better.)

I think life must be more enjoyable there. Italians are generally friendlier, and the food is just better. 😛

hi when I was 30 or 40, I would’ve done it if I’d studied science (engineer, doctor, for example) instead of law (French law, obviously) with no job market appeal in Italy. now, I’m retired, but too many personal things (family, assets to manage, etc.) keep me from moving abroad anywhere. if I had to do it (but I won’t), yeah, I’d go to Italy, Tuscany—not for the climate (I have the same in Provence), nor for the cost of living (same as France). For that, there’s Spain and Portugal, but for me, they’re too out of the way for traveling around Europe.

Mick, no offense meant—I know you love Italy a lot. Have you ever thought about moving there? (We’re still on the topic of elsewhere being better.)

I think life must be more pleasant there. Italians are generally nicer, and the food is better 😛

All you can do now is dodge the question when you’ve run out of your already repetitive and weak arguments. ..🙂

All I want is to live like a European. With European freedoms. Apparently, that’s too much to ask. But I’m not worried—it’ll happen, it’s just a matter of time. You’re incapable of shifting your perspective, stuck in that dirigiste, French-centric worldview. You don’t even realize it doesn’t work. The French have their own idea of harmonization in Europe—they want everyone else to do things their way 🤪.

Michel

All you can do is deflect when you’ve run out of your already thin and repetitive arguments... 🙂

Hi, When I was 30 or 40, I would have done it if I had studied science (engineer, doctor, for example) instead of law (obviously French) which had no interest in the Italian job market. Now, I’m retired, but too many personal things (family, managing assets, etc.) keep me from moving abroad anywhere. If I had to do it (but I won’t), yes, I’d go to Italy, Tuscany—not for the climate (I have the same in Provence), nor for the cost of living (same as France). For that, there’s Spain and Portugal, but for me, they’re too far out of the way for traveling around Europe.

Mick, no offense meant—I know you love Italy a lot. Have you ever thought about moving there? (We’re still on the topic of elsewhere being better.)

I think life must be more pleasant there—Italians are generally nicer, and the food is better 😛

Okay!

It’s always the same issues that come up: having a job that allows you to move abroad, leaving loved ones, etc.

In my case, it’s the first point that’s the problem—the rest, not so much.

For retirees, it’s definitely appealing to live in a country that’s cheaper and less taxed. Though I’d say it mainly interests those with a small pension, to improve their purchasing power.

At least you’re not far from Italy—you can go there regularly 😛

You can't shift your gaze, stuck in...your... worldview

Oh really?🙂

"I’d say it’s mostly of interest to those with a small pension, to help improve their purchasing power."

Unless I can’t "eat my fill," it’s not the standard of living that would make me move to another country (I’m talking about long-term residency, not travel). I’d miss my kids and French and European culture way too much.

And a pension that’s too small outright prevents you from even considering moving somewhere else... Being poor at home isn’t always (or even at all) being rich somewhere else.

I’d talk about average incomes, though—now *that’s* a different story.

Portugal is increasingly attracting retirees—with a 1000 € pension in France, life is tough, but in Portugal, it’s much better. It also appeals to those who want to pay less in taxes.

Of course, it’s personal, but if I were retired, I wouldn’t stay in France. I don’t feel attached to this country. That said, I can’t see myself living outside of Europe...

All of this is very personal, that's true. With a 1000 € pension, you have to break all material ties in France (no duplicates possible: two rents are a no-go, and owning a house in France plus renting in Portugal—with 1000 €, I just don’t see how). Or sell everything here to buy there? Yeah, possible. With 1000 €, you’ll be scraping by... here or elsewhere.

Oh really? :)

Of course... France’s usual passions: the state’s omnipresence in transport, communications, education, energy, housing—often monopolizing them at the expense of quality and service; an obsession with centralism, to the point of not even being able to imagine what a (con)federation is; the conviction of being the universal model in terms of identity and culture, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary worldwide; a poorly managed and still explosive colonial past; legalism; and hegemonic ambitions over the language... None of this is universal or even beneficial, yet it all sounds like unquestionable truths to most people—dogmatic ones at that.

Michel