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Leaning against one of the posts supporting the courtyard at Lorient's Saint-Joseph school, Marie-Jo Maes smiles as she watches the children playing during recess. It's a sight she never tires of. Marie-Jo began her teaching career in 1980. "If I'm still here, it's mainly because I'm in a good school with nice colleagues," she hisses with a smile.
She began teaching in 1977 with three years' training in Grenoble, France. Then, in the 1980-1981 school year, she spent a year as a replacement teacher. "After that, I spent twenty years here," she says. She then headed back to France, to the Dordogne to be precise, for two years. But the call of Lorient was irresistible, and Marie-Jo returned to Saint-Joseph in 2003. Since then, she has remained faithful to her post. "This must be my 26th Minister of Education," she laughs. In fact, there have been 21 since 1980. Nevertheless, some of them have been reappointed several times after ministerial reshuffles. However, in 44 years, the 5th Republic has exhausted thirty governments, from Pierre Mauroy "1" to Gabriel Attal. So Marie-Jo Maes will soon know her 31st Minister of Education!
"The joy of children
Be that as it may, over the past 44 years, the teacher has witnessed some notable changes in the world of education. "We have more and more on our shoulders with the children, which wasn't the case before", she remarks. But she welcomes the fact that schools are now in a position to help students in difficulty. What hasn't changed is the children's joy," says Marie-Jo. And I'm always happy to see the old-timers and learn about their career paths. We tell ourselves we haven't wasted our time. "
Before gathering her pupils in the courtyard and taking them back to class, Marie-Jo Maes asserts: "The job is a priesthood! "Of which she is the living, enthusiastic embodiment.
