In partnership with the CIEC de Castelsarrasin, the Rural Family House of Moissac formalizes its defense class program. Beyond traditional classes, this project aims to educate citizens about the meaning of commitment and teamwork.
Discovering the Citizen Rally sparked the idea of developing a defense class within the educational team of the Rural Family House of Moissac. “For our first participation three years ago, we have to admit that we were completely caught off guard. We thought it would have the same rhythm as our usual school outings,” recalled Thierry Amoros, a teacher at the MFR and coordinator of the football section. “Since we are quite competitive, we decided to inquire more about the subject to achieve better results,” he said.
The project then developed. Instead of investing in a one-time event once a year, the idea of having ongoing follow-up throughout the year appealed. “The defense class, currently developed in 4th grade, truly corresponds to the values that we also instill in our courses. It also appeals to more people,” noted Thierry Amoros. Thus, the MFR joins the 25 existing defense classes in Tarn-et-Garonne.
The values of the defense class were highlighted several times during the signing of the agreement on Thursday, April 2. The document formalizes the partnership between the Rural Family House of Moissac and the Center for Elementary Driver Training (CIEC) in Castelsarrasin. The students, dressed in their t-shirts with a crest designed by teenagers, were present during the signing. “This defense class fully fits into our educational project which aims to support our students in finding their place in society,” explained Philippe Garcia, president of the MFR of Moissac. “You are on the outskirts of the city but your role is essential,” stated Romain Lopez.
“More than a training center, we also educate citizens,” expressed Marie Castro, vice-president of the Occitanie region. “This initiative serves as a gateway to a world governed by rigor, surpassing oneself, and a sense of collective responsibility,” added Pierre Bressolles, sub-prefect of Tarn-et-Garonne.
The collective summarizes the spirit of the defense class at the MFR well. The curriculum revolves around annual highlights that promote team cohesion. “For the creation of their crest, we divided them into pairs and they had to explain to a jury why they used a particular symbol, what message is behind it,” explained Thierry Amoros. The class explores the military environment through the sponsorship of CIEC but also through interventions from the French Memory association. Some students even had the opportunity to undergo training to become flag bearers during official ceremonies in Caussade.
Elena, soon to be 15 years old, shared her experience: “I had a difficult past, and committing in this way brings me a lot of joy. When you are a flag bearer, you truly feel a lot of respect for all the people who fought for us.” Jofrey also completed the training and participated in his first ceremonies. “I was nervous, but also happy to do it,” he said. “They were very upright and focused, I had never seen them so concentrated!” smiled Thierry Amoros. Due to the success of the defense class, the project may be expanded to two levels, in fourth and third grades, in the coming years.
