At Jean-Dieuzaide College in Pechbonnieu, the Defense Class once again confirms the strength of its commitment to work on memory. This year, students are participating in the South Zone Armed Forces Prize, a demanding inter-academic competition overseen by the general officer of the South Defense and Security Zone. It brings together third-year and high school classes from academies in Toulouse, Montpellier, Nice, Aix-Marseille, and Corsica. For the 2025-2026 edition, the theme “Writers at War” invites exploration of the multiple forms of testimonies linked to conflicts. Soldiers’ letters, journalists’ accounts, literary works, and artistic creations all serve as platforms to understand the combat experience and its transmission.
Soldiers’ Letters and Major Works
In Pechbonnieu, under the leadership of Florence Rebinguet and with the support of principal Didier Ciliberti, students have chosen an original approach. Moving away from the traditional dossier format, they opted for a radio production, relying on the school’s web radio led by librarian Pascale Gossard. The project revolves around readings of soldiers’ letters, juxtaposed with extracts from major works such as “All Quiet on the Western Front” or “Wooden Crosses.” But the students go further: they analyze, interpret, and share their own feelings, giving a sensitive dimension to these texts. The whole takes the form of a program blending voices, comments, and soundscapes, in a dynamic and accessible format. This achievement fully meets the competition’s expectations, which prioritize materialized productions – podcasts, videos, or slideshows – accompanied by an explanatory note. Beyond the form, the quality of the collective work and the students’ ability to grasp historical issues are evaluated. For teachers, the challenge goes beyond the school setting. It is about conveying that behind the key dates lie individual destinies, voices, and emotions. By giving life to these “writers at war,” students access an embodied, often moving history. The results will be announced in spring 2026. But the essential has already been achieved: a strong collective commitment and a living memory, connected to contemporary issues.
