The agricultural high school of Fontaines Sud Bourgogne, like other educational institutions, is participating in the “Defense and Citizenship Class” program.
The “Defense and Citizenship Class” initiative is an educational project within the Fontaines school. This academic year 2025/2026 comprises 18 second-grade students. The school has about twenty students who form the defense class supervised by Sébastien Schmitt, with a particularity being that only second-grade students are part of this 2026 cohort.
Chalon sur Saône’s national gendarmerie is the sponsor of the promotion and leads cohesion activities. Fully integrated into the civic journey, the defense class has a triple objective: contributing to national cohesion, promoting civic values, and enhancing the attractiveness of military careers.
On Wednesday, April 29, students from the defense class of Fontaines high school visited the City Hall of Chalon sur Saône to discover this governing institution.
They were welcomed by Isabel Paulo, deputy in charge of youth and neighborhood life, accompanied by Noémie, Ambre, and Jeanne, three young members of the Youth Municipal Council. The students explored important rooms like the marriage and reception hall, council room, and workspaces.
Isabel Paulo explained the functioning of the city hall to them and delivered a message: “You are in a defense and citizenship class; you have committed to being a citizen in service to others. You will discover professions like firefighters, gendarmes, soldiers… The town hall is where everything is managed; don’t be afraid to ask questions, be curious…, the world depends on you, your engagement is important.”
The students learned about the municipal council, its composition, and the functions through presentations by Stephanie Pernin and Karine Michaudet. Later, they toured some of the city hall’s architectural wonders.
Their afternoon continued with a visit to the sub-prefecture, where they met Mr. Olivier Tainturier, the sub-prefect. He provided a civics lesson, explaining the administrative pyramid, roles within the region, and his personal journey from magistrate to sub-prefect.
The students engaged in discussions with Mr. Olivier Tainturier about his career and duties, gaining valuable insights for their future endeavors.
The students of the defense class will benefit from the knowledge acquired during their visit to the municipal and sub-prefecture offices.
C.Cléaux [email protected]
