Célestin Freinet – a “reformative” school teacher
The famous school teacher and pedagogue Célestin Freinet (1896-1966) taught in Saint-Paul de Vence between 1928 and 1933.

Célestin Freinet came to Saint-Paul de Vence in 1928. In letters that his wife Elise wrote to his parents, she says that the school in Saint-Paul de Vence was an old building with a small playground and Virginia creeper for shade. The teacher’s residence was on top of the classroom.

Célestin Freinet’s teaching method was based on autonomy and students taking an active role, especially through teamwork.

Printed their own newspaper
Every afternoon, he took the students on “educational walks” through the village or forest, explaining about flowers, trees and animals as well as the history of the houses and ramparts. Inspired by these walks and other things, the children would write their essays. With the help of a printing press, the students could print their own newspaper called “Les Remparts” (the ramparts). In it, they published their own drawings and texts.

Freinet also occasionally went down to the village fountain to give his lessons; accompanied by water jugs, students were set mathematical problems to solve.

His pedagogy based on children’s autonomy and the use of the printing press to produce texts was far from the normal French conception of the secular school at the time. As a result, it caused great discord in the city. So much so that it spread to other parts of France.

Started his own school in Vence
He left Saint-Paul de Vence in 1933 to open his own school in Vence just three kilometers away – Ecole Freinet de Vence.

The boys’ school in Saint-Paul de Vence was active until 1985.

Today, the building that housed the school can only be seen from the outside, and there is a large information board outside.

By Tommy Sverre / 2021