Good afternoon!

Again, for the 30: th time since 1957, educators who practice the Freinet Pedagogy are here at the RIDEF to discuss and share our teaching practices.

First of all I want to start exposingaggression and violation of humanrights that many people are suffering in the world. And, on behalf of the FIMEM, show rejection of Israel’s bombing on the Gaza Strip and causing injury and death of many people, including children and young girls. Inadditionto show our solidarity with the Palestinian people, we ask that international law and the recommendations of the UN will be respected.

Freinet was a survivor of two world wars that marked his life, and internationalism and peace among people was his constant concern. He dreamed of a new, more just and more humane world. He was convinced that cooperation between teachers, school exchanges and correspondence favor mutual understanding, peace and democracy. When we now marks the centenary of the First World War and 75 years of the Second World War, it is relevant to recall, here and now, the commitment to peace and respect for human rights of the FIMEM movements and the teachers of the Modern School.

In 1945, Freinet wrote in the journal “l’Educateur”: “Education is the concrete of peace”.

This RIDEF, with its theme“Looks that change the world. Living together in the cities of children” invites us to reflect on the social organization. The workshops, long and short, conferences and presentations of our experiences allow us to share contributions from teachers around the world on children´s participation in decision-making, not only at school but also in the city, the family and all spaces they inhabit, and return to our respective countries with renewed enthusiasm, to promote democracy in our communities.

We have come here to find a time and a space among equals, where we can live and present our views, discuss and reach agreements consistent with our pedagogy, which enrich us personally and professionally.

Welcome everybody to RIDEF, an area of freedom, democratic participation and cooperation!

Pilar Fontevedra