January 2021 rustlernews.com
LES ETUDIANTS FRANCAIS TIENNENT LE COUP
by Lucie Michel, staff writer Amel Ammar and Ema Harroue have multiple common points -- they are French, they are 18, and they finished high school earlier this year and are now starting to fly on their own. They also have something in common with Rustlers, Montanans, Americans, and everyone else. They are experiencing COVID and all its effects. Ammar is a student at Arts Décoratifs in Paris looking forward to working in the animation sector. Harroue is in the city of Rennes studying a French curriculum called Licence en Littérature Langue et Civilisations Etrangères et Régionales. Its American equivalent would be a bachelor’s degree in English language and culture. At the beginning of November, French President Emmanuel Macron gave a speech ordering people to quarantine for a month. In December, Macron talked again and gave his new conditions for living. France went to its first quarantine from March to May. For this second quarantine, restrictions were lightened a lot, leaving not only the students but every French citizen wondering about the benefit and the inconsistencies of some of the Amel Ammar measures. While high school students had to go to class without any exams, older students like Ammar and Harroue are mostly working from
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home but still have to take exams. and bolder.” “Most of the people were able to COVID is not the only issue physically get to work and practice it in France currently, it is also almost normally; others could strengthening distinct problems. go out if they had a certificate, Lately French people have been at the end of the day students demonstrating a lot against a were the most penalized one,” new law supposed to protect Harroue says. policemen from being recorded. Harroue is currently The law is the result of a working from home full growing number of videos taken time, while Ammar has the during quarantine time showing authorization to go to college how violent repressions and for some of her art workshops. unfair controls against targeted Harroue confesses she is really populations are being used by in a situation of failure right order forces to make people now. She said she can hardly respect COVID restrictions. motivate herself, and Ammar, who really feels staying home all day long concerned by the situation, is not helping her. She claims: “COVID increases more has even decided lately than ever the inequity and to change her course of inequality on so many levels, studies. not that it’s not important, but Harroue and Ammar, Ema Harroue it’s not new, unfortunately.” like most of the French Concerning the future of students when they start postthese two French girls, it is strongly high school studies, left the uncertain. Harroue is worried she will family cocoon/nest and got their not even be able to reorientate and own place. What they are going is too scared to look forward, while through is already a pivotal period Ammar is worried about the artistic in life without any pandemic, and cultural domain falling apart since where you have to learn how it’s not considered vital. to be independent and to deal However, as the pandemic goes with adult responsibilities. When on, they are also learning about asked how they are dealing with themselves and life. the situation, Ammar answers: “It’s OK to say stop. You don’t “I feel overwhelmed, exhausted have to assume all the world’s and irritable more than before, diseases without rest. Rest is part of really stressed, anxious and the process,” Ammar said. “Let’s just worried,” Ammar said. “There is more cherish our emotions otherwise we pressure, feels like the world expects lost a precious part of humanity.” us to be more than enough, stronger
COVID-19 IMPACTS PE CLASSES
Students play volleyball and badminton on Dec.4. Photo by Madison McMurphey.
by Lucie Michel, Madison McMurphey, staff writers At CMR, the PE teachers once a week it’s not very much had to adapt themselves a lot to even when we’re talking about face the pandemic. getting in shape,” PE teacher Staff have to respect a lot Paula Olsen said. of new sanitation instructions and PE classes for students it creates multiple issues including during remote learning is another the number of students allowed challenge. Some students choose in the locker rooms, cleaning and to stay home and not come to spraying every equipment used, school anymore, teachers still and having to keep masks on have to continuously create during exercises. special assignments for them. New block schedules have Despite all of this, also impacted PE classes because students seem to stay motivated students now have a lot less time and enjoy time when they can still for sport. have physical activities. PE offers “I feel like the kids don’t them the opportunity to take it get enough gym. There are some out and get their mind away from weeks that they only get one PE. this crazy time in history. If you’re working on something
