ThoseGeneva Schools Day
The caps purchased by the city for promotions come from China
To protect the children of the sun during the school party, the social cohesion department bought 3000 caps.
The students parade, this June 25, at rue de la Corracy. Those who did not have a cardboard headdress seem to have taken their own caps.
Laurent Guiraud/Tamedia
To protect students from 3e et 4e primary of the sun last Wednesday during the promotions party, The city of Geneva bought 3000 capsintended for children who would not have been provided by their parents.
These caps were bought from a Swiss supplier, a Sàrl de la Chaux-de-Fonds, said the magistrate responsible for social cohesion, Christina Kitsos, in response to our questions. The elected official who comes from this same Neuchâtel city still informs that these caps were produced in China, adding that they are in recycled PET. At 3 francs per unit, it cost the city 9,000 francs.
According to the magistrate, half, or about 1500, was distributed. The rest will be next year if necessary or the following.
Global warming and… caps?
Let us recall that the Pedagogical Society of Geneva, the Professional Association of Primary Teachers, challenged the centralized format of promotions, in particular because of the hot weather noted during the traditional parade in Old City and then at the Parc des Bastions. This was the case last Wednesday, with a thermometer displaying more than 33 degrees.
In 2017, the demonstration had ended up in a stampede because of a rain as short as it is violent. Last year, the Administrative Council canceled due to the risk of thunderstorms. In 2019, a heat wave was right for the parade.
It is therefore to protect children from heat always stronger than, among other measures, the city bought caps … from China. The carbon footprint generated is perhaps anecdotal, but there is not a whole symbol of the contradictions specific to our societies? In economic and ecological terms, wouldn’t it have been simpler and rational to remind parents to give children a headgear?
Scroll in the morning to avoid hot weather?
“Parents were asked to create their children, to dress them with clear and light clothes and to make them wear a cap or a hat. The caps were intended for children who were not equipped, ”said Christina Kitsos.
The recommendations published upstream indeed required: “Provide a cap or hat to cover your head, once the thematic headdresses planned have been placed on the tables.”
Students could, however, parade in milder heat in the future. Because the procession could take place in the morning, rather than in the afternoon, announced last Wednesday Christina Kitsos at the microphone of Léman Bleu and then of RTS. However, she specified that the project was still to be studied.
“Latest news”
Do you want to stay at the top of the info? “Tribune de Genève” offers you two meetings per day, directly in your e-mailbox. To not miss anything of what is happening in your canton, Switzerland or in the world.
Other newsletters
Did you find an error? Please report it to us.
