Thursday, April 09, 2009

Where civil servants never go on strike!


Yesterday, for my work, I had to go to one of the most prestigious schools in France called L'ENA (for Ecole nationale d'admistration). There, students learn how to manage France, either locally or at the top of the French administration (most of the top civil servants that work with the President come from this school). A lot of French politicians also attended this school and a few top managers who work in the private sector too. Anyway, this won't tell you much if you're not French of course, but let me tell you that, for me, entering this mythical den what quite something! I photographed one of the corridors, the one in which all classes are ranked year by year on the wall since 1947. Fascinating.

34 comments:

  1. That place looks VERY impressive Eric. I'm sure we haven't got anything like this in the UK. Says it all I suppose...

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  2. Now you can say you "went to ENA" and it'll be true ;)!

    Completely off topic, but do you know that the strike at the Eiffel Tower made front page here in the local (online) paper? I'm not kidding.

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  3. It's funny Eric. The rows of pictures in this one, and the rows of windows or pictures on the side of the Abri Bus are extremely similar - did you notice? Amazing...

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  4. That's quite impressive! I've never been there, of course, but since I'm studying law, "ENA" is a word we hear a lot in the corridors...One day, maybe.
    BTW Eric, I loooove your caption, it's really funny and so true!!
    I like the idea to hang all those pictures, sounds like an American idea, no?

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  5. I'm here too Sue but you beat me to it! Well done GF!

    As Sue says, we don't have this in the UK and we're worse off for it. I reckon the whole Cabinet should enrol here. I'm fed up with the lot of them and their huge expense accounts for second, third homes, equipping their houses at our (UK taxpayers') expense then telling us there's no money. Round them up and send them back to school in Paris I say! ....blush, rant over...:i

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  6. Interesting photo of photos. The white walls and doors make this seem like a very serious place (with just a hint of color).

    Petrea I'm resisting mightily making any additional comments! Hee hee.

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  7. >>Now you can say you "went to ENA"

    LOL, Tomate! I once visited a friend's daughter at Harvard and have told people that I "went to Harvard".

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  8. Ujima!!! Long time!!! :D and good for you, lol! :)

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  9. Very interesting! I don't think we have anything like that in the U.S. to prepare people to run our government or at least to understand our laws. What an interesting concept, but I wonder if it really works? I wonder if it trains the bureaucrats to care or to just mindlessly do their jobs. Still an interesting concept.

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  10. I love the colors and composition here, Eric. So, you went to l'ENA? I once had lunch with Benicio del Toro (I was at one table and he was at the next, but, you know what I mean!)

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  11. One day, while listening to a French politician speaking French on NPR(National Public Radio) in America, I was struck by the fact that he spoke so clearly, moderately and enunciated every word. As I was on my way to French class that day, I asked my teacher about it. She said they learned to speak that way at a special school that future politicians attend!!!!!!!!! I believed her,of course, but never had any more information about it!

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  12. I like the pastels here. Looks like candy. I suppose the subject is too serious for candy, though. But I like the photo.

    Mmm. Katie. Yes. Thank you. I like the way these pictures are...arranged.

    Hee hee, Ujima! I studied at Oxford!

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  13. What an impeccable neat and orderly scene. And most à propos! Lovely shot, Eric.

    {Petrea, how many peeps have you eaten today?}

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  14. I know how prestigious it is from having lived in Paris for 14 years.

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  15. Looks like a w3onderful place to be a alum of ;)

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  16. Yes, ENA is very prestigious. But the most common point against these "ENArques" is that they are too often disconneted from "the real life".
    You know, Lynn, most of our politicians are "ENArques", and I'm not sure they're really better than yours ;-(

    Eric, did you recognize a lot of our politicians and/or top managers on these pictures?

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  17. Thanks Lynn. It was a total surprise to get GF. I felt sure somebody would get there first.
    God how I agree with you about our politicians. What a load of parasitic pondlife we have. The trouble is, where do we go from here? I don't see there's a lot of choice no matter which party you look at.
    Remember what high hopes we had for Tony Blair with his 'no sleaze' promise? Pah!!

    Do I look any different now I have lost my GF cherry?(blush) hehe

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  18. LOL lost your cherry! Sue I don't know where we'd go if we shipped the lot off to Paris. I think, frankly, the likes of you and I could probably do a better job. Each of these expense-claiming bods have to learn the job when they get it anyway, as far as I can see. No-one is versed in the topic they get, unless I'm wrong? I do remember the 'no sleaze' thing. What a load of hot air that was. Thing is, Cameron (Conservative) has been rather quiet about all this. He could have jumped on this, waving his little blue arms in horror but no, all he's asked for is a review on the system. Why? Probably because he knows his party is doing the same. It's unforgiveable. I had to claim something the other week and was treated like a criminal because I had made an error: - £5. I was really lectured about 'government money' - couldn't believe what I was hearing. The whole political scene in Britain is a farce, in my view. I'm not too hopeful for improvement but I really want this Government out and a fresh one in. Let's see what Cameron can do, I say. Best of a bad bunch, perhaps. Eric - are your politicians allowed to claim such expenses, do you know? Such as second homes when they only visit now and then, washing machines and watching porn films at the expense of the taxpayer? How is it in France?

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  19. I love the interesting pieces of your country that you share. Thank you!

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  20. I've dreamed of returning to my family's home in France my whole life. Your blog keeps me there when my life in the States keeps me from being physically in Paris. Can't wait to go back soon!Thank you!

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  21. Shell, I haven't had any peeps today. I can't claim them on my expense account and I'm completely honest, you know.

    Lynn, maybe if your pols went to politician school they'd be better. Who knows? We don't have politician school, either. Folks get a law degree and go into city government to start, and go from there, things like that. Maybe school would help.

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  22. Yes a lot of ours are lawyers too Petrea. I was married to a lawyer for 16 years, incidentally. I don't recommend it. lol.

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  23. Maybe there should be a marriage school, too. I'd love to see the photos on the wall in that place. Eric would have a field day taking pictures.

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  24. Tomate I just found your comment of 6th April. My birthday. I'm still reeling with shock! :0

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  25. Yeah it's really fascinating. French history !!!

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  26. I think a marriage school FOR MEN is an excellent idea :)

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  27. ... marriage school for men:

    1) Learn how not to leave the seat up so when you get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom you don't have that nasty surprise...

    2) (any other ideas, anyone?)

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  28. Lynn "How is it in France?" Sarko's approval rate is lower than Bush's was, I think. But you know the French ... always complaining!! ;)

    BTW, was it your birthday that was really shocking or the fact that I left you a comment? ;)

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  29. I beg your pardon, folks, but there are many public policy programs in universities and colleges across the U.S. I happen to be a graduate of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs (Univ. of Minnesota). Harvard has a very famous program: the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

    It is true that many if not most of members of Congress and state legislatures are attorneys. I think it is good that those who make laws have an understanding of law. This doesn't make them good or evil. (Other factors do that!)

    I've experienced, from the inside, both good government and bad government. Again, knowledge cannot guarantee anything, but I believe those who learn more about governance create better government. There is a difference between "rule by law" and "rule by what I want". There is democracy, and there is rule by despots, often known as royalty.

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  30. LOL it was the content of your comment Tomate - you are naughty.

    2. Learn that we women are always right. lol.

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  31. Jeff, I didn't know of either of these schools! Pardon my ignorance, please. Would that all politicians were required to study at such places.

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  32. We have Politics & Government degrees of course but no actual school like this one in Paris.

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