Breaking News: La Rentree

First day of school.

Someone is not happy.

As Gabriel said this morning, "Maybe we can figure out a way so I do not have to go to school?"

And what is Olivia thinking? She begged to put on a backpack and to go to school.

The two remind me of Chelsea and Sacha, though Sacha is Gabriel and Olivia is Chelsea. Oh, and that feels like yesterday.

"In France, school is compulsory from three years old (since the beginning of the 2019/20 school year) until 16.

A child's year of birth determines when they start school,

and the school year starts at the beginning of September."

I personally think that it is too young and shouldn't be compulsory.

School in Europe,https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43562029. Click here to read more.

 

Last year, Gabriel started school.

And it went well until...

____

 

Luckily, the day ended well, especially when Gabriel found out Billie -, his best friend, was in his class.

Billie is his superhero, and she is unlike Gabriel. A little firecracker of energy in the playground daring to do things that Gabriel admires and cheers her on.

What I think about the French Education:

 

Someone once told me that the difference between a French person and an American person could be summarized like this:

"If you put a French person and an American person in the middle of a dense jungle and asked them to find their way out, the French person would bend down and look at the soil for clues, look up to see which way the wind blew the trees and which way the sun was moving across the sky... in other words, the French person would study the situation at hand before making a move. On the other hand, the American would climb up the nearest tree, look around, and holler, "HEY, Anyone out there?"

In general, because thankfully we cannot label a whole country, let alone a single person, the French are more methodical in their approach, trusting that they can find their way by themselves. In contrast, the Americans look at teamwork and will go on a limb to find a new way.

Why?

If you ask three hundred thousand French people, "Did you have fun (as in liked, enjoyed, considered it the best years ever...) school?" Two hundred and ninety-eight of them would answer solemnly, "No." Then, they would look at you oddly and ask, "Why?"

French students go to school to learn how to study. Fun is rarely in the equation. On the first day of school, they are taught to come into the classroom and sit at their desk quietly. They are not allowed to talk unless they are asked a question. If the teacher asks the students for a response or "Who knows the answer?" The French child is supposed to raise their hand no higher than their shoulder, with their pointer finger in the air. Unlike an American student, they cannot wave their arm frantically and excitedly say, "I know, I know, ask me!!!!"

The French are taught from a very early age to sit still, listen, obey, and if in doubt, re-think; if you don't know the answer, listen, and if you think you are right, you probably are wrong.

Therefore, when they know the answer, they know they are right. Their opinion is well thought out; they can back it up with many examples. They will listen to your arguments and ideas but ultimately believe they are never wrong.

American students are taught they are the masters of their universe and can accomplish whatever they want if they believe it, work hard towards it, and have the money to get it.

The Americans and the French come from very different upbringings, educational approaches, and ways to be. In France, you rarely hear: "If there is a will, there is a way!" Watching my children go through the French schools and listening to many of them talk about schools, I believe I would have suffered dramatically in their mold. I was raised to climb a tree and believe in myself, even if I didn't have a single example to back it up.

This is not to say either approach is better or worse than the other. Both have advantages, both are worthy, and both ways of educating can shape a different way of thinking.

In the end, the American who climbed the tree and the French person who studies the surroundings find their way... and both ways bring for an exciting conversation at the end of the day.

 

Tatty McLeod says it best... as she inmates a British woman and a French woman on many differences between the two. Tatty is French/ English

___

 The Local: an online newspaper, a very good source of French for ex-pats

and others who are interested in life in France

 

Their description of going back to school and the meaning of "La Rentree."

 

 

Comments

[Kathie B]

As an only child, I couldn't wait to start school and be with other kids more than just the ones I played with in the neighborhood! Alas, there was no pre-school, nothing until kindergarten back then.

When Farmboy Husband was growing up in a sparsely-populated county in the US. Midwest, they didn't even have kindergarten yet -- in fact, only three years earlier had they abolished the local one-room schoolhouse in favor of a unified school district! -- so he didn't start school until he was 5½ (first grade). Then he missed a chunk of second grade due to illness, but his mother had gotten his school books in order to tutor him at home herself, so by the time he was well enough to return to school, he was a couple months ahead of his classmates. That must've been fun for his teacher -- not!

[Jeanne]

I love all of your stories of life in France
May all children have a wonderful school year and God bless all the educators world wide
They make all other professions possible

[Annafromindiana]

Ohhhh, those sweet little faces!! And Jeanne —- well said!

[judy]

I hope he returned home with smiles.

[Ella Dyer]

Bonjour à tous,

Thank your Corey, comme d'habitude, for your fabulous family/life stories, which you graciously share with all of us, especially we who live in France sans nos petites enfants.

And thanks to the multiple villages it takes to care for the next generations. Heaven knows Mamie Ella does not have the patience :)

I must add in such praise, may the Universe continue to acknowledge my late in-laws (both who served in WWII) who raised my handsome hubby. The first born who managed to derail a train (only 7 at the time), put his lil' brother in the dryer (to simulate the moon race; can't even compute that thought process!) and a bit later had his home (on the US military base) surrounded by the authorities when they thought the General was under attack.

Why? Because the love of my life had knocked out the power.

#GodBlessParents!

[David in Ga]

I know just how he feels. I am a retired teacher and I felt like that every year I taught!!! I enjoyed school once I got started but that first day back was always difficult. :)

[Lil]

On my son's second morning of kindergarten, when I said 'Let's get ready for school' he said 'But we did that yesterday.' I realized he had not a clue of the long road ahead of him. I sympathized with his outlook.

[Fat Rabbit]

Corey - What touching photo of school days. Love Olivia's look as she is ready for the big day. As for Gabriel - such touching tears. I do identify with Gabriel as I am also tentative about new beginnings. In fact as the school librarian on the first day, I often felt weepy myself!

Back to school ❤️

[marilyn]

OH my, I think my grandson felt like Gabriel this morning when he started back to school. He did not want to go. I hope it is a good year for all of the children.

[Diogenes]

This was identical to my first day of school. Tears and all. I am 66 and I remember it like yesterday.

[Kelley]

Olivia 'thought bubble' -- "You're not REALLY going to make him go, are you mom?"

[debra]

I homeschooled my children until high school - guess that would not be a good idea in France??

[Teddee Grace]

I just found this, so realize my comment is late, but I recall Gabriel was upset last year as well. I hope he was able to find some joy eventually. Olivia is just a hoot. I linked over to this post from today's and she seems so relaxed and gently amused by Gabriel's more emotional personality. I look forward to seeing what kind of a person she becomes as she matures.

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You are right, and you have the personalities described as well.