French preschools
tend to stress very different educational values from those in other
countries.
The attitude in France is that it is more important for children
to understand what they are learning than to be able to solve problems
correctly. The main goal of French schools, as opposed to schools in
the United States, is to teach children to think
independently and not to let them become discouraged at a young age.
To do this, they make sure that all children are treated equally and reward
children based on their effort, rather than their ability. This approach
to learning seems to be successful because studies have found that children
in France are more motivated to learn and are happier with their teachers
than children in other countries. These educational values show that the
French care a lot about children’s individual experiences in school and
want to make sure that they develop good self-esteem at an early age.
French schools differ from
schools in other countries because they focus on alternate
areas of learning. Studies
comparing
French schools to British schools have shown that more classroom time
in France was devoted to language than math. Researchers found that although
English students were better at spelling and punctuation and at handling
unfamiliar math problems, French students were more likely to stay focused
in the classroom. The teaching in French schools tends to be more formal
than in British schools, so students don’t usually work in groups or
move freely around the classroom. Although there are some areas that
students from other countries are better at than French students, the
schooling system in France seems to be a success.
References:
Budge, David. 2000. "English Chalk and French Cheese (Research Comparing English
and French Primary School Pupils)." Times Educational Supplement, March 17, p.A34.
Budge, David. 1998. "Vive la Difference?" Times Educational Supplement, April 10, p.12.
Rowan, Patricia. 1996." Hard Truths About French Lessons (Nursery Schools in France)." Times Educational Supplement, April 26,
p.20.
The purpose of this web site is
to provide web users with information on the social status of children in
France. This site was designed by Jill Ulicny, Kacie Hovell, and Clare
Harpham as part of a collaborative web project for the first year writing
seminar Children and Society, at Tulane
University taught by Professor April Brayfield.
Updated December 13, 2002
