We all know that despite the ocean separating them, France and the US have many differences, including school. Schools and school programs are designed and implemented in a variety of ways based on cultural and societal differences.
Here are the top ten distinctions between them.
The schedule: From kindergarten to tenth grade, students cannot choose their classes. Regardless of age, all French students follow the same curriculum.
In high school, they must take French (the equivalent of English for American students), Math Geography, History, Physical Education, Sciences (the equivalent of Biology and Anatomy), Chemistry, Sociology, and a Digital and Technological class. They also attend classes in English (the equivalent of Spanish), but also Spanish (sometimes German or Italian), and can, depending on the school, choose an option such as Art, Romana, or Drama, but they are not required to.
The organization consists of: In France, school days are longer. Students arrive at school between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and leave around 5:30 p.m. But they get 2 weeks off for Thanksgiving, 2 for Christmas, 2 for February, and 2 for Easter.
All classes last 55 minutes, but students have a 15-minute break in the morning, a one-hour lunch break, and a final 10-minute break in the afternoon.
The national flag: The American flag is displayed in every classroom in the United States, and the pledge of allegiance is solemnly recited every morning. Similarly, the French flag is not flown in local schools because doing so would be viewed as too conservative.
Taps in hallways, vending machines for drinks, and lockers for each person: These things are very American, but you will not find them in France. All their belongings are kept in a backpack or a handbag for most girls. Except for those with food allergies, everyone at school is required to eat a hot lunch.
Transportation: Most American students take a school bus or drive themselves to school starting at the age of 16. In France, teenagers cannot obtain a driver's license until they reach the age of 18, which takes a significant amount of money and time. School buses are scarce, if not non-existent, and parents cannot always drive their children to school. As a result, they must rely on municipal buses, trains, subways (if they live in major cities), bicycles, walking from their homes, and occasionally motorcycles (the ones which do not need a license). It may only take a few minutes if they live close to the school, but they must usually switch, which may take more than an hour. As a result, students learn to be more self-sufficient, organized, and punctual.
Sports areas and fields: School sports in France are less important than in America. French students receive two hours of physical education per week, but there are no after-school activities such as football, basketball, or volleyball. France does not invest in school sports infrastructure because it is not necessary.
Every French school has a basic gym for sports lessons. When it comes to swimming, French students use the local municipal pool, while when it comes to running, students use the town's athletic track or a nearby public forest.
The school colors and mascot: A concept unique to the United States. Generally, French School uses its logo on official and significant documents, but only to certify them.
To summarize, French schools are primarily designed to teach students how to study and maintain a work ethic. Sports, spirit week, homecoming, games, and prom are all activities that the French School System prefers to avoid because they may be too entertaining for the students. During vacations and weekends, success comes first, followed by fun. French students often fantasize about the ambiance and events of American high schools after watching television shows and movies about them.
<em>I hope this helps you</em>
<em>:)</em>